- Scranton Times

Transcription

- Scranton Times

T H E R E G I O N ’ S AWA R D - W I N N I N G S O U R C E
$1.50
Inside September
OF
BUSINESS NEWS
AND
INFORMATION
SEPTEMBER 2003
VOL. 18 NO. 11
I want to be left alone!
‘DO NOT CALL’ LISTS
COULD COST NATION
TWO MILLION JOBS
Statewide and national Do Not
Call registries could cripple an
industry most consumers could live
without. Who is affected and can
the industry survive?
By Patricia O’Brien
Pick a peck of
pumpkins
of consumers and businesses alike.
But reputable marketing efforts including direct
mail pieces and specialized newsletters and emails are not considered by most to be an invasion of privacy. Grocery stores print coupons
based on purchases made through your preferred
shopping card.Amazon.com e-mails you by name
with a book it thinks you might like to buy based
on your previous purchases. But how much information is too much?
“I am sure there are a lot of people who are
capturing information and you may not know
about it,” says Paul Creteau, owner of Business
Smart LLC, a small consulting firm, Lakeville,
Wayne County.“I don’t know that we will ever be
able to limit the facts that many marketers are
taking.They are always going to grab that type of
Since the Federal Trade Commission
launched the National Do Not Call registry in June, 30 million telephone subscribers have signed on to have their
phone numbers removed from telemarketers’ calling lists.And the number
grows steadily each day. Industry analysts
expect 60 million Americans to sign up
for this free service by the end of 2004.
With 60 million fewer numbers to call to
market products and services, the unemployment lines could soon be overflowing with out-of-work telemarketers.
“We think this will cost two million
jobs.There are 6.5 million people working in the industry right now. If that
number is correct, that will put the
national unemployment rate at 7.7 percent,” says Tim Searcy, executive director
of the American Teleservices
Association. Jobs are not all that will be
lost, according to Searcy.The telemarketing industry estimates the list could cut
its business in half, costing up to $50
billion in sales each year.
The American Teleservices Association
sued the Federal Trade Commission in
January to stop the list and recently
appealed to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals in Denver to reject new regulations set by the Federal
Communications Commission.
The FCC further limited the ability of
telemarketers in certain industries,
such as airlines, banks and telephone
companies, to contact consumers by
blocking their calls.
Long before the national Do Not Call
Alone continues on page 49
Do Not Call continues on page 48
Local growers say
this harvest will be
one of the best.
— Page 14
Wall Street
West
How the
blackout
of 2003
may aid
efforts
to make
NEPA
New
York
City’s
understudy.
— Page 8
A special look at
Luzerne County’s
other city.
— Pages 31-35
Illustration by Kevin O’Neill
By Kathy Ruff
Identity theft and the deluge of junk mail, telemarketing calls and spam contribute to growing
fears that privacy in today’s wired world has disappeared. But is it an issue of privacy or a lack of
integrity and trust among marketing maestros?
Marketing professionals continue to seek
avenues to learn preferences to promote client
events, sell products and services and maintain
an image in the public eye. What’s different
today is the method, madness and volume of
marketers using technology to reach those markets that are increasingly online.
The sale of e-mail and other customer relationship management (CRM) databases has become a
lucrative business for anyone with the cash, and
spammers’ works have invaded the everyday lives
Saving grace
Area gems regain
their sparkle.
— Page 42-43
‘Racino’ concept may create ‘destination entertainment’ venues
By Jennifer Butler
What do you get when you cross a racetrack
and a casino? Some say big bucks, more jobs,
and greater tax revenue for the state, and have
coined the term “racino” as the end product.
According to Ewing Cole Cherry Brott
(Ewing Cole), a Philadelphia-based architectural, engineering, interior design and planning
firm, one that specializes in the design of
entertainment facilities, the marriage of the
two creates new opportunities for the state
economy and the fading horse racing industry.
State legislators, desperate for new strategies
to meet strained budgets, may have found the
answer in racinos, according to Ewing Cole.
From the 1930s to 1970s, horse racing was
extremely popular — a “premiere sporting
event,” according to Don Dissinger, sports
and entertainment practice leader and senior vice-president at Ewing Cole.
He estimates that daily attendance at race-
tracks in the heyday of the sport ranged from
10,000 to 50,000 people.
The recent movie,“Seabiscuit” illustrates just
how popular this sport was in the days of
radio, when only baseball was a match for it
with sports fans.
In the 70s, that all changed with the introduction of state lotteries.
“It was easier to go to a lottery outlet than to
Racinos continues on page 30
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Points to ponder as we pursue title: ‘Wall Street West’
As I prepare my children for their return
to school, the school district in which we
live — North Pocono — is contemplating
building a new high school, in part
because of a growing student body.
We are not alone.There are school districts in Pike,Wayne and Monroe counties that have undergone several expansions within the past few years.
In the Poconos and even into areas of
Lackawanna County bordering the
Poconos, it is increasingly common to
hear a “New York” accent from people
who say they are “year round” residents.
The Scranton to New York rail connection will be ferrying people effortlessly
back and forth in the near future.
Now we hear that our region is being
marketed as a backup site for New York
financial firms.The need for a “Wall
Street in the wings” was revealed after
September 11; the point was pounded
home after the great blackout of 2003.
Their lights went out. Our’s didn’t.
The “business” side of my brain is elated that our area may be enriched and
enlivened by capitalizing on our proximity to New York.
If we can attract quality jobs and lure
educated, youthful people to relocate
D E PA R T M E N T S
here — we all benefit.
I don’t argue with that logic. I believe
it is sound logic and I welcome the
chance for our area to grow.
However, the illogical part of me
mourns the loss of some of the things
that made our area unique.
I know a stagnant population is bad, bad,
bad. But there is a certain charm in being
able to say of a surname,“That’s a Dunmore
name, or an Old Forge name, or a Peckville
name,” and be right on the money.
My husband noted of a new shopping
center,“It’s pretty, but it looks like it could
be from anywhere.”
A new shopping center is almost
always something to celebrate — it
means that money and people and jobs
are there to support it.
But there is that small nagging regret
that the old corner store had to die to give
birth to the spanking new mini mall.
To add to the illogic of that regret: that
corner store rarely stocked what you
needed, and kept hours that made it
impossible to shop there!
Nevertheless, it feels like some small connections to childhood are being lost.And
the older one gets, the more precious
those last few connections become.
So, with intellectual bliss but a
heavy heart, I say,“Wall Street
West? Bring it on.”
Banking & Finance . .6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ,11, 12
Business Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Corporate Lifestyles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Cover Stories . . . . . . . . . . . .1, 48, 49, 50
E-Business, Computers & the Internet . . . .17, 18
Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22, 23
Focus: Architects and Engineers . . . .42-43
Focus: Hazleton Renewed . .31,32,33,34,35
Focus: Northumberland County . . . . . . . . .16
For the Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Healthcare, Oncology Care . . .24,25,26,27
Management & Leadership . . . . . . . . . .37
Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Personnel File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Real Estate & Construction . . . . . . . . . .46
Regional Business. 13,21,28,30,38,41,47,54
“I’d say it is probably the most innovative idea brought into my business
since the introduction of computers.”
— Gino Bartoli, president of A.J. Lupas
Insurance Agency Inc., on Landmark Bank’s
new courier service, page nine
Vol. 18 No. 10 • September 2003
149 Penn Avenue
Scranton, Pennsylvania 18503
www.npbj.com
The Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal is a member
of Times • Shamrock Publishing Division
“This year the weather has been fairly
good for growing, and the (apple)
crops have been better than they have
been in past years.”
— Gary Ritter, owner, Ritter’s Cider Mill,
Mount Cobb, page 14
Editor
“Businesses need to be aware that
an increasing number of residential
customers are choosing broadband
access. Since broadband service is
traditionally more expensive than
dial-up, one could conclude that these
individuals are also the ones with
money to spend.”
Elizabeth Zygmunt — ext. 5415
Managing Editor
Christine Fanning — ext. 5409
Editorial Assistants
Jamie Callen — ext. 5213/5223
Patti Knoepfel — ext. 5414
— Brian Mengel, director of engineering,
PenTeleData, Palmer ton, page 17
Contributing Reporters
John Beauge, Jennifer Butler,
Robert Curran, Bernard Healey,
Leigh Ann Jacobson, Mary Ann Krisa,
Ralph Nardone, Patricia O’Brien,
Beth W. Orenstein,Andrew Ohrman,
Marianne Tucker Puhalla, Kathy Ruff
“To be a good leader . . . you have to
be able to express yourself spontaneously . . . Powell, Rumsfeld and
Clinton, in particular, are articulate.
Bush is learning on the job.”
— William J. Parente, Sr., Ph.D., professor of
political science at the University of Scranton, in
a discussion of leadership qualities, page 40
Director of
Community Newspaper Group
Tim Holmes — ext. 3441
ADVERTISER INDEX
Alice's Wonderland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
American Environmental Outfitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Arc Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Blackout Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Borton-Lawson Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
CAN DO Inc. /Hazleton Chamber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Citizens Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Clickdata.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Clough Harbour Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Colman Sales Co. Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Columbia Hudson Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Commercial Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Community Banks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Cooks Medical Care Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Creative Business Interiors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Cross Valley Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Design/Build Consultants LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Eagle Rock Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Electric City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
First Federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
First Heritage Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
First Liberty Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
First National Community Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
G2 Integrated Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Hawk Mountain Labs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Hazleton Development Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Hinman, Howard & Kattell LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Hutchison Insurance Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
IMR Limited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
S U B S C R I P T I O N
Small Business Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . .45
ezygmunt@timesshamrock.com
They said it here
Cartoon by Brad Veley
Isabella Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Junior Achievement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
K C Larson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
KBF Print Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
L. R. Costanzo Co. Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Luzerne County Community College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
McCormack Mortgage Services Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Mesko Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Moyer Aviation Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Nextel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Northeastern Medical Center & Northeastern Occupational Medicine &
Rehabilitation Center P.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24, 64
PenTeleData . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
PNC Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
QProQ Engineering Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Radiation Medicine Specialists of NEPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Rock Creek Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Shamrock Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
St. Luke's Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Subway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
T.E.A.M. Supply Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Tech Aviation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
The Altamont Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
The Citizen's Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
The Legacy Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Trade Eastern Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Wachovia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Wachovia Wealth Management Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Windham Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
WVIA Public Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Wyoming Valley Healthcare Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
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NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 2003 • 5
The ethics of asking for Medicaid
care program, which gives incentive to the
American public to pay the premiums for
When does it become ethical to “spend
care that extends into the home, rather
down” your assets to qualify a loved one for than only the traditional Clorox-perfumed,
Medicaid? Is there ever a “right” set of cirheaven’s waiting rooms we call nursing
cumstances to do so? Is entitlement to
homes. Not to put the knock on the nursthese benefits a right of every American?
ing home industry. They do a heroic job
Or should your end-of-life care and its atten- with limited funds. Very limited funds.
dant costs be your responsibility?
And the work is not fun.
Many financial professionals
Given that no one among us
today are facing these and more
wants to be in these dreadful
difficult questions when their
places, it tears at our heartclients or their clients’ children
strings to make the decision to
come to them for help in making
put Mom or Dad in one and
Mom or Dad qualify for governwonder why there is no alterment aid in nursing care costs.
native. There could be.
The dilemma is in the question.
As the Baby Boomer generaIs it ethical to do this?
tion nears the age where the
Suppose the family assets connursing home looms as a dissist of a farm, which has been in
tinct possibility, their immense
Evans
the family for the last two hunpower as a consumer group
dred years. If the next generation is
will affect the choices we now have.
actively farming the land and generating
But until that happens, where do we
a living from the farm, is it right for the
draw the line?
government to be the auctioneer at the
Granted, the needs of the “community
death of the elderly farmer who had no
spouse” (a lovely euphemism for the
assets, in an effort to recover the costs
spouse left at home when the other is in
for his stay in a nursing home?
a nursing home) have to be taken care of
If not, then what about the children of
and being able to preserve some type of
the corporate executive who expected to
financial security for that person is parainherit Dad’s generous stock portfolio
mount. So how much is enough?
when he passed on and demanded from
Elder care attorneys who specialize in
their attorney that he make Dad eligible
this type of planning have some tried and
for Medicaid to preserve their inheritance? true methods to make this happen. And
Do we have a sense of right for the first
still within the guidelines of the federal
case and disdain for the second? Why?
government, but it’s not that much.
What about being responsible for our
Even though the Feds set the guidelines,
own medical care and its costs?
the state has the ultimate say in what that
Is that concept as irrelevant a moral
amount is. It currently lands somewhere
standard as the mortgage-free home?
around $90,000 in assets (the house?) and
Probably so.
only $2,000 in cash. So should that perIn the last generation, people had multison be penalized because his or her
generational households with the tradispouse needs long-term care?
tional wife/mother at home.
Is it fair to force poverty on this commuThe daily care of all family members fell
nity spouse in order for her husband to
on her shoulders with children doing their get the care he needs, which she can’t
fair share. The multi-generational family
provide? What happens if she then has to
rarely exists anymore and care of elderly
go into a nursing home, too?
parents is relegated to the occasional visit
There are lovely options like gifting to
from the progeny who live hours or days
children, trusts, inter-spousal transfers,
away. Grandchildren are committed to
immediate annuities, and so forth.
sports, music lessons and private tutoring
Although all of them are legitimate
to guarantee great SAT scores.
options, each of them carries great risk of
Our current societal values dismiss the
coming back to haunt you. The only viable
inclusion of care for the elderly as a top
option is a long-term care policy, which
priority, so we transfer that responsibiliallows for home medical care as well as
ty and cost to the local agencies and the nursing home stays.
Lynn S. Evans, certified financial planner, is
federal government. And then we rail
president of Northeastern Financial
against the authorities when they deny
Consultants, a Clarks Summit-based firm
the care for free.
and licensee of financial life planning tools
What’s missing in this equation?
and materials.Visit the company on the Web
Maybe the answer is a better long-term
at www.nefci.com. or e-mail info@nefci.com.
By Lynn Evans
R E S T A U R A N T
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OPERATING HOURS:
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FRIDAY - SATURDAY 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
LUNCH:
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
FOR RESERVATIONS, PLEASE CALL
570.270.9292
PNC Foundation presents gift to Marywood University
Representatives of PNC
Bank recently presented
a check in the amount of
$20,000 from the PNC
Foundation to Marywood
University. The funds represent the bank’s final
payment of a $100,000
pledge. Seen at the
check presentation
were, left to right, Peter
J. Danchak, president,
PNC Bank Northeast
Pennsylvania; Sister
Mary Reap, I.H.M.,
president, Marywood
University; and Paul
Kosiba, PNC Bank, vice
president, institutional
investment group.
Tips for efficient debt collection
The grim reality for many businesses is
the eventual need to deal with slow-paying or nonpaying customers. In fact, an
otherwise thriving small business can find
itself facing financial difficulties when
fees for services or products are not collected on a timely basis.To avoid this situation, the Pennsylvania Institute of
Certified Public Accountants recommends
that you have a plan in place for collecting and monitoring accounts receivable
and following up on unpaid invoices.
Start with a clear policy
Firmly establish your company’s payment terms and put them in writing.
Before you take an order or start a project, let clients know when and how you
expect payment. Be clear about your
acceptance of such things as personal
checks and credit cards, and the forms of
identification required when using these.
Also, be sure the policy includes deadlines
for payments, along with penalty clauses
for large amounts that remain unpaid.
To avoid having your cash flow disrupted by slow or nonpaying customers, consider asking for payment up front.
Depending on the type of business, this
can be full or partial payment, deposit, or
retainer.Advance payment not only will
help your cash flow, but also will secure
the relationship between your company
and the customer.
Check customer’s creditworthiness
If you sell high-priced items or services
that will be paid over time, it’s especially
important to check the customer’s creditworthiness.When you provide an item or
service to be paid at a later date, you are
extending credit.You need to be sure that
customers are creditworthy.
Credit application forms can be purchased at most office supply stores, but a
better idea is to have an attorney draw
one up. In addition to providing you with
basic contact information and bank
account numbers, a good credit application gives you permission to order credit
reports and check trade references. Once
the prospective customer has completed
the application, be sure to verify the information supplied and call the references to
check on their payment experiences.
Invoice promptly
Billing promptly and accurately is key to
the timely collection of fees. Don’t wait
until the end of the month to bill. If there
is a long lag time between completion of
the work or shipment of the order and the
date of the invoice, the message to your
customer is that it’s OK to be slow. Before
sending out invoices, take the time to carefully check them and be sure the due
date, description, amount, and terms are
clearly stated.An error will compromise
your image and encourage slow payment.
Another way to ensure prompt payment
is to follow your customer’s invoicing
instructions to the letter. Many large companies have precise methods for invoicing.Whether that means sending the bill
to one department and a copy to the person who requested the service or including a special vendor identification number, adhering to the rules results in a
more prompt payment.
Monitor and follow up on payment due
There are many accounting software
packages available that will give you tools
to monitor your accounts receivable.
Basically, you need to know who owes
what and for how long. It is advisable to
develop a timetable for handling overdue
bills. Mail a second invoice, with a notation or stamp that says “past due” or “second notice,” and then follow up with a
phone call. Send late payment reminders
early and frequently.Typically, the longer
a bill goes unpaid, the less likely you are
to recover the funds.
Getting outside help
Sometimes having an attorney send a
letter to the overdue account is enough
to hasten payment. If that doesn’t work,
you may need to resort to small claims
court or a collection agency. Keep in
mind that, in most states, small claims
courts typically cap the amount for which
you can sue at a few thousand dollars, and
the process can be time-consuming. If you
refer overdue accounts to a collection
agency, be aware that the amount collected will be less than what you’re owed.
This is because the collection agency may
negotiate down the amount due and take
a percentage as its fee.
It can pay to be flexible
Although it is vital to have specific policies in place, from time to time it’s wise
to be flexible. For example, if a customer
who has made timely payments in the
past suddenly experiences financial difficulties, consider working out a flexible
payment plan. Just be sure to collect some
amount each month until the overdue
amount is completely paid. CPAs point
out that while payment in a timely matter
is important, so is maintaining good relationships with long-standing clients.
This article was provided by the
Pennsylvania Institute of Certified
Public Accountants, a professional association of more than 19,000 CPAs who
work in public accounting, industry,
government, and education.Visit
www.picpa.org.
Tobyhanna Army Depot gets new commander
Col. Tracy L. Ellis (left) accepts the
Tobyhanna Army Depot flag from
Maj. Gen. William H. Russ, commanding general of the U.S. Army
Communications-Electronics
Command. The change of command
ceremony took place July 31 on the
front lawn of the Headquarters
Building. Ellis will serve as depot
commander for three years. His
most recent previous assignment
was as chief of staff, Friendly
Forces Coordination Cell at the
U.S. Central Command (forward) in
Saudi Arabia.
It doesn’t get more
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Columbia County...
The Heart of TechValley
Columbia Hudson Partnership, 444 Warren Street, Hudson NY 12534-2415, ccez@mhcable.com
U.S. Army photo by Charlie Cardimona
Blackout of ’03: added opportunity for ‘Wall Street West?’
By Jorge Coronel
For years, regulators, advisory boards
and industry organizations have drafted
recommendations to guide key industries on steps to limit exposure from
natural disasters, terrorism, and other
business hazards. Many of these recommendations have made their way into
mandates and regulations.
Triggered by September 11, one of
these recent initiatives was the
“Interagency White Paper” undertaken by
the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and Security and
Exchange Commission.
Although this paper has a much broader
scope, one of its calls to action is for
financial institutions — primarily located
in New York — to put in place “geographically separated” backup sites.
These backup sites have many requirements that do not allow them to share
infrastructure components: water, power,
transportation, and communications.
Until recently, this was not possible due
to the constraint of synchronous data
backup technology, limited to 50 miles.
However, recent advances by EMC in
symmetrix and SRDF technologies for
synchronous mirroring of storage subsystems have extended the range to 125
miles — opening the door for northeast
Pennsylvania to meet the requirements as
a backup site (see map).
And not a minute has been wasted.
Ironically, days before the great blackout,
area officials led by Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski
(D-11) met with Security Industry
Association representatives in New York for
the purpose of marketing northeast
Pennsylvania as a viable location for backup
sites. More information about these efforts
can be found at www.pennsnortheast.com.
After the blackout, Chris Haran, CEO of the
Great Valley Technology Alliance, said that
the “presentation was well received, and
now, coupled with last month’s scenario,
should raise some eyebrows.”
In addition, the aforementioned infrastructure requirements elevate northeast
Pennsylvania to a prime site due to the
elimination of many of the other locations within the 125-mile radius.The goal
for recovery of these financial organizations is set to be within a couple of
hours, hence the need for synchronous
backups and hot-site operations.
To put this need in perspective, data
from The Fibre Channel Industry
Association places the average downtime
cost for brokerage operations at approximately $6.5 million per hour.
Coupled with additional investments
underway, northeast Pennsylvania continues to set itself apart as a key location for
business. We should not overlook the
fact that our awareness and involvement
in high-tech developments have us at the
forefront of this and other opportunities.
To prepare for those oppotunities,
the August 14 blackout presents
regional businesses with some timely
lessons about what can happen when
an interruption strikes.
While large business got the press,
much of the unpublished business impact
sits close to home — among the small
and midsized businesses of New York and
surrounding impacted areas.
It is guaranteed that 100 percent of
these were impacted in some way —
sadly, a significant amount were financially impacted.Tragically enough for a small
New York financial firms had been
warned after Sept. 11 to have
backup sites within a 125-mile
radius. Ironically, days before the
’03 blackout, area officials, led by
Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, met with
Security Industry Association representatives in New York for the purpose of marketing northeast
Pennsylvania as a viable location
for backup sites. In purple are
areas affected by the blackout.
Within the circle are those areas
within 125 miles of New York City.
number, it may have been the final blow.
The lesson learned is that planning for a
business interruption is no longer
reserved for Goliath enterprises.
With respect to northeast
Pennsylvania and its various economic
development efforts to become “Wall
Street West,” it is imperative that we
recognize this very important component — planning for interruption —
that must be adopted as part of our
business planning.
Studies show that 50 percent to 70 percent of small businesses don’t have plans
to protect their enterprise.These plans
don’t have to prepare for Armageddon,
planning for an interruption is enough.
Indeed,“disaster recovery planning” has
now routinely been replaced with the
more appropriate “business continuity
practice” in business plans, and rightly so.
More appropriate levels of considerations have been added to make business
continuity practices more meaningful and
appropriate for all business.
A key topic, for example, is protecting
against downtime caused by computer
viruses. Business continuity practices
carry a specific set of practices and
guidelines for prevention and recovery in
the event of a virus.This latter point further conveys the importance and scope
of business continuity, in that it emphasizes how serious financial harm can be
caused to an organization by a component of the business being interrupted.
An all-encompassing disaster does not
have to occur to cause disruption.
Let’s not forget that we must do as we
preach, so let’s update those business
plans with a nice thick business continuity section, your insurance company and
business bankers will love you for it.
Jorge L. Coronel is chief executive officer/president of Infinity Technology Group
Inc., Clarks Summit. He can be reached at
(570)586-4850 or on the Web at
www.itgsystems.com
A taste of Tuscany and a dash of Manhattan flavor this family’s restaurant
By Mary Ann Krisa
When 28-year-old Liza Tambur and her
30-year-old brother, Robert S.Tamburro,
decided to partner with their parents,
Robert L. and Virginia S.Tambur, to open
Isabella’s, a restaurant located in Pittston,
food was not their only concern.
“Our goal was to bring something totally new to the area,” co-owner Liza Tambur
said. “We traveled a lot and went to the
restaurants that we liked.”
They visited New York City restaurants
and, based on their experiences, established
the concept of Isabella’s — an idea, they say,
that combines New York City ambience
with Tuscan Italian-influenced New
American cuisine.
Fortunately, their professional backgrounds provided a strong foundation
for the establishment. Tambur, who
worked at Condé Nast Publication’s
fashion magazines, Allure and Glamour,
was able to provide her attention to
detail as well as her creative flare to the
design and cuisine of Isabella’s, while
Tamburro, whose background is in commercial real estate development, implemented his area of expertise.
The family says that they had long considered opening a restaurant but the time
had never quite presented itself. They purchased the site in the mid-80s and various
restaurants, Café Nino, Court Side Lounge,
and Medici, inhabited the site until both
the family and the space were available.
“We came together with a concept of the
restaurant,” Tamburro said. “And the concept required a major overhaul of the space.
We gutted the entire inside of the building.”
Tamburro’s focus was primarily on the
spatial side of the business, providing direction on what had to be done and when.
Together, they all agree, the partners complemented each other quite well.
“From the business aspect, I was able to
bring the management of personnel,
costs and accounting. My mother and sister were the architectural and decorating
consultants, while I had more of an input
on the spatial aspects,”Tamburro said.
“Apart from being brother and sister,
we’re partners,”Tambur added. “I have a
lot to learn from him and he has learned
a lot from our father.”
Diners can choose from among the traditional, like “The Isabella Burger” for $11,
or something a little less common, such
as “Hand Cut Spinach Pappardelle” at $18.
Orders are delivered to white linendressed tables via an aproned server
meticulously dressed in a shirt and tie.
The interior walls are decorated with
European-style sconces that cast an
evening glow on the hardwood floors.
Patrons may finish the evening while sipping a glass of “Bruichladdich Islay,” a 15year-old Scotch at $9, or opt instead for a
taste of something exotic from the dessert
menu such as “Citrus Pots de Crème,
Chantilly and Caramel Oranges” for $5.
“Our goal is to provide the finest food,
finest service, and the most unique
atmosphere. We worry about what we
can do and how we can make it better,”
Tamburro said. “From a broader spectrum, I think an establishment like this
makes the area a more appealing, enticing place to live.”
And while the restaurant does indeed
bring something different to the area, the
true allure of Isabella’s is the dedication
of the of the restaurant’s founders to its
development and continued cultivation.
“We are a family business,”Tamburro
said. “And we’re all actively involved.”
Isabella’s is located at 1140 Route 315,
Wilkes-Barre. Hours are 5 p.m to 10 p.m.,
during the week, Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m.
to 11 p.m. Lunches are served Monday
through Friday, 11a.m.to 2 p.m. Call (570)
270-9292 for reservations.
Small bank uses couriers to wage battle for convenience
Landmark Community Bank has introduced a first-of-its-kind courier service
that takes banking services to the business customer, saving those who use it
time and money.
“Today, more than ever, banking is an
industry driven by convenience, as clients
have less time for mundane tasks and must
focus on their business,” says Daniel R.
Nulton, Landmark CEO.“Many professionals
tend to select a bank based on the proximity of a branch to their office. Landmark
takes convenience and service to a new
level by taking the bank to the client.”
With only one office located at 2 South
Main Street, Pittston, one of Nulton’s goals
for Landmark was to make the two-yearold bank competitive with larger banks
that have branches in every community.
“There were a lot of clients who wanted to do business with Landmark because
of our local ownership and personal service, but our Pittston location was not convenient for them. By offering valet bank-
ing for our business customers, there is
not a banking chore we can’t handle.We
pick up deposits, deliver cash and can
even process a loan request, from application to funding, without the client ever
leaving his or her office,” he says.
Landmark couriers are bonded and
insured.The client determines the time
and number of pick-ups each week.
Nulton says that not only do businesses
gain back the time and productivity lost
every time a staff member had to make a
trip to the bank, they also avoid the liability assumed every time an employee goes
to the bank on company business.
“It has made my life as a business owner
much easier,” says Gino Bartoli, president
of A.J. Lupas Insurance Agency Inc.,
Plains.“I don’t have enough time in the
day as it is. If the courier service keeps
me from having to drive to a bank, stand
in line on the third of the month or wait
at the drive-up window, then there’s no
question that it is a good thing. I’d say it
is probably the most innovative idea
brought into my business since the intro-
Check Processing Facts from the American
Bankers’ Association:
Banks process more than 40 billion checks each
year. In the first comprehensive study in decades, the
Federal Reserve reported that 42.9 billion checks,
valued at $39 trillion, were paid in 2001.
Some institutions process more than a million
checks per day, traveling through sorting machines
at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.
Funds on local checks must be made available
within two business days according to the
Expedited Funds Availability Act of 1987. Non-local
checks must be made available within five business days. Certain circumstances permit longer
holds due to the high risk of fraud, such as new
accounts, deposits over $5,000, repeatedly overdrawn accounts and/or emergencies.
The average value per check is $925, according to the 2002 Federal Reserve Retail Payments
Research Project.
Consumers write over half (50.9 percent) of all
checks, according to a 2002 Federal Reserve study.
Other categories include: business — 32.3 percent;
government — 3.5 percent; business or government
— 1.3 percent; unknown — 12 percent.
Approximately 251 million checks are returned
or “bounced” each year, according to the Federal
Reserve. This is 0.6 percent of total check volume.
The average value per returned check is $701.
Source: www.aba.com/
By Marianne Tucker Puhalla
duction of computers.”
“The courier service is the same concept
I have applied in the healthcare industry
for 18 years,” says Paul C.Woelkers, president and CEO of Lackawanna Mobile X-ray
Inc., Dunmore.“We are a mobile x-ray
company that takes its service to the
patients, in their homes and to them in
nursing homes.Although the bank is in
Pittston, that’s never an issue, because they
bring the bank to me on a daily basis.”
“I’m in an industry where time is
money,” notes John Bartorillo, managing
partner of Maslow Lumia Bartorillo (MLB)
Advertising,Wilkes-Barre.“Anything that
helps me save both is a true innovation.”
MLB’s banking is handled by bookkeeper Anita Petroski who says the courier
service is simple to use.“I call and tell
them I have a pick up.They use tamperproof envelopes to take the deposits to
the bank. I get a signed receipt at the time
of the pick-up.The deposit slip is either
mailed to me or delivered the next day.”
Nulton says that since most of the business transacted is check-based, the couriers
carry little cash.“Clients know that a full
security plan is in place, and once a transaction is handed over, it is fully insured.”
Landmark also carries out personal
banking for individual business clients.
Nulton says the courier service area
reaches from Eynon in Lackawanna
County to Nanticoke in lower Luzerne.
Pricing is a function of the customer’s
total relationship with the bank and
very few clients pay additionally for
the service.
A Landmark Community Bank courier
picks up a deposit at the Maslow Lumia
Bartorillo Advertising Agency, WilkesBarre, Luzerne County, from office manager Anita Petroski. Photo by A.J. Zambetti
Landmark is expanding its physical
presence as well.
A second branch is under construction along Wyoming Avenue in Forty
Fort, and is expected to open later
this year.
Hinerfeld Realty Company
- Commercial Division -
Performance...Not Promises!
KINGSTON
MOOSIC
MOOSIC
NEW LISTING. RETAIL DEVELOPMENT
SITE OPPORTUNITY. 213’ x 253’, 1.24
Acre Corner Parcel For Sale. 38,000 SF
Warehouse-Showroom. Additional 105’ x
230’ Vacant Parcel included. On busy Pierce
Street Corridor at 3rd Ave., with numerous
retail and medical/dental facilities. Large
neighborhood backup. Will also rent.
PRICE REDUCTION.
EXPRESSWAY
WAREHOUSE. 12,000 Square Feet, preengineered steel building. 20’-22’ clear
height. Two dock & two drive-in doors.
3,000 SF office. 400 amp power. Located
between Moosic and Davis Street Exits of
Interstate Route 81.
INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY. 26,000 square
feet in Warehouse / Light Industrial Building.
Divided into five sections. Eight truck dock
doors. 440 volt electric power. M-2: Heavy
Manufacturing zoning. Close to Interstate
Route 81.
FOR SALE
$1,125,000
FOR RENT
$3.50 / SQ. FT.
FOR RENT
$2.50 / SQ. FT.
WILKES-BARRE
KINGSTON
SCRANTON
RETAIL
DEVELOPMENT
SITE
OPPORTUNITY. 3.58 Acre Site at corner of
Wilkes-Barre Boulevard and Coal Street.
Take advantage of traffic between Mall and
Center City. Can also be leased.
NEW LISTING. WAREHOUSE. Cross
Valley Industrial Center. 228,500 Square
Feet. Heated and sprinklered. Eight dock
doors. Up to 18’ clear height. 5.64 Acre site.
Accessible from Cross Valley Expressway
(Pa. Rt. 309).
BACK ON MARKET. OFFICE/RETAIL.
Birney Avenue, Minooka. 4,660 square feet
building. Constructed as bank.
Later
expanded and used as car dealership auto
service and engineering test lab. On U.S. Rt.
11 close to Davis Street Exit #182 of
Interstate Route 81.
FOR SALE
$1,550,000
FOR SALE
$850,000
FOR SALE
$129,000
SCRANTON
SCRANTON
OLYPHANT
HANDSOME DOWNTOWN BUILDING.
12,420 Square Feet commercial building.
Three stories. Beautiful front. Ready for
redevelopment.
Close to University of
Scranton and Court House Square.
OFFICE. One story, 9,500 square feet office
building for sale. Constructed in 1980’s for
national insurance company.
Plenty of
parking. Suburban setting next to Abingtons.
Near Allied Services campus. Morgan
Highway, Rt 307.
OFFICE/LABORATORY 4,500 Square Feet
of nicely finished office space and clean,
bright laboratory. Mid-Valley Industrial Park
location. Short distance from Exit #2 of Gov.
Robert Casey Expressway (U.S. Rt. 6), which
gives quick and easy access to Interstate
Routes 81, 84 & 380.
FOR SALE
$125,000
FOR SALE
$775,000
CLARKS SUMMIT
FORTY FORT
OFFICE SPACE. 1,636 square feet six room
suite of offices. Includes four private offices
& conference room. Full service lease in
beautiful “BDA” Building. Suburban office
campus location.
EXPRESSWAY INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY.
114,000 square feet Warehouse / Light
Industrial Building on 4 acres. At Forty Fort/
Kingston Exit (#4) of Cross-Valley
Expressway (Pa. Rte. 309), near Interstate
Routes 81 & 476. Fully sprinklered. 70,000
square feet on 6” and 8” thick 1st Floor. Nine
(9) truck doors. New Roof.
FOR RENT
$20.00 / SQ. FT.
FOR SALE
FOR RENT
$7.50 / SQ. FT.
600 Lackawanna Avenue
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: 570/207-4100 or 342-8312
Fax: 342-6815 E-mail:hinerfld@epix.net
For information on all of our properties, visit our
website @ www.hinerfeldrealty.com
$1,250,000.
Public opinion sour on economy, despite positive signs
Despite signals from the equity markets
that the worst might be behind us, concerns about the economy in general and a
troubling unemployment situation weigh
heavily on the minds of Americans.
Twenty-seven percent of U.S. adults
mentioned the economy in general as the
country’s most important problem in
Gallup Tuesday Briefing’s July 7-9 poll,
and another 13 percent specifically mentioned the unemployment situation.
A separate question found that 58
percent of Americans feel that the
president is not paying enough attention to the economy.
Clearly in the eyes of Americans, as the
economy emerges tentatively from recession it cannot receive too much attention
from Washington.
Encouraging Signs
The ongoing skittishness seems strange
in some respects: the fog of war has lifted, after 13 rate cuts the Fed still maintains an accommodative stance, and new
home sales are booming.
Furthermore, there is good news from
corporate America: reported corporate
earnings have exceeded expectations and
productivity growth is strong.
The latest Thomson First Call consensus
estimates project that second quarter S&P
500 earnings will be 8.1 percent higher
than the year before and 66 percent of
S&P 500 companies that have reported
earnings so far have beaten estimates.
The Unemployment Effect
So why isn’t the public feeling more
jubilant about the recovery?
The most obvious answer continues to
be the national unemployment rate,
which climbed from 5.8 percent in
March to 6.4 percent in June.
Not only do 13 percent of Americans
feel that unemployment is the most
important problem facing the country,
but 44 percent of Americans also believe
that unemployment will go up (either “a
RELATIONSHIPS
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your business. Together, we can really help it grow.
Success in business has a lot to do with the relationships you build. And at PNC,
building relationships with our clients is what we do best. We work hard to understand
you and your business. Then we present you with a range of creative, flexible solutions to
help you meet your goals. And your challenges. So talk to us. Together we can construct
a plan to enable your business to grow. Please call 877-PNC-IDEA or visit pnc.com.
lot” or “a little”) in the next six months.
How does the unemployment rate
impact overall perceptions of the economy? Even in periods of high unemployment, the vast majority of workers keep
their jobs; thus the effect of high unemployment on consumer confidence
comes from consumer skittishness about
their own job security, and/or consumer
sympathy pain for friends and family who
are out of work.
From data gathered for Gallup Tuesday
Briefing’s 2003 Personal Finance survey
in April, it appears that changes in the
unemployment rate filter through to the
public.There is high correlation between
the actual unemployment rate and the
percentage of Americans saying they
know someone who has recently been
laid off or fired.
When the unemployment rate hit 6.0
percent in April 2003, 60 percent of
Americans reported knowing someone
out of work.
That was up from 51 percent in
February 2002, when the unemployment
rate was 5.6 percent, and from 43 percent in August 2001, when unemployment was just 4.9 percent.
Similarly, public perceptions about
whether it is a good or bad time to find a
quality job are closely linked to the
unemployment rate.
There is also some correlation between
personal experiences and perceptions of
unemployment, and one’s rating of the
U.S. economy.
Knowing someone who is out of work
correlates strongly with a negative view
of the U.S. economy.
Only 13 percent of those who know
someone out of work have a positive
view of the economy, while 59 percent
have a negative view.
By contrast, the negative tilt is much
less pronounced among those who do
not know someone out of work: 29
percent of this group is positive, 39
percent is negative.
The correlation between unemployment and the overall economy is somewhat clearer when looking at respondents’ general perceptions of the job market.The plurality (44 percent) of those
saying now is a good time to find a quality job also have a generally positive view
of the economy. By contrast, only 11 percent of those who say now is a bad time
to find a quality job have a positive view
of the economy; 60 percent of this group
has a negative view.
Bottom Line
TREASURY MANAGEMENT I LEASING I CREDIT I CAPITAL MARKETS I INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
©2003 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
It seems especially revealing that young
adults — who largely drove the Internet
boom of the 1990s — are now particularly
negative about employment prospects:
while 16 percent of Americans overall
believe that unemployment will go up “a
lot” in the next six months, the percentage
is 27 percent among 18- to 29-year-olds.
Economists might point out that seasonal
fluctuations in unemployment data are
making statistics difficult to interpret, but
judging by the resounding pessimism of
Americans — and young adults in particular — there can be little doubt about the
huge psychological toll. News of improved
corporate earnings will ring hollow until
Americans start to see — and feel —
employment figures catching up.
Nation’s top specialty retailers ranked, Best Buy on top
In a year tested by a sluggish economy
and geopolitical concerns, specialty
retailers were forced to make hard decisions to ensure their continued success.
The specialty stores that can distinguish themselves are the ones that are
prospering, while the remainder are
looking for sites and strategies in hopes
of ensuring their continued existence,
according to the 2003 TSYS Top 100
Specialty Retailers ranking, released last
month by STORES, the magazine of the
National Retail Federation.
The rankings are based on an annual
survey and are published in the August
issue of STORES magazine.
“As a group, the specialty retail market
is extremely competitive,” said Rick
Gallagher, STORES publisher and NRF
vice president.“Some specialty stores
are thriving, and others are fighting for
their lives.”
Minneapolis-based Best Buy leads the
list as the nation’s largest specialty
retailer with 2002 sales of $20.95 billion, a 13.2 percent increase over the
previous year.
Best Buy has benefited from strong
sales of digital products, as well as
a pick-up in sales of laptops and
computer equipment.
In addition, Best Buy has broadened its
furniture collection, particularly in the
area of home entertainment where
goods are styled to coordinate with current TV models and audio/video systems
and components.
Gap retained its
lion in sales (from
Best Buy is the nation’s
place as the secNo. 3 in 2002).
No. 1 specialty retailer.
ond-largest U.S.
Toys R’ Us followed at
specialty retailer,
Familiar stores like Aeropostale the No. 5 spot with
with 2002 sales of
$11.3 billion in sales,
$14.45 billion, a 4.4 and Gymboree round out the
ahead of Circuit City
percent increase
(No. 6) and Limited
bottom of the list.
over 2001. Gap has
Brands (No. 7).
turned itself around after 30 consecutive
Rounding out the top 10 specialty
months of disappointing performances.
retailers, AutoZone advanced to the
By an increased focus on small busieighth position, up four notches
nesses, Staples’ $11.6 billion in sales
from its 2002 ranking.
moved the office supplies retailer up
Barnes & Noble rose to the ninth
two notches to the No.3 spot, surpassspot, from the eleventh position last
ing Office Depot, which was bumped to year. CompUSA, with a $300 million
the fourth-highest spot with $11.36 bildecline in sales, dropped from the
ninth position last year to No. 10.
“The retailers on this impressive list
represent the best and brightest innovators in an ultra-competitive industry,”
said Philip Tomlinson, president of TSYS,
a global payments leader and the largest
third-party processor of retailer-managed accounts in the United States.
“They have been able to flourish
despite the current economy and are
combating the challenges and intense
competition that characterize retail.”
For a complete listing of the “Top 100
Specialty Retailers,” call (202) 626-8189
or visit www.stores.org.
Textron cuts staff
By John Beauge
Textron Inc. has reduced its salaried
personnel by 20 percent and laid off
approximately 15 hourly employees at its
Williamsport plant.
The leading manufacturer of piston
engines for general aviation aircraft was
forced to make the cuts due to poor economic conditions, Daniel Smith, vice
president of human resources, says.
About 30 salaried people either lost
their jobs or accepted a voluntary severance package, he says.
They do not have recall rights like the
furloughed hourly workers, he says.
The job cuts, which have reduced the
Textron work force in Williamsport to
just below 500, were unrelated to an
engine recall last year ordered by the
Federal Aviation Administration after it
determined a faulty crankshaft caused a
small plane crash in Michigan, Smith says.
Textron contended the faulty part with
its Lycoming engines was manufactured
by a vendor but it hired 140 temporary
employees to fix the problem.
They were let go after the recall project was completed.
Smith also says Textron plans at some
future point to shift to the plant the
repair work being done at its facility at
the Williamsport Regional Airport in
Montoursville.The airport hangar will
remain in open, he says.
Few of the engines that are repaired at
the airport arrive by air and all are taken
to the plant for testing before returned
to the customer, he says.
Wilkes-Barre’s Innovation Center
incubator unveils Web site
Rated one
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Local loan
approvals.
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Fast answers are important, and you just
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business needs – with the speed and personal attention
others can’t match.
We’re the local bank that knows what matters to your
local business. See us soon, and let us help with your
personal banking, too.
Visit us at the branch nearest you, or
on the web at www.firstlibertybank.com
Scranton Offices:
Local Branches:
Keyser Ave. 343-1211
Minooka 341-5555
Spruce St. 558-3660
Wyoming Ave. 961-2402
Carbondale 282-9390
Clarks Summit 587-0575
Daleville 842-5715
Dickson City 307-7500
Jermyn 876-6500
Jessup 489-4736
Kingston 714-5700
Olyphant 489-4721
Pittston 655-7750
ATMs at all branches, Quinn’s Market in Blakely & Lackawanna Junior College
† Community Bank, N. A. is rated a leading small business friendly bank by the U.S. Small
Business Administration among those with assets from $1 to $10 billion.
Member FDIC
Entrepreneurs looking for the right
place to build their business can find all
the information they need online at the
Innovation Center@Wilkes-Barre’s new
Web site, www.icwb.biz.
“The Innovation Center’s Web site will
allow potential clients to learn about
the various benefits to being in an incubator; including entrepreneurial
resources and upcoming events,”
explains John L. Augustine, facility director,“They can also view the floor plan
and building layout, as well as get
answers to their questions about the
incubator process. And, most importantly, clients will be able to download
applications and guidelines to becoming an incubator tenant.”
More than an office building or a traditional business incubator, the Innovation
Center@Wilkes-Barre is a place designed
to unite energy, ideas, talent and expertise.
Located in the historic Woolworth’s
building on South Main Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre, close to colleges and
universities — the technology incubator
will provide tenants with convenient
access to a well-trained workforce, as well
as research and development resources.
Designated a KOZ (Keystone
Opportunity Zone) area, the facility will
also offer newly renovated Class A space
and tax incentives to potential tenants —
with 15,000 square feet of office space
and 15,000 square feet of small business
start-up space, along with 30,000 square
feet of retail space.
“The idea of placing a state-of-the-art
Innovation Center in the historic
Woolworth’s Building at the heart of the
downtown,” explains Stephen M. Barrouk,
president and CEO at the Greater WilkesBarre Chamber of Business and Industry,
“was to highlight the area’s historic past
while creating a place to foster entrepreneurship and combine that with the creative talent, energy and resources of the
area. We want this facility to be a catalyst
for growth and a symbol of positive change
for the downtown and for the region.”
“The goal of the Innovation Center
@Wilkes-Barre project, managed by
the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber as
part of the Great Valley Technology
Alliance initiative, is to stimulate the
local business economy and create
employment opportunities.”
“In fact, the incubator is designed to
provide a fully-equipped, nurturing environment for technology-based businesses
in their first three to five years.”
“Whether you’re a student just thinking
about starting their own firm or a professional with a business dream, the
Innovation Center@Wilkes-Barre offers
start-up companies a chance at success,”
Barrouk says.
The Chamber’s Web site,
www.wilkes-barre.org, provides a
wealth of information on the community and on projects like the
Innovation Center@Wilkes-Barre.
Battipaglia to speak at NEPA’s annual dinner
World famous market strategist, Joseph
V. Battipaglia, executive vice president
and chief investment officer for Ryan,
Beck & Co. LLC, will be the keynote
speaker for the 39th annual dinner of the
Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance on
Thursday, September 11.
With regard to the September 11
attacks, Battipaglia will discuss the effects
of the war on terror from a financial perspective. He will focus on the financial
health of the consumer, business, and
government. Concerning the economy,
Battipaglia will share his extensive financial knowledge by exploring how the
U.S. economy is positioned to perform in
the next 12 months and he will present
forecasts of interest rates, bonds, and
equities. He will also be able to elaborate
on Federal Reserve policy and the value
of the dollar.
Featured frequently in national media,
including CNBC, CNN, Fox News and the
Nightly Business Report, Battipaglia
speaks regularly with reporters from The
New York Times, The Wall Street Journal,
and other publications where his market
views are often quoted.
Battipaglia is the chief investment
strategist and spokesperson on investment policy for Ryan Beck& Co. LLC, a
subsidiary of Bank Atlantic Bancorp
(NYSE:BBX). Battipaglia is the former
chairman of investment policy at Gruntal
& Co. LLC, where he conducted strategic
market and economic analysis in support
of the firm’s retail network and institutional presence. Ryan, Beck & Co.,
acquired certain assets and related enti-
ties from Gruntal
& Co., in 2002.
Prior to joining
Gruntal in 1984,
he was a financial analyst for
the Exxon
Corporation and
worked as a
securities analyst
at Elkins & Co., a
division of
Prudential Bache.
Battipaglia
Battipaglia graduated Phi Beta
Kappa in economics from Boston
College and earned his MBA at the
Wharton Graduate School of Business,
University of Pennsylvania. He is a
trustee of the Securities Industry
Institute, which is the Security Industry
Association’s premier leadership and
management education program.
Cost for the event is $50 per person,
which includes dinner entrée as well as
hors d’oeuvres during a mini expo of
NEPA’s programs and services prior to
the dinner beginning at 4:30 p.m.The
program will begin with a video presentation of NEPA’s clients and an award
presentation of the first John. J. Luciani
regionalism award, to be bestowed annually. Battipaglia will make his presentation
following dinner.The event is being held
at the new Hilton Scranton and Conference Center,Adams Avenue, Scranton. For
more information, visit the NEPA Web site
at www.nepa-alliance.org/annual dinner
or call (570) 655-5581.
Publication examines work, play
By Howard J. Grossman, AICP
In a publication issued by the Schuylkill
Chamber of Commerce as part of the
Stay Invent the Future program of the
Pennsylvania Department of Community
and Economic Development, the job market is portrayed for northeastern
Pennsylvania.The publication of the 17page report demonstrates both the recreational and employment opportunities
and is aptly titled “Work and Play in
Northeast Pa.”
County by county, including Carbon,
Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike,
Schuylkill, and Wayne are defined as
places we call home, and information is
presented about places to play with pop
up quizs shown, fast facts about the
county and region, and exciting data that
can be utilized as part of the regional
marketing strategy that is being
processed by Penns Northeast and its
newly expanded activities that were
announced a few months ago.
Successful stories are shown about people
and companies that are part of the region.
The document outlines the places to
learn in the region including 22 colleges
and universities and 11 career schools
that define the wonderful array of higher
educational institutions and schools that
offer a wide ranger and diversity of
courses that can continue to train
prospective employees who may wish to
find work in the region.
One of the outstanding features of the
report is the listing of Web sites that can
be tapped to find electronic information
at a fingertip.This dimension of data support is an important and key link to the
ability of local and out of town students
and others to immediately secure the
database that will assist them in decision
making regarding the extension of their
education, or the reasons why northeastern Pennsylvania is truly the place to
work and play.
Perhaps, however, the most critical portion of the report is the information
about places to live, places to work, and
the job market survey that are presented
in the latter section of the document.
For example, the information shows the
rental comparisons between northeastern Pennsylvania and national statistics.
The range of rental comparisons between
the region and national statistics as a
result of the year 2000 Census shows
median monthly rental in the PoconoNortheast as being $324 to $682 with the
City of Pottsville being the lowest and
Milford in Pike County being the highest.
These data, however, are quite low
across the board compared to many
other larger cities such as San Francisco,
Arlington,Virginia, San Diego, and New
York City that range from$705 to $928.
Crime rates are demonstrated with information based on an index that is a
weighted average of the relative frequency of crimes per capita of five types
including homicide, robbery, rape, aggravated assault, and motor vehicle theft.
The crime indexes within the seven
counties are all significantly below many
national cities.The regional index ranges
from 5 to 114, while the crime rate index
for larger cities across the nation with
seven examples shown as being in a
range from 172 in San Francisco to 469 in
Washington, D.C. A value of 100 means
that the city is exactly average.A value of
200 means that the city has twice the
crime rate as the average city. Source for
this data is Homefair.com, February, 2003.
Salary comparisons are shown with
equivalent data between national cities
and those in this region.The data clearly
demonstrates that earning, for example,
$40,000 in Washington, D.C. for a standard of living is related to a comparable
standard of living in northeastern
Pennsylvania of $24,341.25, with similar
comparisons for other cities nationally
and the region.Again, the same source is
used as was the case with crime rates.
Northeastern Pennsylvania is home to
major incubators that grow companies
and provide services to help young firms
develop.Assistance is available for the
sharing of conference rooms, kitchen
space, copiers, and other office equipment.Young companies are limited to
how long they can stay in the incubator
space.The region is home to the following incubators including the Carbondale
Technology Transfer Center, the East
Stroudsburg University Business
Accelerator, the Pottsville/Schuylkill
Technology Incubator, and the Scranton
Enterprise Center Business Incubator.
These examples will be added to with
one under construction renovation in the
City of Wilkes-Barre. Incubators go back
many years, and the ones listed are second generation incubators that are the
newest and best of the types that have
been previously initiated.
The Northeast Pa. Job Market Survey is
summarized in the report.This data is
based upon a Northeastern Career
Opportunities project with selected
employers across the region asked to participate in a job market survey.
They were asked to identify the current
and future job opportunities available to
regional graduates and graduates over the
next three years. Nearly four out of 10
survey respondents offer college/university internships and one out of four provide high school/vo-tech co-ops, and one
out of five offer apprenticeship programs. One example of an occupation
needed in the region is the nursing profession. Over the next three years, 703
registered nurses, 309 practical nurses,
and 664 certified nurse assistants and
personal care aides will be needed.
Employers plan to hire staff over the
next 12 to 18 months in at least 78 percent of the employers surveyed.The
number of full time employees needed
over the next 12 months were defined as
3.5 percent overall with projected
demand for each county ranging from 1.1
percent to 7.7 percent.
Over the next 18 to 36 months due to
company growth and expansion, employers predict in the region that nearly 2 out
of 3 new employees recruited will be full
time. Nearly three thousand new employees will be needed across the PoconoNortheast’s seven counties.
This document demonstrates a clear
message. Despite the recent economic downturn, there is growth likely
to occur in the region based upon
the employer survey.
A Web site can be contacted to see
more information about the results of the
survey at www.workplaynepa.com.
The
Markle Building
8 West Broad Street, Hazleton, PA 18201
NOW
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In the heart of downtown Hazleton...
From great architecture to an ideal location, to beneficial tax advantages, the
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• Newly renovated interior
• A short drive from Interstates 80 and 81
• Premium Class A office, retail,
restaurant and professional space
• Public parking garage for 400 cars
• Flexible sizes from 500 sq. ft.
We are NOW OPEN and welcome the following businesses:
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Education Technology Services LLC • The Hazleton Development Company
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Pumpkin purveyors predict packed patches this fall
By Jennifer Butler
he chilly air of
the fall will
soon be upon
us and businesses who
earn their keep during
that memory-making
season have been preparing all summer for their
impending visitors.
In northeastern Pennsylvania it has
become extremely popular — even traditional — to make an annual visit to the
“pumpkin patch.”
Area farms and orchards have capitalized on this love of the season in many
unique ways, creating a variety of fall
experiences for their customers, with the
help of Mother Nature.
T
Roba’s Tree Farm and
Pumpkin Patch
The Roba family of Dalton anticipates a
busy season as families turn their attention to the activities of autumn.
John and Sue Roba have been building
their business since 1985, when they
began planting “balled and burlapped”
trees for sale throughout the year on
their 100-acre Christmas tree farm.
Since then the farm has seen considerable growth and each year a new attraction is added to entice families throughout
the Halloween and Christmas holidays.
“We were surprised at the growth in the
Halloween-time business.We try to add
something new each year and this year it
is ‘Bunnyville,’” said John Roba.
“Bunnyville” consists of miniature
homes built especially for the rabbit population at the farm.A new Barrel Train,
featuring a herd of “Holstein” cows constructed by Roba, will be pulled by tractor, transporting visitors from the barn to
the pumpkin patch activities.
“These attractions have been a real marketing tool,” Roba said. In addition to the
A view of Roba’s corn maze.
All photos this
page except Robin Peregrim by Bob Urban
hay ride, a staple of the pumpkin patch
business, Roba’s boasts a petting zoo with
real reindeer; a children’s playground; and
a pick-your-own-pumpkin adventure.
Another attention-grabber is the fourand--half-acre corn maze for which the
family creates a new theme each year.
This year, the maze’s theme is a
“Barnyard Yard Adventure at Roba’s.”
For the more adventuresome, the
Flashlight Maze Adventure Night will
allow them to try their hand creeping
through the maze by moonlight with
only their flashlight to guide them.
The “adventure” comes with campfire,
hot dogs and marshmallows included.
This attraction, Roba said, has been very
successful for the business.
Of course, being dependent on Mother
Nature never makes the business easy.
“This year the spring was excessively
wet but, fortunately, we have a welldrained area.We got two-thirds planted on
schedule and one-third late,” he said.The
farmer can only hope that there is no early
frost to kill his 30-acre crop of pumpkins.
An on-site, full-blown country store also
offers a bit of the season with homemade
jams, jellies, pies, and the beautiful wares
of several local craftspeople.
In addition to its success as a Christmas
tree farm, the Roba family has found that
the addition of their balled and
burlapped trees to area landscapers has
been another successful venture.
As the doors close on the Halloween
season, those of the Thanksgiving and
Christmas seasons open for the Robas.
Miller’s Orchards Farm Market
The fifth generation of the Miller family
anticipates a busy season this year and
reports a good apple crop in the 25 varieties offered throughout the season.
“It is a much better crop than last
year,” said Robin Peregrim, who with her
husband,Wally, operate the family business in Justus.
The business owners have gone all out
in planning the crop mazes that attract
many visitors each year.The 10 acres
donated to the mazes include a one-and-a
half-acre maze for the younger set; a
themed maze which differs each year;
and a crop circle sorghum maze indicative of the landing of an alien ship in the
middle of a field.
Some may want to take aim with the
farm’s unique apple slingshot or corn
cannon. Others find delight in the “balRobin Peregrim reports “a
good apple crop; much better
than last year’s” at her
business, Miller’s Orchards,
in Justus.
John Roba tends his sheep, part
of his farm’s petting zoo. At
right is the zoo’s pot-belly pig.
loon typhoon” of a blown up apple filled
with balls, or a ride on the cow train
pulled by the farm’s tractor, to pony rides
on the weekends.
The Peregrims also have a bountiful
orchard business.
“We have homemade pies, dumplings,
apple cider, donuts, jams, jellies, honey,
fudge and applesauce,” said Robin
Peregrim. Fall ornamentals have also been
a great seller at the store.
The 110-acre farm is geared toward families and school groups.
“It’s a family affair,” said Peregrim, who
is a former school teacher.“We make agriculture fun,” she added.“School tours are
my favorite part and my husband loves to
talk to the people who visit us.”
This year’s new addition to the business
is a greenhouse, which offers a variety of
plants from which to choose.
Ritter’s Cider Mill
From Labor Day to Christmas, chances
are you will find Gary and Debra Ritter
very busy at work in their business in
Mount Cobb. Dairy farmers at heart, the
couple had joined with Gary’s father and
mother, Irving and Arlene Ritter, and created the orchard and cider business that
they successfully operate to date.
“We put a lot of hours in during the
(fall) season,” said Gary Ritter, and the
family business, in its 25th season, features hay rides,donut-making, a petting
zoo, a corn maze and homemade apple
cider from the farm’s press and tasty
recipes, jams and jellies.
The farm grows 12 different varieties of
apples, including Macintosh, Red
Delicious, Golden Delicious, Empire and
Northern Spy.
“It has become a tradition to visit the
farm during the fall season,” said Ritter,
and many of the activities on his farm are
offered to the public free of charge. Many
visitors find the fascination of the apple
press worth returning to on a yearly
basis, young family members in tow.
Toiling year round to make the most of
the farm and its offerings, hard work
goes into the maintenance of equipment
during the off-season and crop maintenance, such as planting and spraying,
during the summer until 30 days prior to
the harvest this month.
“This year the weather has been fairly
good for growing, and the crops have
been better than they have been in past
years.We have been spraying all summer
to ensure no infestations,” said Ritter.
The farmer and businessman also has
another line of work which keeps him
busy in the off season. He constructs 20bushel apple bins which are sold to
orchard owners all over the country.
Bunting’s Dairy Farm
What began as a small idea has grown
into a large one on a working dairy farm
just two miles south of Honesdale.
Gerald and Marcie Bunting, third generation family farmers, say it is a lot of work
to ready themselves for the many visitors
they receive between Sept. 20 and Oct.
26, but they are used to hard work: they
tend a 120-head herd of dairy cows and
keep a working farm.
“It’s the real thing here,” said Marcie
Bunting, and the couple has used that
aspect to their advantage.“We give real
live milking demos and farm tours to our
patrons,” she added.
The business also sells pumpkins,
gourds and cornstalks.
Two years ago, the farm welcomed visitors to their newly-begun “pick-your-own
pumpkin patch” and it was met with
great success.
A “hay tent” also offers a fun time for all
those who visit it, not to mention the hay
rides and petting zoo on the farm.
Another unique aspect is the antique
tool and farm equipment display.The
attraction depicts the hard work of farmers throughout the year.
“We enjoy the people and try to keep
it personal by interacting with them,”
she noted.“We also try to educate children and adults about agriculture and a
working farm.”
John Roba
feeds his
reindeer.
Scranton Chamber of Commerce seeks
‘Pride & Progress’ nominees
The Greater Scranton Chamber of
Commerce is now accepting nominations
for the 2003 Pride & Progress awards.
Since 1975, the chamber has recognized
Lackawanna County’s public and private
sector operations for upgrading their
establishments, improving the appearance
of their respective neighborhoods, and
beautifying the region.
Presentations are made in the following categories:
Exterior Renovations
Work must pertain to exterior improvements only and must express and accentuate the original architectural character
and features of the building.
Interior Renovations
Work must pertain to the improvement
of office, lobby, and/or other general
areas/floors of a building.
New Building Construction
The facility must respond to the surrounding character of its respective
neighborhood.
Landscape and Site Design
Plazas, squares, pedestrian malls, fountains, and sculptures are eligible, as long
as the nominated structure is not directly
related to a building that is under consideration in one of the other categories.
Judging criteria requires that the nominated facility must be located within the
chamber’s service area.The nominated
facility must also be a commercial or pub-
lic building, receiving its major funding
from private sources and must have been
renovated, constructed, or landscaped
within the last two years.The restoration
of private residences is ineligible.
Nominations must be submitted with a
brief project description and accompanying “before and after” color photos.
The deadline for entries is Friday,
September 26. Online registration is available in the Pride & Progress section of
the chamber Web site at /www.scrantonchamber.com/news_events/. For more
information contact Christina Fenton, at
(570) 342-7711, or at cfenton@scrantonchamber.com.
WH AT CAN A
G R A N D FAT H E R C L O C K
Sunbury firm launches
new product
Q-Card, a Sunbury-based supplier of
card testing services and equipment,
announced the introduction of a new
product to its extensive line of card
testing products.
The Mag3:Read-Only provides all of
the mag stripe tests and checks needed
to support any encoding production or
issuing center.
As its name implies, the Mag3:Read-Only
tests only the encoding on the mag stripe,
making it an economical solution for any
facility that needs to verify the quality of
its encoding processes.
It does not test the quality of the mag
stripe material itself.
For that, Q-Card offers the Mag3:ReadWrite, which has established itself as the
industry standard for full ISO mag stripe
card testing.
The Mag3:Read-Write is the newest generation of the original Mag3 Mag Stripe
Analyzer that been serving card production and encoding operations worldwide
since the early 1980s.
The Mag3:Read-Only is easy to use and
maintain. Its open architecture allows it
to accommodate cards and tickets of any
size and shape.
It provides the highest level of
accuracy and repeatability of any
product available today.
The optional MagStat statistical software allows users to track quality in real
time and generate corrective actions and
quality reports for management, customers and suppliers.
Complete technical specifications are
available at www.q-card.com.
Hawley’s Main Street greets new business
The Hawley-Lake
Wallenpaupack
Chamber of
Commerce
recently welcomed a new
business to downtown Hawley.
Bill’s Rubber
Stamps & Gifts
is located at 221
Main Avenue
Hawley and
offers a wide
variety of gifts.
Seen at the grand
opening were, left
to right, Cindy Chumard, Hawley-Lake Wallenpaupack Chamber executive director; Anna
Smith, store owner; Destiny Cruz; Bob Smith and children Kaitlyn, Bobby and Nicky; and
Dr. Lorraine Kloss, Hawley-Lake Wallenpaupack Chamber board member.
TEACH US ABOUT
F I NA NC I A L P L A N N I NG ?
All actions should be synchronized
Is there an unwritten law that states the more
More important, you experience active planning.
wealth you accumulate, the more financial
Your situation, as well as the overall financial
plans you need? A plan for investing, one
landscape, is constantly monitored. So even the
for insurance, another for taxes. Each more
slightest changes in one area may lead to
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adjustments in another. All moves are in step
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Uncommon Wisdom
© 2003 Wachovia Corporation
Sunbury struggles
for revitalization
City’s ‘Happy Days’ feeling part of its charm
By Kathy Ruff
The seat of Northumberland County
boasts international fame with an ‘electric’
history. On July 4, 1883,Thomas Edison
chose Sunbury as the place to demonstrate his experiments when he illuminated the first three-wire electric lighting system in a commercial building at the former City Hotel, now the Edison Hotel.
Today Northumberland County is known
best for Knoebels Amusement Resort, the
largest free-admission amusement park in
Pennsylvania, which attracted over 1.2 million visitors last year.
“That’s our greatest asset because you
really have people coming from all over,”
says Tom Kutza, director for the
Northumberland County Tourist
Promotion Agency.“The second biggest
attraction would be the Pennsylvania State
Sportsmen’s Association’s ‘Pennsylvania
State Shoot,’ target shooting.”The annual
event draws shooting enthusiasts from
across the country.
While attractions bring in tourists, economic and lifestyle factors continue to
create an exodus of residents in the rural
county. Northumberland County realized
a 6 percent decrease in population over
the past two decades, falling from
100,288 in 1980 to 94,556 in 2000
according to census records.
“Sunbury is a really old city,” says Jim
King, executive director of the
Northumberland Industrial Development
Authority.“Being an old city, a lot of the
housing stock is old. So, as people
become more affluent, they want to buy
a plot of land and put a house on it.
They don’t want to live in a city, house
on top of house.”
The declining county population stems
not only from the American dream of a
house with a white picket fence, but also
from the erosion of its traditional industries, including coal, rail, textiles and manufacturing. Ironically, the county’s largest
single employer, Butter Krust Baking Co.,
is manufacturing.
Another business anchor since 1912 is
Weis Markets, a supermarket chain that
bases its operations from Sunbury.“The
supermarkets employ lots of people, but
the fact that we have the corporate
headquarters is definitely a plus to
Sunbury,” says King.
Another backbone employer bucks the
countrywide trend of declining manufacturing. Sunbury Textile Mills, which provides specialty decorative jacquard upholstery fabrics for decorators and distributors throughout the world, employs 260
people and contributes an annual $9 million payroll to the local economy.
“We’re a little different,” says Henry
“Hank”Treslow, Sr., chairman of Sunbury
Textile Mills Inc.“We make to order only
and we make limited volume.We’re not
completely protected from these unfair
imports, but we’re in a different sort of
business than most of those that have
Northumberland County is best known for Knoebel’s Amusement Resort at Elysburg.
Shown above is an aerial view of Knoebel’s “Twister.”
Keithan’s Blue Bird Gardens, located on a 1.5-acre tract between South Front and
South Second streets in Sunbury, displays rare species of trees with mountains of brilliantly colored azaleas and rhododendrons.
been affected so far.”
Treslow credits the company’s success to
the area’s quality work force and strong
sense of community.“The demographic is
changing a little, but I still tell people we
live in a 1952 Saturday Evening Post
cover,” he says.“That was the ideal lifestyle
back in the 50s, sort of the ‘Happy Days’
environment. It has changed very little.”
Evidence of little change is reflected in
the abundant mix of Sunbury’s architecture, where most buildings pre-date 1930
and include Colonial,Victorian, Queen
Anne and Art Deco styles.
“A lot of people that have lived
here their whole lives, born and
raised here, don’t seem to realize the
beauty of the architecture and the
layout of the city,” says Mark Walberg,
restoration specialist and owner of
Walberg Fine Arts and Antiques.
But the city’s business demographics
changed as downtown “mom-and-pop”
businesses succumbed to the lure of the
Susquehanna Valley Mall in nearby
Hummels Wharf.
Retailers continue to struggle while trade
school educational facilities sprout, offering expertise in business, welding, electrical wiring and nursing.
“For this area, since the cost of college
degrees and college institutions is so high
now, we’re seeing a trend of trade schools
coming in,” says Walberg.
He feels high-tech, Internet-based businesses may create the foundation for the
city’s future growth.“Then you don’t
depend on people actually in your community for your income.”
Diversity may be the county’s ticket, but
others focus on redevelopment.
“The county itself is so diverse that
there’s actually competing interests
within it,” says John Shipman, partner
with Shipman Harpster Anderson,
Selinsgrove, insurance and financial
services.“We’re hard at work on a redevelopment project to revitalize the
riverfront with an amphitheater and
some other interesting features.”
A city neighborhood rehabilitation project to identify and address strengths,
weaknesses and opportunities promotes
revitalized neighborhoods.
“It gets the citizenry involved,” says
Shipman.“This is an effort to get a bottom-up grassroots kind of activism.”
Community groups hope to reverse the
economic setbacks which started in the
1950s when railroads, textiles and manufacturing declined.“Recently there has
been a real push to rebuild the city, to
revitalize the city,” says Shipman.“Sunbury
is a city on the rise.”
Northumberland County Facts
■ The covered bridge entering Knoebel’s Amusement
Resort campgrounds was built in 1875 over West Creek
near Benton, Pa. Lawrence Knoebel bought it at auction
for $40 in 1936;
■ The Joseph Priestley House (built in 1794) in
Nor thumberland stands as a testament to the
lifestyle of the famed theologian and scientist who
discovered oxygen and is considered the founder of
modern chemistr y; and
■ In the mid 1700s, Fort Augusta was built as a
military fort to resist Indian attacks. The fort was
Susquehanna Valley’s strong hold from the days of
the French and Indian War to the close of the
American Revolution.
The ‘bang’ of broadband
By Leigh Ann M. Jacobson
At last count, there were nearly 122 million home Internet users and, among them,
there has been an accelerated global broadband consumer adoption rate.
“Throughout our partnership, broadband — namely high-speed cable modems — has
outpaced our dial-up sign-ups over the past year by a two-to-one margin,” says Dean
Hosier, marketing manager, PenTeleData, Palmerton, Carbon County.
PenTeleData is an Internet, networking, security, consulting and data transport
provider that serves Pennsylvania and New Jersey with voice, video, data and Internet
products and services.
“Two main benefits of broadband for the customer are the constant access to the
Internet and speed, allowing faster downloads of large files, and immediate access and
quicker approvals when buying items on sites like E-bay or making stock purchases,”
explains Hosier. “It’s instant satisfaction.”
“You can push more content to the user’s PC, offer customers immediate gratification on purchases by letting them download large software, audio and video
files that they purchase online immediately,” agrees Brian Mengel, director of
engineering, PenTeleData.
With the increased take up of broadband, a company’s Web site can now utilize
the power of the moving image with sound — voice and music. Businesses are
able to enhance a static site and transform it into a dynamic 3-D experience to efficiently show, share and communicate their products, services, and expertise to
their targeted audience.
“Businesses need to be aware that an increasing number of residential customers
are choosing broadband access. Since broadband service is traditionally more expensive than dial-up, one could conclude that these individuals are also the ones with
money to spend,” notes Mengel.
“Finding a way to target broadband users could be the key to taking an advantage in
online business. Historically, businesses tried to make their sites load as quickly as
possible by keeping the amount of content down, keeping image sizes smaller. Now
they can make a bigger impression with more bandwidth-intensive applications, such
as DVD-quality streaming audio and video, intensive Flash animations, and target
broadband users,” explains Mengel.
“Streaming” video allows the user to begin viewing the video in seconds by delivering the data in small packets which are buffered and then discarded after viewing is
complete. Streaming video also ensures that the video will continue to play regardless
Marketing opportunities on the Internet for companies are enhanced by broadband
service because constant access and speed allows “instant gratification” for customers, says a regional marketing manager. Graphic designed by PenTeleData.
of network congestion and bottlenecks.
Cost effectively, a Web site can become a company’s “TV station,” hosting their own
programs, made with modern digital video. For example, a housing developer can
Broadband continues on next page
Broadband
Continued from previous page
Instant messaging becoming more
appealing among business people
show its available properties mixed with
soft images, such as flowers, detail, fabrics, furnishings, appliances and so forth,
to entice purchasers through the door to
visit and return to the Web video later to
refresh their memories.
With the bang of broadband, according to Hosier, it is still uncertain as to
whether video is selling products locally.
“This (online video selling products) is
still to be seen or proven locally,”
observes Hosier. “Recently, presidential
candidate Howard Dean proved the
value of good marketing with a good
Web site. In two important ways, Dean’s
Web site allowed people to hear about
his campaign by watching a video and
the ability to download speeches and
material in a variety of formats.”
As for the costs of broadband and its
associated advantages, like offering video
on your Web site, Mengel explains,“The
two biggest costs are development and
bandwidth. Developing high quality
audio and video for download is much
more costly than editing a few images
and tossing them up on a Web site.
Bandwidth is also a large concern.”
Web hosting companies put a monthly
cap on the amount of data that can be
downloaded from a hosted site.
“For example, if you offer a 10 megabyte
video file for download, and have a one
gigabyte monthly limit on downloads,
that file can only be accessed 100 times
before you’ve reached your limit,”
explains Mengel.
“Hosting companies will charge Web
site owners for transfers above their
monthly allotment. With some sites taking hundreds of thousands of hits a day,
the amount of bandwidth needed to
cater to broadband customers can be
staggering and costly,” he cautions.
Managing broadband is also another
concern for businesses. Companies
need to learn about digital rights management, billing systems, ad insertion,
player licenses and storage space, not
to mention network latency and bandwidth management.
“In the current economy, I believe
cost-cutting is outweighing the benefits associated with a professional
Web site with all the bells and whistles,” says Hosier.
“Businesses would, of course, do well
to keep in mind that dial-up is still very
prevalent, and won’t be going away anytime soon,” Mengel says.
Other local ISPs also offer broadband
services to residential and business
accounts. For example,Adelphia offers
Business Solutions Dedicated Internet
Services and Epix offers high speed
access via Jack Flash DSL.
By Andrew Ohrman
Just when business adapts to one form
of computer technology such as e-mail, a
relatively new, specialized form of social
software known as “instant messaging”
(IM) challenges the way business is done.
Instant messaging first gained notoriety
as a special feature of America Online,
used by teenagers as a fun, convenient
way to text chat with each other.
Despite security and archival concerns,
instant messaging is sneaking into the
work place as a communication tool used
by adults. The type of instant messaging
software that corporations permit on
their PCs can be a great productivity
booster, or a way for employees to waste
time and potentially risk exposure of sensitive information to eavesdropping hackers on the Internet.
What is so appealing about this popular
teenage software that has it infiltrating
finance, medicine, government, and even
the aerospace fields?
Several things, according to Rich Rippon
of NetVoice Services (www.nvds.com),
located in Clarks Summit, make instant
messaging appealing among professionals:
First, instant messaging is a lot easier
and literally “instant,” without any delays
like regular e-mail.
Second, instant messaging software
displays a list of users currently available
to chat.Try doing that with a busy telephone, or hiking throughout the company building looking in offices for coworkers available to talk.
Third, group-style chat meetings
are possible any time, anywhere with
the ability to send files and even uti-
KEY ISP
FEATURES FOR
SMALL
BUSINESS
(One to 100 workers)
Always-on unlimited broadband service
(ADSL, SDSL, T1) at 1.5Mbps or faster.
Support for Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes,
and other corporate e-mail programs; instant
messaging.
Multiple static IP addresses for Web and email servers and for supporting VPNs.
Multiple e-mailboxes, domain name registration and hosting, Web hosting.
Security services: antispam, antivirus, firewall protection (at workstation or server level).
E-commerce services: Web site design and
hosting (self-build and custom), shopping carts,
catalogs, real-time credit card processing, SSL
security, support for FrontPage extensions and
Microsoft Access.
Network integration services; onsite hardware and software installation, configuration, and
management (servers, routers, firewall); connecting multiple offices and remote users.
24/7 tech support; onsite service.
Source: CNET Editors’ ISP Buying Guide, August 18,
2003, www.cnet.com
Broadband Usage Trend
40.00
35.00
30.00
25.00
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
Month
Total U.S. Broadband Users (in Millions)
Jul-03
Jun-03
Mar-03
Apr-03
May-03
Jan-03
Feb-03
Oct-02
Dec-02
Sep-02
Nov-02
Jul-02
Aug-02
Jun-02
Mar-02
Apr-02
May-02
Jan-02
Feb-02
Oct-01
Dec-01
Nov-01
Sep-01
Jul-01
Jun-01
Aug-01
Apr-01
May-01
Jan-01
Mar-01
Feb-01
Dec-00
Oct-00
Nov-00
Jul-00
Sep-00
Jun-00
Aug-00
May-00
Mar-00
Apr-00
Jan-00
Feb-00
0.00
Dec-99
Total US Broadband Users in Millions
Broadband Usage Trend
45.00
Most free instant messaging software provides little or no
security from outside eavesdropping by Internet hackers, and it
lacks efficient, network-wide archiving features. This is why feebased proprietary instant messaging software is better suited
for businesses, says Chuck Lundquist of MWISP.NET (www.
mwisp.net), located in Carbondale.
lize voice and video.
On the flip side, instant messaging can be
a significant hindrance and security risk for
businesses, when employees do their own
unauthorized installations of free instant
messaging software on their company’s PCs
without the company’s knowledge.
Productivity can be affected when an
employee spends excessive amounts of
time chatting with friends and family on
the Internet.
Another black mark against most free
instant messaging software is that it
provides little or no security from outside eavesdropping by Internet hackers, and it lacks efficient, network-wide
archiving features.
Chuck Lundquist of MWISP.NET (www.
mwisp.net), located in located in Carbondale, points out that this is exactly why
fee-based proprietary instant messaging
software is better suited for businesses.
Software packages like Ariolic Software’s NTPager or Sonork’s Enterprise
Instant Messenger are proprietary instant
messaging solutions that provide robust
security, and easily implemented and scalable network-wide archiving.
Most importantly, these packages can
limit users text chatting to coworkers
and colleagues within the company
network, thereby focusing the attention of employees on work instead of
family and friends.
Government and corporate policies
often mandate storage of many kinds of
correspondence, including IMs and any
accompanying legal disclaimers.
Even if a company purchases secure,
easily archivable proprietary IM software,
issues of space requirements on network
servers and the additional network
administrative duties for satisfying these
government and corporate regulations
raise additional questions.
However, Lundquist confidently states,
“In general, legal disclaimers can be easily
and automatically tacked onto any relevant e-mail or instant message. Archival
space for referencing e-mail and instant
messages is really no longer a concern.
Since IMs and any included disclaimers
are just plain text and don’t have bulky
attachments, physical space for such correspondence are minimal.”
For example, almost 300 IMs could fit
on a single 3 1/2 inch floppy diskette;
and a single 20 GB (gigabyte) hard drive
of an average PC or Mac could easily hold
millions of IMs (based on a 5K (kilobyte)
file size for one IM).
The real challenge for network administrators, according to Lundquist is coordinating and planning archival routines during
the initial “spin-up” phase of a company’s
evaluation and/or adoption of a particular
instant messaging software package.
Once archival and disclaimer add routines
are developed and in place, an administrator’s work is considerably automated.
The hard fact is that instant messaging
is here to stay, so business needs to
address and adapt to the proliferation of
instant messaging on its own networks,
because, like a double-sided sword, IM
can either increase productivity by making communication among colleagues
and coworkers considerably more efficient; or it can subvert your business by
giving your employees a tool for unknowingly leaking sensitive information while
they waste time kibitzing with family and
friends from their “buddy” lists.
THE MONTH IN BUSINESS
Local
About 4,000 area college students currently
receiving $9 million in annual financial aid face
possible cuts when a new federal plan takes effect
next year. Congressional Research Service, the
research division of Congress, reported the government's tax table revision used to determine eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant will reduce the program’s funding by $270 million beginning in 20042005. The U.S. Department of Education estimates about 84,000 students will no longer qualify
for aid because their expected family contribution,
or EFC, will exceed the maximum amount. The
change will cut financial aid for more than a million
students, national financial aid experts say. Pell
Grants are federal need-based financial aid awards
that do not need to be repaid. At a maximum of
$4,050, they are available to eligible full- and parttime undergraduates and are based on a set multifactor formula, including family's ability to pay and
cost of attendance. Pell Grants are designed for
the “neediest of the needy” college students, said
William Burke, financial aid director at the
University of Scranton, where 738 students
received $1,775,998 in grants last year. He said
colleges and universities have not yet determined
the specific effects on their schools when the
change occurs next year, but the formula used to
determine Pell and other federal college funding is
also the basis for the state and institutional financial aid awards programs."Pell is the foundation
upon which all need-based programs are built," he
said. "It can have a real domino effect." An example, he said, is that since schools "need to
address those needy students," some money from
need-based funds will go to students no longer eligible for government funding. This could potentially
reduce the total amount available for those of
slightly higher income, but for whom college costs
are still a burden on the family savings. He said
the Pennsylvania state grant program bases its
financial aid disbursement process on the Pell
Grant award and other federal aid information. But
because states have limited budgets, they can
rarely increase student financial aid enough to
bridge the gap left by a federal funding decrease,
Burke said. "Hopefully, since it is supposed to
affect those with the highest EFC, who are receiving the least amount currently, those with the lowest EFC who are receiving the largest awards
should still be eligible," said Peggy Charnick, financial aid director at College Misericordia, where 504
students received more than $1 million last year.
Individual institutions typically use the federal and
state awards to determine need-based scholarships, loans and other forms of aid. But Charnick
said schools face problems similar to governments. "We'll try to help, but we can't match that
money dollar for dollar," she said. Charnick said
the federal education department is responsible for
shifting the tax tables to determine aid eligibility
based on state and local taxes. But the tables
have not been updated for three years, she said,
creating more changes than previous adjustments.
About 4.86 million students nationwide are estimated to receive a Pell award in 2003, said Jane
Glickman, spokeswoman for the federal education
department, up from 4.81 million in 2002. The
state education department did not have figures
for Pennsylvania. As more "needy" students continue to apply for grants, though, officials expect
more Pell Grants to be awarded. “The important
thing is that the money in the program is going up.
The number of recipients is going up,” Glickman
said. “More people will qualify because more people are going to school and more people are
needy.” The congressional report estimated
300,000 additional people will qualify for Pell
Grants because of the tax shift, offsetting the
84,000 current recipients expected to lose their
eligibility. Across the Pennsylvania State University
system, 15,361 students received nearly $35.5
million in Pell funding in 2001-2002, said Anna
Griswold, assistant vice provost for enrollment
management and student aid. She said a preliminary report showed that number increased to
16,417 in 2002-2003, but a dollar amount was
unavailable. She said 2001-2002 figures show the
505 Pell recipients at the Worthington Scranton
campus received $1,052,813, and the 214 at
Wilkes-Barre received $493,951. At Keystone
College, 686 students received Pell Grants last
year, totaling $1,457,511. At Marywood University,
517 students will receive $1,390,947 this year.
“The biggest burden...is on the family to find alternate resources -- outside scholarships, other agencies, higher loan borrowing,” said Keystone College
financial aid director Ginger Kline.
- Sapna Kollali, The Tribune
The Old Forge School District superintendent
told parents the district continues to implement
programs to improve education. Gene Camoni,
Ed.D., told parents who attended last month’s
school board meeting that new programs range
from more training for teachers to targeting students who need remedial help. Parents addressed
the board at its first meeting since the “Grading
Our Schools” report was published in the June 29
editions of The Sunday Times and The Sunday
Voice. The analyses of each district included a look
at the district's standardized test scores, school
environment, academic programs, extracurricular
activities and other factors in assessing student
achievement and success. Old Forge received an
“F” grade, having failed all seven analyses. Camoni
said Old Forge wasn't prepared for the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, nor the federal No Child Left Behind standards signed into law
Jan. 2, 2002.
Local officials applauded when a discount retailer
announced two years ago it planned to open a distribution center. But in the two months since the
T.J. Maxx facility opened in the Grimes Industrial
Park in Pittston Township, excitement has turned to
frustration. And now all three supervisors —
Chairman John Paglianite, Joseph Adams and
Anthony Attardo — say they will protest by skipping
the company’s ribbon cutting Aug. 27. TJX
Companies Inc. offered 1,200 new jobs — 500
have been filled so far — and was awarded with a
tax-free Keystone Opportunity Zone. The supervisors said the company led them to believe the jobs
would pay at least $8 to $10 an hour to start, with
increases every six months. But the company only
pays $6.50 per hour. And the local officials say the
company has snubbed local residents for jobs.
Fewer workers living in the township means
Pittston will not see earned income tax revenue.
Nor will the township see property tax revenue
from the company for the next decade — a KOZ
benefit. "We gave them all the help they needed, a
KOZ, we helped them A to Z,” Attardo said. “I had
people approach me and ask, ‘Can you get me an
application?’ or ‘Can you give me a referral?’ For
every one of our referrals, there was a deaf ear
turned.” Attardo said he knew of a lot of township
residents who are out of work and could use a job.
He said company officials told the supervisors the
jobs would pay $8 to $10 an hour and would be
upgraded periodically, the supervisor said. “(Jobs
at $10 an hour) are not great-paying jobs, but it
could help support a family.” Adams said he understood pay was supposed to start at $11 an hour.
“That was the statement that was made in the
beginning,” he said. TJX spokeswoman Laura
McDowell of the corporation's Framingham, Mass.,
headquarters, said the company does not publicly
discuss specific compensation. “Salaries vary from
associate to associate,” McDowell said, and
“$6.50 is one of the starting salaries.” McDowell
said most of the employees working at the distribution center are from the Pittston, Scranton and
Wilkes-Barre areas. According to company figures,
the center, which serves over 720 T.J. Maxx stores
throughout the United States, currently employs
521 full- and part-time employees. That number will
increase to 750 by the end of the year. McDowell
said the center would employ 1,200 within three
years. Attardo said even the company executives
who moved to the area to run the distribution center did not move to the township. “There's no or little earned income tax,” Attardo said. “We got nothing out of it. Our taxpayers are paying for police
and fire protection for them. We never got consideration.” Nearly 100 trucks will travel to and from the
distribution center each day. The company wants
the township to take over the road leading to the
distribution center, but the supervisors don't want
it. Mr. Adams said the township already has
enough roads to maintain. “They're going to plow it
themselves and clear it,” Attardo said. “How much
do they expect from taxpayers?” T.J. Maxx, the
nation's largest off-price retailer, operates more
than 660 stores in 47 states, including one on
Commerce Boulevard in Dickson City and another
in the Arena Hub Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township.
There are 59 stores in Pennsylvania.
- Joe Sylvester, The Scranton Times
The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Center in Plains Township is spared from closing
or other major changes in a draft version of a federal report that reviewed the VA health care system. “For our facility, there's no immediate
impact,” hospital spokesman Vince Riccardo said.
“That's the preliminary report, and they will take
testimony and come up with a final report,” said
U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, who organized veterans to promote the local hospital at hearings. "I
think we're in good shape." The local hospital
expanded its services last month when a veterans
clinic opened in Bangor in Northampton County,
Riccardo said. The department issued the draft
National CARES Plan last month. CARES stands for
Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services.
That's what the VA calls its effort to take an inventory of all its facilities. Nationwide, the report recommends 48 new community clinics, two new hospitals and the expansion of many other facilities. A
July 1999 General Accounting Office study found
the VA was spending $1 million a day on unneeded
or unused facilities, according to a VA news
release. “The result of CARES will be more health
care for more veterans, closer to where they live.”
The National CARES Commission will hold hearings
across the county to hear comment on the draft
report. The nearest hearing to Northeastern
Pennsylvania is Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. at the VA
Medical Center in Coatesville, a Philadelphia suburb. The local VA, which has an annual budget of
$130 million, has 89 hospital beds and 105 nursing home beds.
- Borys Krawczeniuk, The Scranton Times
National energy distributor Southern Union Co.
cited Scranton’s economic resurgence as the main
reason for its decision to move its headquarters
from Wilkes-Barre to Lackawanna Avenue. The
company announced last month it will spend $8
million to $10 million to build its corporate headquarters downtown and provide up to 100 high-paying jobs. As part of the construction, Southern
Union will knock down the former WYOU building at
415 Lackawanna Ave. and the neighboring Gallucci
Music Studios/Steamtown Trading Post building,
both of which the company purchased last week —
and build a 40,000-square-foot facility. Reasons for
relocating to Scranton included location, quality of
life, cost, KOZ tax benefits, access to downtown
amenities, and the company's ability to construct
its own facility to suit its needs. The company was
ranked 61 in Fortune magazine's “100 Fastest
Growing Companies” list in 2002. The building will
house Southern Union’s executive offices and
most major corporate functions including accounting, treasury, tax, investor relations, human
resources corporate communications, information
technology, purchasing, fleet management and
legal. The company will move approximately 30 corporate employees from its Wilkes-Barre offices and
expects to add another 50 to 75 positions by the
time the Scranton office opens. Southern Union is
the parent company of PG Energy.
Mayor Chris Doherty signed off on a historic
$72.3 million bond issue — the city's largest and
first-ever with a bond rating — that will revitalize
Nay Aug Park, build new police and public works
headquarters, and refinance old debt. “It's an infusion of cash into the city . . . without increasing
our costs,” Doherty said. He signed his name
about 100 times to complete the closing, making
the bond money immediately available. Included in
the lump sum is $12 million in new borrowing, set
aside for capital improvements, $1 million for Nay
Aug Park — including observation decks along the
Davis Trail — and $1 million for other city parks.
Another $13 million was put into the workers' compensation self-insurance account, $10 million went
to pension funds and $7 million helped pay off a 4year-old pension management advance from
Provident Mutual. The bonds were sold on the open
market about a month ago, Doherty said.
Fluctuations in the bond market have already
earned the city about $1.5 million, which it will use
to pay off debt service, he said. “Before, we were
at junk bond status, but by refinancing at Triple-A
status, we were able to bring a lot of money into
the city,” Doherty said. He said construction of the
DPW building, at a cost of about $3 million, will
begin in late September or early October. The new
police headquarters, which costs $2.5 million to
$3 million, is currently in the design phase and
there is not yet a proposed location. About 200
streets are scheduled for paving, which is also
included in the capital improvements money, and
will go out to bid shortly. Doherty said the bond
money must be used within three years for the purposes specified when it was issued.
- Sapna Kollali, The Scranton Times
Col. Patricia E. McQuistion surrendered her job
as commander of the Tobyhanna Army Depot to
Col. Tracy L. Ellis for her next assignment as executive officer for the deputy commanding general of
the U.S. Army Materiel Command. Ellis’ most
recent assignment was in Saudi Arabia as chief of
staff of the Friendly Forces Coordination Cell of the
U.S. Central Command (Forward). Both officers say
the region's largest employer is a good bet to survive the next round of military base closings in
2005 because it maintains electronics systems for
all the military's branches. They emphasized
Tobyhanna's role in maintaining equipment used by
troops in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. “We're
in a very strong position," McQuistion, 45, the
depot's commander since July 2001, said after a
formal morning change of command ceremony during which she fought back tears while thanking
many who aided her tenure. “We think this depot's
going to be around for many, many years to come.
... It's all based on military value and Tobyhanna
certainly has great military value.” Ellis, 44,
Tobyhanna's 27th commander, called the 3,400employee depot “a world-class organization” and
said it's the best in the Defense Department. He
emphasized the depot’s key advantage over private
contractors: the ability to gear up for jobs without
the delay of seeking private bids. “If you look at
the effort of depot employees in support of the
war effort right now, it just validates the importance of having depots, having that responsive,
ready capability that can go at a moment's notice,”
Ellis said. He isn't looking forward to the battle
necessary to keep the depot open when the next
Base Closure and Realignment Commission convenes, but said Tobyhanna will put its “best foot forward.” He's aware of the depot's $480.6 million
annual economic impact on the region, including an
estimated $171.6 million in salaries. "I understand
that and I think that as long as we can show we're a
world-class organization that's providing the type of
support that our nation needs, that the depot is relatively safe," he said. "There is not another depot out
there that can replicate the type of missions that
we're doing, the types of programs we're supporting
for our war fighters." Some of the programs were
undertaken under McQuistion, who led the depot
after Sept. 11, 2001. The programs include socalled lean initiatives to make depot processes
more efficient and developing the Blue Force
Tracking System that helped troops avoid friendly fire
casualties. Born into an Army family, Col. McQuistion
spent her earlier years at various bases in the
United States and Europe. Col. Ellis was born at the
Itazuke Air Force Base in Fukoka, Japan.
DigitalGlobe has chosen Wilkes-Barre as the location for its next satellite image receiving station.
Rep. Paul Kanjorski said, “We envision that the location of a resource like the DigitalGlobe ground station, and the data it provides, will create more
opportunities for businesses to locate in the area
and create new jobs. In addition, the data will assist
government and the business community in planning
future economic development projects.” DigitalGlobe
is an earth imagery and information company based
in Longmont, Colo.
State
Philadelphia-based Pep Boys closed 33 stores
and laid off 860 employees last month in a
restructuring the company said will save $11 million a year. About 700 store employees lost their
jobs because of the 33 closings— about 5 percent
of Pep Boys’ 629 stores. The company will close
stores in 13 states, including 11 in California, five
in Texas, four in Florida and three in Pennsylvania.
Another 160 corporate employees were laid off to
streamline the management structure, the company said. The restructuring is the first major
announcement under chief executive Lawrence
Stevenson, who was appointed in May. Stevenson
said the low-traffic stores being closed either had
misjudged the market to begin with or saw their
customer base move away. Pep Boys once
employed more than 28,000 but now employs
about 22,000. “Nobody enjoys doing what we're
going to be doing today, and clearly not the employees involved, but it's necessary for us to go the
next step and return to profitability and growth,”
Stevenson said. Peter Land, a Pep Boys
spokesman, said up to 25 percent of the laid-off
employees could be rehired at nearby stores. The
news sent shares of Pep Boys up 96 cents, or 6.6
percent, to close at $15.51 on the New York Stock
Exchange. In 2000, Pep Boys closed 38 stores and
laid off 1,500.
- Associated Press
U.S. Steel Corp. reported a net loss for the second quarter and blamed increases in the cost of
pensions and natural gas as well as higher spending on planned outages. The nation's largest integrated steelmaker reported a loss of $49 million,
or 51 cents per share, in the April-June period compared with profits of $27 million, or 28 cents per
share, a year earlier. The results include a one-time
charge of $52 million, or 50 cents per share, from
the June sale of U.S. Steel's coal mining business
and health care benefits for those workers. The
loss of 1 cent per share before charges beat the
expectations of analysts polled by Thomson First
Call, who predicted a loss of 6 cents per share.
Revenues were up by more than 30 percent to
$2.4 billion, compared with $1.8 billion for the second quarter of 2002. Shares of U.S. Steel were up
71 cents, or 4.5 percent, to $16.29 last month on
the New York Stock Exchange. During the second
half of the year, U.S. Steel said it will take a $500
million pretax charge as the company cuts jobs.
Those charges include severance payments of
approximately $115 million, the company said. U.S.
Steel announced in May that it was cutting administrative positions by 20 percent as part of a labor
agreement with the United Steelworkers of America.
The agreement allowed the company to seal a contract with the union and acquire National Steel.
Later this month, thousands of union workers are
expected to let the company know if they will accept
buyout packages that the company says will make it
more globally competitive. Job cuts are expected to
translate to annual savings of more than $400 million, U.S. Steel said. The company expects to see
the first benefits from those cuts by the fourth quarter, with maximum cost reductions arriving by the
end of 2004. Wall Street analysts said costs outside the control of U.S. Steel could still buffet earnings, but they were looking for a solid second half.
Planned repair outages at the company's Gary
Works in Gary, Ind., and at the Slovakian unit, U.S.
Steel Kosice diminished second-quarter returns.
Those shutdowns cost $38 million, the company
reported. Fourth-quarter profits will likely be affected by approximately $35 million in further, planned
outages, the company said.
Training driven by managers
Chief executive officers link worker
training to the attainment of corporate
goals.And they see managers — not training professionals — as the pilots that
drive training programs of corporations.
These findings — derived through
dozens of interviews with CEOs across
the country — are published in a book
written by three workforce education
and development educators, including a
University of Scranton professor.
A study released by the American Society
for Training and Development estimates
that total training expenditures of U.S.
businesses equaled 2 to 3 percent of payroll or approximately $95 million in 2000.
“One important goal of our study was to
get inside the heads of CEOs to find out
what they expected of their corporate
training departments,” said Bill Wallick,
Ph.D., assistant professor and director of
the human resources studies program at
The University of Scranton, and one of
three authors of the book “What CEOs
Expect from Corporate Training.”
The 277-page hard-cover book, published in February 2003 by the American
Management Association, was written by
Wallick; Dr.William J. Rothwell, professor
of education at Penn State, University
Park; and Dr. John (Jed) Lindholm, compensation manager at the University of
Massachusetts Medical School and parttime professor at Clark University.
The book — based on independent and
cooperative studies of the three authors,
as well as the most recent study in the
field of workplace learning and performance — takes an outcomes-based look at
worker training as it relates to the big
picture of reaching corporate goals.
“There’s far more to corporate training
than helping a worker improve upon a
specific task,” said Wallick.“Training should
be evaluated as it contributes to the overall
performance of an organization, not just
the individual’s job performance.”
“It’s not just what you do, but why you
do it,” explained Wallick.“It’s knowing
what your role is and whether you’re
competent in that role.”
For his part,Wallick says the most important finding of the research is that managers, not corporate trainers, are the points
of connection between the employees’
roles and company objectives.
“Daddy, when I’m finished
with my homework,
I’ll help you with yours.”
Penn College awards $9 million in contracts
Construction contracts worth more
than $9 million have been awarded to
five Pennsylvania firms that will perform
extensive renovations at the most historic
building on the Pennsylvania College of
Technology campus — the Klump
Academic Center.Two of the five awards,
for more than $2.5 million, were to
Williamsport-based companies.
The general contractor for the project
at the circa-1913 facility will be Robert
Feaster Corp. of Northumberland, which
submitted a bid of $4.72 million.
Other contracts awarded were: HVAC,
R & J Ertel Inc. of Williamsport, $1.69
million; plumbing, W.G. Tomko of
Finleyville, $1.11 million; electrical,
Lecce Electric Inc. of Williamsport,
$854,000; and controls, Johnson
Controls Inc. of Camp Hill, $632,000.
The renovation project is expected to
take two years to complete, with the building at least partially occupied throughout.
Murray Associates Architects of
Harrisburg will serve as the architect for
the project, which includes converting
former offices — which have been
moved to the new Student and
Administrative Services Center — to
The Klump Academic
Center, Pennsylvania
College of Technology,
Williamsport
classrooms and faculty offices.
The front entrance, which will get new
front steps, masonry and paving, and the
first- and second-floor lobbies.
The exterior brick-and-stone surfaces will be cleaned, and the
grounds will receive new exterior
lighting and additional landscaping.
The renovated building will comply
with Americans with Disabilities Act
requirements, and new fire-alarm and firesuppression/sprinkler systems will be
installed.The entire structure will be
upgraded to meet existing building codes.
New plumbing, heating and air-conditioning systems will be installed.The interior will be painted, and new carpeting
will be installed. In addition, the International Café will be expanded.
The work is being financed by a 30-year,
$31.6 million bond issue, which will also
finance the construction of Rose Street
Apartments, a 365-bed, on-campus student-housing complex; and the renovation
of College Avenue Labs (the former HON
Industries Inc. manufacturing plant),
which will house the Collision Repair,
Automated Manufacturing, Civil
Engineering and Surveying programs.
Holding a job or raising a family can make it difficult to
take college classes if you’re looking to change your
career or improve on your skills for your current job. At
Luzerne County Community College, we recognize that
not everyone can go to college full-time.
That's why we offer a number of convenient ways to give
you the education you need for your career goals. LCCC
holds many classes during the evening and weekend to
meet your busy schedule. You can receive a degree,
diploma, or certification in a number of career programs.
Plus, students can take classes on video & internet, so you
rarely have to leave your own home to go to college.
You don’t have to go broke going to college either. At
$70 per credit hour, you’ll recieve a quality education at an
affordable price.
Fall Schedules
are now
available!
Call now for
yours!
Or go online at
www.luzerne.edu
Call now for more information about:
Evening and Weekend Classes: 740-0490
TeleCollege Video Programs:
740-0352
1-800-377-LCCC, ext 477
www.luzerne.edu www.luzerne.edu
searfoss@luzerne.edu
Poll: economic frailty may result in ‘political mayhem’
Consumer confidence falters
By Dennis Jacobe
In a session with the House Financial
Services Committee, Federal Reserve
Chairman Alan Greenspan optimistically
stated that the U.S. economy is “at a turning point,” and predicted that low interest
rates, increasing stock prices, and the
effects of the new tax cut would spur
economic growth.
Later it was reported that the University
of Michigan’s preliminary consumer sentiment index rose in early July from its final
June reading. Not surprisingly, many analysts
noted that the increase was due to the
same factors cited by Greenspan earlier.
In sharp contrast, a July 7-9 Gallup
Tuesday Briefing Poll* shows just the
opposite.The June rise in consumer optimism about the economy did not continue to build in July.The percentage of
American consumers rating economic
conditions as “good” or “excellent”
decreased slightly between June and July,
and consumers are slightly more likely to
say that economic conditions are getting
worse than to say they are getting better.
The public gave a similarly tepid
response when asked about its expectations for economic growth, interest rates,
and inflation over the next six months.
Fewer Consumers Expect Increased
Economic Growth
The percentage of consumers expecting
economic growth to increase over the
next six months declined from 54 per-
cent in June to 49 percent in July, while
the percentage of those expecting
growth to decrease rose from 20 percent
to 22 percent.
Thus, the differential between those
expecting an increase in economic
growth and those expecting a decrease
fell from +34 percent in June to +27
percent in July.
Consumer expectations for increasing economic growth are now about where they
were in April 2003 (+29 differential).
Currently, consumer expectations are much
better than they were in January 2003 (+16
differential) and October 2001 (+5 differential), but well below where they were in
March 2002 (+43 differential).
Still, Consumers’ Interest Rate
Expectations Are About the Same…
The percentage of consumers expecting
the interest rates to increase over the next
six months declined from 43 percent in
June to 41 percent in July.At the same
time, the percentage of consumers expecting rates to go down also declined from 20
percent in June to 17 percent in July. So
the differential between those expecting
rates to go up and those expecting them to
go down was virtually unchanged — +23
in June and +24 in July.
Right now, substantially fewer consumers expect interest rates to increase
in the months ahead than was the case in
April 2002, when 59 percent expected
rates to increase and the differential was
+45. On the other hand, far fewer
Americans expect rates to decline now
than in October 2001, when 25 percent
expected rates to increase and the differential was -19.
. . . As Are Consumer Inflation
Expectations
According to the July Gallup Tuesday
Briefing poll, 48 percent of consumers
expect inflation to accelerate in the next
six months.This percentage is the same as
it was in June, although the inflation
expectations differential increased from
+32 in June to +35 in July.At present, consumer inflation expectations are not as
great as they were a year ago when the
differential was +45, but the differential is
above its October 2001 level of +27.
Consumer Growth Expectations Are
Extremely Fragile
The failure of consumer expectations to
gain additional positive momentum in
July is troubling.As the Fed and the analyst community have argued, fiscal and
monetary policies are now highly stimulative. Investors showed great enthusiasm
in June — maybe even a little too much
— and virtually every economic forecaster expects economic growth to improve
in the months ahead.
Still, contrary to what some observers
see in the University of Michigan’s preliminary report, Gallup Tuesday Briefing’s
data does not support the idea that consumers or business decision-makers are
convinced, at least at this point.
In essence, recent economic crosscurrents have made today’s consumer expectations extremely fragile.The hope is that
we are experiencing a lag between the
implementation and the positive impact
on consumer perceptions of the recent
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economic stimuli.Tax-cut checks and
withholding changes don’t even begin to
take place until late this month, and
lower interest rates can take four to six
months to have an impact.
With any luck, consumer optimism —
and even business optimism — will build
in the months ahead and we’ll see a surge
in consumer/business optimism and a
much stronger economy later this year
and into 2004.
If not, today’s economic fragility may
well translate into political mayhem as
both major parties recognize that next
year’s elections could be very difficult for
many of today’s officeholders.
*Results are based on telephone interviews
with 1,006 national adults, aged 18 and
older, conducted July 7- 9, 2003.For results
based on these total samples, one can say
with 95 percent confidence that the margin
of sampling error is ±3 percent.
Middle market firms, citing
improving economy, vow to
invest in technology
From competition within the middle
market to vying with larger competitors
and new companies entering the market,
middle-market business leaders are feeling the pinch of a heightened competitive environment, according to findings
from the Grant Thornton Survey of
Middle-Market Business Leaders.
Ninety-four percent cite competition as
more intense or as intense as one year
ago, while just 6 percent say the competitive environment is less intense.
“As the market has tightened, so, too,
have the competitive pressures on middle-market companies,” says John
Desmond, partner in charge of the
Business Leaders Council.“Companies,
especially those in the middle-market, are
not only fighting for new business —
often at lower margins — but many are
also looking for new ways to keep existing customers from taking their business
to the competition.”
Additional survey highlights:
Survey respondents cited a greater
focus on price (89 percent), more knowledgeable customers (82 percent), and
less client loyalty (81 percent) as the top
business issues related to competition.
Two-thirds (74 percent) of middle-market business leaders believe it is more
important today for employees to understand what needs to be done for the
company to succeed.
To enhance employee alignment and
motivation, 82 percent are focusing on
consistent communications, and 81 percent are establishing realistic expectations for employee performance.
Fifty-two percent of respondents are
taking immediate steps to better allocate
resources by deselection — focusing
exclusively on initiatives that will be
most profitable.
In preparation for an improved business climate, 84 percent of middle-market business leaders have — or plan to
— invest in new technology (58 percent
and 26 percent, respectively).
The Summer 2003 Survey of MiddleMarket Business Leaders, with a special
emphasis on how companies are positioning for an improved economy, is now available.To order a printed or .pdf version of
the report, visit Grant Thornton’s Web site
at www.grantthornton.com/blcsurvey.
Congress seeks way to pay for
Medicare overhaul
By Robert Curran
Following a federal budget surplus and
then a record-breaking tax cut, companies, employees and retirees assumed the
nation’s economy was on its way up.
But in the last few years all of that has
changed and the country now faces a
projected $455 billion deficit this fiscal
year, the government’s largest ever.
The deficit is $150 billion higher than
the initial estimate from the Bush administration, and companies are concerned
about its impact on growth, jobs and
taxes, and where the government will
find the money to pay for the upsurge.
Another big concern is the prescription
drug program for seniors that the legislative and executive branches are working
on,and President Bush’s plan to spend
$400 billion to restructure Medicare with
an emphasis on enrollment in private sector health organizations.
The prescription drug proposal has
become very complex, with proposals
from both the House and Senate, and
some members of Congress have termed
it “bewildering.”
Conferees are trying to work out compromises. Democrats are asking for more
money and want the program run by the
government, while Republicans are pushing to trim costs and want private sector
involvement in the plan.
Many economists have criticized the
prescription drug overhaul, saying that
only about 50 percent of seniors would
actually realize any savings because of
monthly premiums,out-of-pocket costs
and high deductibles.
Costs for many seniors, depending on
their plans, could be in the $300 a month
range.The conclusion is that many people
may pay less by not enrolling and hope
they’ll never need catastrophic coverage.
Add the cost of a 44 percent increase in
military spending and $1 billion a week
for the occupation of Iraq, and questions
are being raised as to where all of this
money is going to come from.
In regard to the pending Medicare prescription drug legislation, Dave
Echevarria, assistant professor of business
administration at Penn State’s
Worthington Scranton Campus, had this
to say about about the proposals: “The
government is saying ‘it’s expensive and
we’re trying to figure out ways so we
don’t bankrupt the federal government.’”
And who would pay for the surging
costs for the big tax cut, the deficit and
prescription reform?
“The government will borrow from the
public,” Echevarria said.“When the government borrows,it traditionally borrows
from the insurance companies and retirement funds and private individuals who
put money in short term treasuries. It’s
coming from the marketplace.”
As to what happened to the huge surplus, Echevarria said,“I’m not sure there
really was a surplus.”
He said that ever since the administration of Lyndon B. Johnson, the government decided to include Social Security
revenues in with general tax revenues.
The reasoning, he said, was to advance
the Vietnam War and the Great Society
programs, and that was why the government included the Social Security funds
as part of its general revenue.
“I’m not sure there was a surplus on the
basis of taxes,”Echevarria said.“It was due
largely to money that went into the
Social Security fund.”
Unchecked deficits could force interest rates up, but Echevarria said if there
was no federal debt, interest rates
would plummet.
He added that if debts continue to rise
too much, this would impede the federal
government’s ability to fund programs.
Echevarria sees the cost of the war in
Iraq as a marginal increase in expenses as
opposed to having forces stationed in the
United States, and said the cost differences may not be much.
There are economists who worry about
deficits and economists who believe
deficits are part of doing business.
Echevarria agrees with the latter, up to a
point, that point being when servicing
the deficit requires higher taxes.
With divergent points of view coming
from the House and Senate and within
the private sector, news of the economy
tumbles regularly. One week the economic forecast is poor and lists higher unemployment, and the next week signs of a
recovery are announced.
The uncertainty itself has stunted consumer spending, and all sides keep looking
for stability and better days to come.
Junior Achievement opens Peckville office
Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania Inc. (JA) recently celebrated the
opening of its new office at 533 Main Street, Peckville. JA’s business and economics programs are for students in kindergarten through grade 12. JA enables caring
adults to share their experience with students to show them what it takes to be
successful. Visit JA’s Web site, nepa.ja.org, or call (570) 489-9474 for more information. Celebrating the Peckville office opening were, left to right: Sarah M.
Kubrick, JA development assistant; Lisa M. Buranich, JA development director;
Donna Sedor, Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry; Michael J.
Pacyna, PNC Bank; Paul Barretta, Talent Clearinghouse, JA classroom volunteer;
Ann Marie Andrejko, PNC Bank, JA board of directors; Gerald J. Ganz, Jr., Johnson
College, JA board of directors; Kenneth G. Okrepkie, CDE Computer Learning
Center, JA board of directors; Ellen P. Smith, JA board of directors; Janine M.
Becker, Sallie Mae, JA board chair; Ronald J. Yevitz, Penn State Worthington
Scranton, JA board of directors; Anna Cervenak, Verizon, JA board of directors;
Chuck Matthews; Kathleen M. Matthews, JA president; Peter J. Danchak, PNC
Bank president, JA advisory board; Brian Rinker, Blue Cross of NEPA, JA board of
directors; Al Brogna, Sen. Robert Mellow’s office; Gary T. Crisci, Merrill Lynch, JA
board of directors; Mary Gene Eagen, JA vice president, education; Robert N.
Lettieri, MacIntyre Associates Inc.; Orna S. Clum, JA program director.
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Focus on oncology care:
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We Care.
book of lists 2003
This Year’s edition marks the ninth installment of the
region’s most sought-after and extensive source of
business news and market information.
Additional copies can be purchased for $1395, or
subscribe to the Northeast Pennsylvania Business
Journal ($28 for 12 issues) and receive the Book of
Lists FREE.
Call the
570-207-9001 or 877-584-3561 extension 5420.
Corporate rate discounts available for volume orders.
An estimated two million people
will be diagnosed with cancer this
year, according to the National
Institutes of Health (NIH).
But thanks to advances in screenings
and treatments, the news won’t be as
devastating or life-threatening as it once
was, especially for those diagnosed with
breast and other solid cancers.
Here’s a look at some of the advances in
cancer care that are available from hospitals and imaging facilities that serve
northeast Pennsylvania:
Sentinel node biopsy
Women with breast cancer have a new,
less invasive option for detecting its
spread.The procedure, called sentinel node
biopsy, enables doctors to check for cancer
while sparing unaffected lymph nodes.
Not having to remove unaffected lymph
nodes is significant, says Lee B. Riley,
M.D., Ph.D., director of the cancer center
at St. Luke’s Hospital and Health Network
based in Fountain Hill, because, for many
women, removing nodes in the armpit
area disrupts the natural movement of
lymph in the body. Lymph, which contains lymphocytes, a type of white blood
cell, plays an important part in the
immune system.
Disruption of lymph can cause a disorder known as lymphedema, which causes
swelling, limited movement and discomfort and increased risk of infection.
During sentinel node biopsy, Riley says,
a harmless dye is injected around the
breast tumor.The dye is absorbed into
the lymphatic system, highlighting the
pathways through which tumor cells travel before lodging themselves in the sentinel lymph nodes. During the biopsy, two
to four sentinel nodes are removed and
examined to see if they have been affected by cancer.
Studies have shown that if cancer has
not affected those nodes,“there is a 95
percent-plus chance it has not spread to
any other nodes, so further removal of
lymph nodes is unnecessary,” Riley says.
Compared to traditional biopsy, a sentinel node biopsy is a less invasive procedure, meaning a quicker recovery and
less post-op pain, Riley says.And because
unaffected lymph nodes are left intact,
the risks of lymphedema and nerve damage are greatly decreased.
Riley says sentinel node biopsies also
are useful in treating other cancers such
as skin and colon.
Intensity Modulated Radiation
Therapy (IMRT)
Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy
X-ray beams for the treatment of cancer.
IMRT uses a computer to generate
images to plan and deliver more tightly
focused radiation beams to tumors than
is possible with conventional radiotherapy, says Norman Schulman, M.D., medical
director of Radiation Medicine Specialists
of Northeast Pennsylvania, Forty Fort.
State-of-the-art linear accelerators are fitted with an accessory called a multi-leaf
collimator, which uses up to 120 computer-controlled mechanical “fingers” to
St. Luke’s Cancer Center
has more radiation therapy options
for cancer treatment
than any other area hospital
• Intensity Modulated Radiation
Therapy (IMRT) with more than
392 patients treated since 2000
• Electronic Compensation
• 3D Conformal Therapy
• Brachytherapy
– Prostate seeds
– Mammosite
– High-dose radiation
• CT Simulation
• Two state-of-the-art linear accelerators with multileaf collimation
Ask your doctor or call us for
more information at 610-954-4300
or 1-866-STLUKES (toll free).
St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network is a
member of the University of Pennsylvania
Cancer Network
The Region’s Leader in Cancer Care
801 Ostrum Street • Bethlehem • 1-866-STLUKES (785-8537)
www.stlukescancercenter.org
Technology, biological care top list of advancements
shape the beam of radiation so that it conforms to the three-dimensional shape of
the tumor as defined by the IMRT plan.
The technology allows doctors to deliver higher dose radiation to the tumor
while sparing surrounding healthy
tissue, Schulman says.
IMRT is used for prostate and
head and neck cancers and
recurrent or primary tumors
near a spinal cord or other
sensitive structures, Schulman says. IMRT is under
investigation for the treatment of breast cancer.
scans are used for diagnosis, monitoring
tumor response to chemotherapy or radiation and in radiation treatment planning.
P.E.T. differs from X-rays and other diagnostic imaging techniques because in addition to
Biological therapies
Riley says advances in drug treatments
for cancer that
have come
about as
Gamma knife
The Gamma Knife is a
precise and powerful tool
for treating certain
tumors and vascular malformations in the brain. It
is not a knife, but an
instrument that uses 201
cobalt sources to deliver
finely focused beams of radiation, Schulman says.
The beam from each individual
source is delivered through holes in a
helmet-like device.All the beams cross a
single point, and it is only at that point
that enough radiation is delivered to the
affected tissue.
Like IMRT, its advantage is its extreme
accuracy, Schulman says.
P.E.T. scans
Positron emission topography (P.E.T.)
and detects the tracer in the tissue.
“A CAT scan generally can see down to
1 centimeter, whereas a P.E.T. scan can go
down to almost 6/10ths of a centimeter,”
Schulman says.
Riley says P.E.T. scans have proven so
useful in seeing whether cancer has
spread that more insurance companies
are reimbursing for them.“It’s become a
very useful test not only to try to help
people find out if they have cancer but
also if the treatment for cancer is working,” he says.
showing a patient’s
anatomy, the test also looks at
biological and physiological changes in
the body, Schulman says.
Patients receive a dose of a tracer-containing substance that accumulates in diseased tissue, Riley says.The patient then
lies on an electrically powered table that
moves through the scanner.The scanner
creates a picture of the patient’s body
researchers learn more about
human genes also have been impressive.
For example, the Biological Therapy
Program at St. Luke’s offers advanced cancer-fighting treatments in the form of
molecular materials made by the body’s
immune system, such as antibodies and
growth factors.
Examples of leading-edge immunotherapy being used at the Cancer Center are:
High-Dose Interleukin-2 (IL-2), a promising treatment for melanoma and renal
cell cancer, and the CancerVax vaccine
for melanoma.
Cancer risks
Programs are developing to help people reduce their risk of cancer even
before it occurs.
One such program is the Cancer Risk
Program provided by the Northeast
Regional Cancer Institute in Scranton.
In addition to education, the program
offers an in-depth risk assessment
and one-on-one counseling program.“By doing that, people gain
a more accurate idea of their
and their family’s risk for
cancer,” says Laura Toole,
an oncology social worker who is director of
the program.
Knowing risk, people can make
lifestyle
changes and
schedule more aggressive
screenings for cancers they may be
more likely to inherit,Toole says.
In cases where family history and genetic
testing confirms a predisposition for some
cancers, people might also pursue clinical
trials for preventive medicines and possibly prophylactic surgeries to prevent
breast, ovarian or colon cancer.
CANCER CARE with
Expertise, Knowledge and Commitment to Technology ...
is our MISSION
CANCER CARE WITH EXCELLENCE ...
Our cancer facility specializes in state-of-the-art radiation treatments and provides radiation treatments with high and
low energies using photons and electrons. The cancer facility is the first in the region to use the NOMOS technology
with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (I.M.R.T.) and the BAT ultrasound system for daily localization for
prostate cancer assuring more accurate localization of prostate cancer with reduced dose to normal structures such as
bladder and rectum.
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ...
Dr. Norman Schulman, medical director, has over 30 years of experience in treating cancer patients. Dr. Schulman
states “the cancer facility prides itself in providing the latest technology in the region with radiation treatment
planning using three dimensional conformal and IMRT planning techniques.” The facility has played a
leadership role in the region with advancement in radiation treatments introducing coregistration of CAT,
PET and MRI imaging for localizing tumor targets for diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Dr. Schulman
works closely with the physicians involved in the patient’s care, such as the family doctor, medical oncologist
and surgeons.
WELL TRAINED STAFF ...
From the first visit and throughout the care of the patient at the cancer facility, the staff is courteous and
polite providing an atmosphere of family. The cancer facility is staffed by four certified therapists, two
certified radiology technologists, a dosimetrist and other staff members.
CONVENIENT ...
Dr. Normal Schulman
F.A.C.R.O,
Fellow, American College of
Radiation Oncology
Board Certified Radiation Oncology
190 Welles St.
Forty Fort, PA
(570) 714-8686
The cancer facility is a privately owned clinic and we’re located in the Cross Valley West Professional
Building at 190 Welles Street in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania. Plenty of free and easy parking.
CANCER MASSAGE THERAPY ...
The cancer facility provides complimentary massages to our patients during the course of radiation treatment
by Caroline Howell, a certified oncology massage specialist. Massage can reduce stress, provide relaxation
and comfort, relieve pain, minimize the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, enhance circulation and
oxygenation and fatigue.
Call for a consultation at 570-714-8686
Congress mulls Health Savings Account (HSA) options
By Bernard J Healey, Ph.D.
A recent study, published in the journal, Health Affairs, has concluded that
healthcare spending is greater than the
services Americans receive for the
money they spend.
In response to this healthcare cost escalation, the United States Congress is
attempting to pass new legislation allowing Americans to establish Health Savings
Accounts (HSA) or Health Savings
Security Accounts (HSSA).
Legislation added to the recently passed
House Medicare reform bill would allow
more companies to offer these accounts.
According to Otto F.Wolke, R.Ph, president, Schellen and Partners USA Inc.,
healthcare consultants,“Medical Savings
Accounts were part of the HIPAA legislation of 1996 and new proposals, called
Health Savings Accounts and Health
Savings Security Accounts are being considered in Congress at this time.While
being touted as vehicles for consumerdirected healthcare, only about 100,000
accounts have been started under the
HIPAA legislation that had authorized up
to 750,000 accounts.
“For employers and for healthy families
that have the money to put into the
accounts, there are advantages. Money
can be saved and rolled over. In the
inverted bell-shaped curve of healthcare
utilization, these accounts are targeted for
population with much less medical risk.”
Wolke argues that “the insurance companies win with minimal utilization of
services and lower administrative costs of
handling small claims.The employers win
with a large reduction in healthcare premiums paid.The healthy employee wins
with the freedom of choice in who to see
and what to spend the healthcare dollars
on, or to keep the money growing in the
MSA account. Financial services companies also win with more private money
going into investments with subsequent
administrative fees.”
Wolke contends that “the losers are
moderate to low-income individuals who
find it difficult to fund the accounts or to
pay bills prior to having fully funded the
MSA.Young and growing families who
would face large out-of-pocket expenses
with unexpected emergencies or a pregnancy. Other losers are enrollees with
chronic diseases that require expensive
medication, since these plans have no
drug benefit, and drugs are the fastest
growing segment of healthcare inflation.
Persons who experience frequent hospitalizations or physician office visits are also
at risk for significant out-of-pocket expenses that will wipe out the savings account
and leave the patient at risk for costs.”
He explained that “there is often no maximum out-of-pocket expense, which is part
of most current healthcare insurance programs.The MSA process takes funds from
the healthcare delivery system and creates
additional savings pools for wealthier individuals who can afford to pay incidental
healthcare out of pocket and keep the
MSA account for retirement.”
James Davis, government affairs repre-
sentative, Blue Cross of Northeastern
Pennsylvania, says “these new proposals
improve current medical accounts by
removing many of the barriers that limited their use and effectiveness.”
He said current proposals allow employees to build assets in Health Savings
Accounts through employer contributions, employee contributions and taxfree rollovers of a portion of unused flexible spending account balances.”
Davis went on to say “ insurers such as
Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania
hope that Congress would go even further in giving employers and health plans
the flexibility to develop the widest possible range of products, for instance by
eliminating the requirements that HSSAs
and HSAs must be coupled with plans
that have specific deductible amounts.”
He also stated that “the HSSA accounts
were scored by the Joint Committee on
Taxation as costing much more than
HSAs (roughly $160 billion versus $7 billion over 10 years), Blue Cross hopes
Congress will consider both products’
potential for advancing consumer-directed care.With consumers’ healthcare costs
rising, it is more important than ever to
work toward supporting marketplace
innovations that will lead to greater flexibility and more choices for consumers.
This legislation is an important step
toward increasing consumer choices and
access to healthcare. It will allow health
plans to develop new coverage options
designed to empower consumers and
expand their health coverage.”
Area firm helps to beautify Arlington National Cemetery
Michael Kravitsky, IV, co-owner; Shawn
Kravitsky, co-owner; and Victor Gorski,
sales manager, of Grasshopper Lawns
Inc. of Larksville, traveled to Washington,
D.C., this summer to team up with lawn
and landscape experts from around the
nation in a day of voluntary service beautifying and restoring the cemetery
grounds at Arlington National Cemetery.
The beautification activities were part of
the Professional Lawn Care Association
of America’s (PLCAA) 14th annual legislative day on the Hill in July.
Grasshopper Lawns, in business since
1964, has been a PLCAA member since
1980. For more information, call (800)
287-6113. At left, Grasshopper works at
Arlington National Cemetery.
Extraordinary
cancer care.
WILKES-BARRE GENERAL HOSPITAL has always strived to
provide its cancer patients with the best medical professionals,
the latest technologies and the most advanced therapies.
Today, those efforts have evolved into the region’s most
comprehensive cancer care program.
In addition to our leading edge technology in medical oncology
and radiation therapy, we offer a dedicated 39-bed inpatient unit
with skilled and compassionate physicians, nurses and support
staff. It all adds up to expert, experienced cancer care.
WILKES-BARRE GENERAL HOSPITAL –
Fighting Cancer...
with Capability,
Commitment and
Compassion.
www.wvhcs.org
‘CreateAthon’ donates
talents to nonprofits
Six nonprofit organizations from Luzerne
and Lackawanna counties will be the beneficiaries of advertising and marketing services provided by CDS Creative in its second annual CreateAThon on September
11.The event, a 24-hour work-around-theclock effort, will provide free creative services to the selected nonprofits.
Organizations selected as CreateAThon
clients this year include: Girl Scouts of
Penn's Woods Council; Greater Hazleton
Senior Citizens Services Inc.; Lupus
Foundation of Pennsylvania-Pocono/NE
Branch; S.A.F.E (Supporting Autism &
Families Everywhere); Susquehanna
Warrior Trail Council;Wyoming Valley
AIDS Council.
CDS Creative received 23 applications
from non-profit agencies all across
Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.
The agency expects to produce
between 15 and 20 projects for the six
nonprofits selected.
Catherine D. Shafer, president, CDS
Creative, said,“We wish we could help
everyone who needs it. Every organization that submitted an application
deserves support; they are all doing such
important work in our community.”
In selecting the organizations, Shafer
noted that the agency followed its criteria of choosing nonprofits that provide
direct services to the people of Luzerne
and Lackawanna counties.
In addition to the staff of CDS Creative
working during the 24-hour creative blitz,
the agency has partnered with Marcato
Advertising and Stage2 Marketing &
Design to provide graphic design services
to the event’s participants.
“We work with these artists on a daily
basis and we appreciate them partnering
with us on such a worthwhile and fun
cause,” Shafer explained.
CreateAThon is the brainchild of Rigg’s
Inc., an advertising, marketing and communications firm in Columbia, S.C. In an
effort to give nonprofit organizations the
professional, creative marketing materials
that would otherwise be financially
unfeasible, Rigg’s formed the first
CreateAThon in 1998.
CDS Creative provides a broad spectrum of creative advertising, marketing
and public relations solutions to clients
throughout the northeast.
Activities slated by the
Northeast Regional Cancer Institute
Colorectal Cancer: Update on Epidemiology,
Screening, and Local Trends in Northeast Pa.
September 10, 6 p.m.
A professional education program offered for
the members of the Luzerne County Medical
Society. This program will focus on colorectal cancer and the epidemiology of this disease in northeastern Pennsylvania. Location to be determined.
Cancer: Families at Risk
Education program designed to answer your
questions and concerns about cancer risk. Held at
Boscov's Auditorium, Mall at Steamtown, Scranton.
Colorectal Cancer
Program focusing on an overview of colorectal
cancer, including the signs and symptoms.
Screening methods and prevention will also be discussed. Held at Boscov's Auditorium, Steamtown
Mall, Scranton.
Cancer Survival
Program that helps individuals develop practical
tools in daily life as they deal with cancer diagnosis and treatment. Held at Boscov's Auditorium,
Mall at Steamtown, Scranton.
For more information about any of the above
programs,call (800) 424-6724.
Valley Open MRI receives
ACR accreditation
Dr. Juan D. Gaia, president,Valley Open
MRI & Diagnostic Center in Kingston
announced that his facility has been
awarded a three-year term of accreditation in high-field and low-field MRI as the
result of a recent survey by the American
College of Radiology.
The survey was performed by the ACR
based on clinical submission of images by
Georgann Wywoda, BSRT(R)(MR).The
ACR, headquartered in Reston,Va., awards
accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a
peer-review evaluation of its practice.
Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists
who are experts in the field.
They assess the qualifications of the
personnel and the adequacy of facility
equipment. The surveyors report their
finding to the ACR’s Committee on
Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive
report.The ACR is a national organization
serving more than 32,000 diagnostic/
interventional radiologists, radiation
oncologists and medical physicists with
programs for focusing on the practice of
medical imaging and radiation oncology
and the delivery of comprehensive health
care services.At right are Dr. Juan D. Gaia
and Georgann Wywoda.
R EBECCA D ECKER ,
S CRANTON
“I have wonderful friends, a passion for life,
and breast cancer.”
As a social worker and Komen Foundation volunteer, I’ve heard
some scary stories about health care costs. So when I found out I had
breast cancer, I was concerned with what I might face, both physically
and financially. ■ It’s been a long road of surgeries, chemotherapy,
radiation, and procedures. But everyone at Blue Cross of
Northeastern Pennsylvania and Highmark Blue Shield made sure I
had access to the best doctors around, both at home and away.
And total peace of mind when it came to medical bills. ■ Blue Cross
and Blue Shield took care of everything. All I had to do was get well.
“But I also have Blue Cross and Blue Shield.”
Excellence in Action
Independent Licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®Registered Mark of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
Montoursville youth launch aviation magazine
By John Beauge
Adam and Bryan Makos were in middle
school in Montoursville when in 1994
they launched Ghost Wings, a two-page
newsletter they produced for family and
friends on their home computer to share
aviation stories inspired by their grandfather’s World War II accounts.
In May 1999, the brothers, along with
their younger sister Erica, and friend
Joseph Gohrs, moved from a newsletter
to a magazine format.
Today, Ghost Wings has a paid mail
circulation of about 3,000. More than
7,000 other copies of the magazine,
published four times a year, are sold
through selected newsstands and by
staff members at air shows.
The four still work from an office in the
basement of the Makos home near
Warrensville, where they self-taught
themselves how to create and design a
magazine that is printed commercially.
Editor Adam Makos, 22, who graduated
in May magna cum laude from Lycoming
College, plans to devote his full-time
efforts to the magazine.The other three
will continue to split their time between
school and the magazine.
Associate editor, Bryan Makos, 19, is a
sophomore at Lycoming and Gohrs, 22,
the production manager, is a senior at the
Pennsylvania College of Technology. Erica
Makos, 18, who handles public relations
duties, graduated in June from Montoursville High School.
Their work has won accolades from veterans including Richard Winters, a World
War II paratrooper from Hershey who
was among those featured in the HBO
miniseries “Band of Brothers.”
Winters, 85, is featured in an article in
the current issue reliving his account of
jumping into Normandy on D-Day.“We
were focusing on these guys before we
saw them on TV,”Adam Makos says.“It
didn’t take an HBO series to show us
they were real American heroes.”
He had interviewed the late Stephen
Ambrose, author of the book “Band of
Brothers,” in October 2000 when he
came to an air event Ghost Wings hosted
at the Williamsport Regional Airport.
Makos’ article, illustrated with World War
II photographs, goes beyond the HBO
series to include first-person accounts of
those who flew the paratroopers to the
jump zone on June 6, 1944.
“They did a beautiful job,”Winters
says. Makos interviewed Winters who
started making notes of his D-Day experience three days after he landed in
Normandy. He had time because he had
suffered a left leg wound.
Winters, who retired as a major after
training troops to go to Korea, is to be
featured in a commemorative art print by
artist John Shaw in Florida.The Ghost
Wings staff plans to sell the prints as a
fundraiser for the magazine.
They do much of their research for
articles about World War II during the
summer by attending air shows
throughout the United States.
Adam Makos was at Edwards Air
Force Base in California in October
when Chuck Yeager made his last flight
in a jet, a F-15 Eagle. He had met Yeager
at an air show in Oshkosh, Wis., and
learned he did not have a Web site. The
Ghost Wings staff built one for him,
which was launched Feb. 13 on
Yeager’s 80th birthday.
The young writers have learned to take
advantage of situations to get their stories
and expand their experiences. In July
2002 at a fly-in/air show in Oshkosh,
Erica Makos got to go up in a World War
II vintage P-51 fighter.
She describes her experience in the current edition.Their work on the magazine
has brought them recognition in high
school and college.
Adam Makos this year won the Global
Student Entrepreneur award for the Ohio
Valley region, which is composed of
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and West
Virginia. He will represent the region in
the national competition held in
November in Chicago.
For the third consecutive year, Erica
Makos is in the running for a national
Future Business Leaders of America
award. Bryan Makos went to nationals
three times when he was a
Montoursville student.
The Makos brothers and Gohrs won a
state award for the magazine’s business
plan when Adam Makos was still in
high school.
Many of the letters the staff receives
include the comment that not many
youngsters today are writing about the
experiences of World War II veterans.
Time for getting first-person accounts
of these events is running out, Adam
Makos says.“We have to act fast to get
them into the hands of young people
who can learn so much from them,” he
says.“We have to do this before such
valuable history is lost.”
Yahoo! launches tools to
create ‘business class’
Web sites
Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO), a leading
global Internet company, announced the
launch of Yahoo! SiteBuilder, an innovative design tool enabling small businesses
to build professional, business-class Web
sites quickly and easily.
The new tool is available now on
Yahoo! Web Hosting (webhosting.
yahoo.com), and is free for Yahoo! Web
Hosting customers.
Yahoo! Small Business created and
developed Yahoo! SiteBuilder, a Javabased client-side Web site design tool
with business-class authoring, management and customization, to make it easier than ever for small businesses to establish an online presence.With Yahoo!
SiteBuilder, no programming knowledge
is required.The easy-to-use tool enables
small businesses to use drag-and-drop
editing to build professional and sophisticated Web sites.
Yahoo! is offering the new tool for free.
Yahoo! Web Hosting customers can publish their Web site directly to their Yahoo!
Web Hosting account. New users can
publish their Web site by signing up for
any of the three affordable Yahoo! Web
Hosting packages.
Yahoo! SiteBuilder provides more than
200 templates such as professional services, interior design, real estate and travel, among many others. It enables users
to drag and drop images anywhere on
the site, insert backgrounds, layer
designs, edit, preview and “undo” mistakes.Also,Yahoo! SiteBuilder provides a
Getting Started Guide that walks customers through a step-by-step process,
from creating a page to publishing a site.
Yahoo! SiteBuilder allows for offline
management, providing small businesses
the freedom to modify their site without
being connected to the Internet. In addition,Yahoo! SiteBuilder uses open standards and is designed to create multipage sites versus individual pages, allowing for link management.
Integrity Building Systems locates corporate headquarters in Milton
In May, the Milton Area Industrial
Development Association, the owners of
Integrity Building Systems Inc., and other
noted dignitaries, joined together in a
groundbreaking ceremony at a site in the
Milton Industrial Park, Belford Addition.
The 22.5 acre site is part of a Keystone
Opportunity Zone, and will become the
new corporate headquarters for Integrity
Building Systems, a leading manufacturer
of modular homes, presently located in
Montgomery. Construction on the site
commenced last month, with anticipated
occupancy of the new 70,000 sq. ft. stateof-the-art manufacturing facility, and 7,000
sq. ft. office complex by March, 2004.
Integrity Building Systems presently
employees 100 workers at its operation
in Montgomery and, with the relocation of operations to the Milton site,
anticipates the creation of approximately 40 additional jobs within the
next few years as predicated by housing demands in the Northeast.
Homes by Integrity, the retail marketing
division of the parent company, will also
maintain offices at the new location —
allowing potential local homebuyers the
opportunity to view firsthand the benefits of modular construction.
Participating in the groundbreaking ceremony were, left to right, Integrity
Building Systems officers, Richard Rowe,
president; Michael Steimling, vice president of material procurement; Glenn
Salsman, controller; Steven Weaver, treasurer; Mark Bowman, vice president of
Mid-Atlantic sales; Martin Sickle, vice president of Northeast sales;Timothy
McWilliams, vice president of production;
Sam Deitrick, Northumberland County
commissioner; John Boback,
Northumberland County commissioner;
Bob Hickox, president and CEO of the
Milton Area Chamber of Commerce; and
Edward Nelson, mayor of Milton.
Use exit interviews to gather feedback for company
Information obtained in exit interviews assists in running efficient HR departments as well as retaining employees
By Jennifer Butler
During this latest recession, companies
are finding that exit interviews are
becoming increasingly more valuable in
retaining current employees and pointing the way toward new hires.
According to a recent study by the
Society of Human Resource
Management, more than 90 percent of
companies conduct exit interviews and
it is one of the most widely used methods of gathering employment feedback
for a company.
“Exit interviews can provide a wealth
of information for both the employee
and the company, said Donna Hewlett
Bator, human resources manager at
Marywood University.
“The company welcomes the opportunity to find out what can be done to prevent future turnover and the employee is
given an opportunity to talk about what
they have experienced while employed
with the company.”
Other information can be obtained by
the employee as well.This includes information on the continuation of any benefits, how to handle their pension plan,
what will be included in their final check
and any other pressing matters for the
final transition, Bator adds.“It is needed
to tie up loose ends like collecting IDs,
getting correct addresses for mailing W2s and other things, ” she said.
For the most part, exit interviews are
conducted a few days before or after an
employee leaves the company, when the
employment experiences are “fresh” in
his/her mind and he/she is happy to
express final thoughts about the employment.All part-time and full-time personnel are interviewed, according to Bator,
and temporary or seasonal employees
are also encouraged to contact her
before their departure.
“I prefer to meet with individuals
one-on-one. This makes it more personalized and helps create an atmosphere
where they feel free to discuss what is
on their minds,” explained Bator. If this
is not possible, she mails the information with a follow-up phone call, with
all information kept confidential unless
otherwise specified.
Bator includes such questions as why
the employee is leaving and whether
anything could have prevented it.
“I inquire as to how they perceived
their salary, job security, benefits, managerial skills and opportunities for
growth,” she said. She asks if they would
work for the university again if the occasion arose and whether they felt the
workplace was a safe environment.
“This is a perfect opportunity to obtain
constructive feedback.We can identify
problems as well as things that work
well in the department and the university, since employees often acknowledge
Donna Hewlett Bator, human resources manager at Marywood University, right, conducts an exit interview, a situation she describes as “the perfect opportunity to
obtain constructive feedback.” Photo by Bob Urban
what worked well and have suggestions
on what might work better,” she said.
Bator takes the information she
receives and combines it with other data
to determine relevance and whether
changes are due.
“The more frequently a comment is
made, the more significance it has,” she
notes.“Possible underlying motives, differences in perceptions of a situation and
the sincerity of the terminating employee at the exit interview serve as positive,
objective tools to (use to) make appropriate changes,” she said.
“I enjoy the opportunity to meet with
employees as they are first coming to
Marywood and those that are leaving. It
serves as a source of connection for
human resources and the employee. It is
an opportunity to make sure the employees know we are concerned about their
experience here and are here to be of
service and maintain a positive relationship when they are no longer employed
at the university,” added Bator.
There are a variety of reasons that retention of an employee is so important.
The cost of turnover to a company can
add hundreds of thousands of dollars to
a company’s expenses, including hiring
and training costs and productivity loss.
Experts say that 25 percent of the average employee’s salary is a conservative
estimate of the cost of turnover.
The loss of company knowledge when
an employee leaves can be harmful
because employees may take what they
know about the company, customers,
current projects and past history away —
sometimes to a competitor.
There is a disruption of customer service when an employee leaves.
Relationships develop between customers and employees that encourage
business.These relationships are severed
when an employee leaves.
In addition, low morale, related to the
loss of an employee can be felt throughout a company, and may intensify when
coworkers are required to take on additional responsibilities.
Interviews can also be conducted on
paper or through the use of an online
system like Nobscot’s Webexit Exit
Management System, depending on the
company’s preference.
One disadvantage of in-person interviews
is that, for larger companies, they may be
too time-consuming, it may be difficult to
track information verbally and some
employees may be afraid to share negative
information during these interviews.
Telephone exit interviews can also be
time-consuming and expensive if performed by an outside consultant.
Paper and pencil interviews take less
time and employees may be more willing
to share negative information, but return
of such interviews by the employee average only 30 to 35 percent.
The online management system may be
useful in saving time for human resource
managers.The information is compiled
automatically, and participation rates
have doubled, according to Nobscot.
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Horses, slots create ‘racinos’
‘Racinos’ could provide ‘destination entertainment’ venues at
existing race tracks, benefit ancillary businesses
Continued from page one
a race track, which ultimately reduced the
daily income at the track and made it more
difficult to run a racing operation. Smaller
and smaller crowds eventually took their
toll on the breeding industry as well, with
the reduction of purses to the horsemen,”
said Dissinger.
In the early 1980s,Atlantic City took a
swing at the gaming industry.Their success
was followed by riverboat gaming and
large-scale gaming developments by the
Native Americans across the country, all of
which also contributed to a further decline
in revenue on the horse racing scene,
according to Dissinger.
“In the late 1980s, the introduction of
interstate simulcasting allowed more
opportunity to increase revenue for the
horse racing industry. (But) that is still not
enough,” said Dissinger.
More needs to be done, he said, to save
the sport and business of horse racing —
currently valued at $1.4 billion in
Pennsylvania as reported by the
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
this past June.
The Tomlinson Bill is aimed at offsetting
the state’s current budget deficit by introducing a new gaming market while preserving the horseracing industry.
The combination of the two industries is
anticipated to bring about other positive
impacts on regional economic development through the expansion of hotels,
restaurants, and other businesses that will
benefit from an influx of visitors.
According to Ewing Cole,“In order to
accomplish this, integrated racing and
gaming destination entertainment developments should be strategically located
around the state to maximize the ultimate revenue potential in a region. Care
should be given to identify locations
that can capture revenues outside the
borders of Pennsylvania.”
“The racing venue must become part of a
larger complex,” said Dissinger.
Successful “destination entertainment”
venues must be developed with a more
comprehensive view that capitalizes on
multiple revenue generators.
“This includes interactive attractions,
game arcades,‘eater’tainment,’ specialty
retail, museum attractions, sports bars, hotel
and conference faculties, and luxury spas.
The overall goal is to maximize revenue by
increasing patron length of stay and repeat
visitation while enhancing the overall visitor experience,” Ewing Cole notes.
“Legislation has stalled over the summer
as proponents of the various gaming bills
attempt to find agreement on the best plan
for the state,” said Dissinger.
The legislative debate centers around an
important issue: to only introduce slot
machines at existing, state-licensed racetracks and a few future ones and, in addition, to allow land-based faculties in
urban areas.“The goal of this legislative
initiative is twofold: add additional
income to the state treasury through the
taxation of additional gaming revenues,
Above are two views of the proposed “Freedom Park,” a “racino” to be located off Route
33 in Palmer Township, provided it gets slots and a state license. According to the
Allentown Morning Call, “other major players are looking to snare an available
Pennsylvania license.” Churchill Downs is backing plans for “Pittsburgh Palisades Park,”
a $500 million racetrack-casino-retail development. Magna Entertainment, a Canadian
company, proposes to build a thoroughbred track near Pittsburgh International Airport.
Edson Arneault, who operates a gaming resort in West Virginia, has pledged to donate
$60 million to build a hockey arena for the Pittsburgh Penguins if Pennsylvania gives him
a racetrack license. Rendering courtesy of Ewing Cole Cherry Brott
while enhancing horse racing,” he added.
Advocates of the bill want to retain
Pennsylvania’s fair share of the gaming
economy that has expanded significantly
over the last several years in such places as
Atlantic City and other states ,like West
Virginia and New York, which have recently
approved slots at racetracks.
Those against the bill deem it “illegal
and immoral,” saying it creates a potential
for addiction, but proponents say it’s just
another form of entertainment — one
from which Pennsylvania has an opportunity to benefit.
incidents in 1993 to 7,413 in 1994.
NEVADA — With over 300 casinos, Nevada consistently ranks at or near the top among all states in per
capita suicide rate, incarceration rate, high school
dropout rate, deaths per vehicle mile, and child death
by abuse.
NATIONWIDE — US News & World Report (Jan. 15,
1996) computer-analyzed data from casino areas
across the country. In terms of economic growth, the
magazine found no significant difference between
casino areas and the rest of the US. But crime rates
in casino areas were nearly twice as high — 1,092
incidents per 10,000 population vs. 593 — and
“towns with casinos have experienced an upsurge of
crime at the same time it was dropping for the nation
as a whole.”
A final note: Ten years ago, problem gambling
among teenagers in the United States was considered a rarity. In 1995 about 12 percent of the calls to
the nationwide 1-800-GAMBLER helpline involved people under 21.
Gambling: the pros and cons
PRO:
Members of Bring Our Taxes Home (BOTH) support placement of slot machines at Pennsylvania's
licensed standardbred and thoroughbred racetracks “because of the revenues it will generate for
state and local governments, for the jobs it will
save and the new ones it will create and for bolstering Pennsylvania's sagging racing heritage.”
BOTH members argue that this can be done simply
by bringing home dollars now spent by
Pennsylvanians on slot machines in neighboring
states. Their argument:
WHERE PENNSYLVANIANS GO TO GAMBLE
Pennsylvanians made 9.6 million trips to gamble
out of state in 2001 (That's an average of 26,200
trips a day)
Twenty-five percent of monies wagered in
Atlantic City come from Pennsylvania (Pennsylvanians
made 2.9 million day trips and 4.3 million
overnight visits to Atlantic City in 2001 and spent
$2.88 billion).
Pennsylvanians made 575,000 trips to Las
Vegas in 2001 and spent $349 million there
Forty percent of monies wagered in DE come
from Pennsylvania.
Twenty-five percent of monies wagered in West
Virginia comes from Pennsylvania.
Additional Pennsylvanians wager in New York,
Connecticut, Canada.
This adds up to a staggering $3.2 billion of
Pennsylvania dollars spent (left behind) in those
states. Most (80 percent) is spent on slot
machines. And this doesn't include an additional
$1.5 billion in non-gambling expenditures while in
those states like lodging, retail, entertainment,
food and beverage, transportation.
(Sources: Atlantic City Visitor Profile - 1998
Final Report, Plog Research, Inc.; Profile of the
American Casino Gambler, Harrah's
Entertainment, Inc., 2002; International Gaming
& Wagering Business, September 2002; Las
Vegas Visitor Profile - Fiscal Year 2001 Annual
Report, GLS Research; Las Vegas Convention And
Visitors Authority Research Dept, 2002; Atlantic
City Convention & Visitors Authority Research
Department; Christiansen Capital Advisers)
CON:
Citizens for a Stronger Pennsylvania (CSP) is a
campaign by Pennsylvanians Against Gambling
Expansion (PAGE), No Dice, and other Pennsylvanians
to prevent the introduction of various forms of casino
gambling, including slot machines, riverboat gambling
and video poker. CSP’s argument:
IOWA — Problem gambling has more than tripled
since casinos opened, with rates rising from 1.7 percent to 5.4 percent of all adults, said a 1995 statesponsored survey. A similar jump in Pennsylvania
(which has about 8.4 million adults) would mean over
300,000 new problem gamblers.
ILLINOIS — Gov. Jim Edgar admitted riverboat gambling “hasn’t increased tourism or generated new
income.” The state’s Economic and Fiscal
Commission found little evidence of spinoff benefits,
and an independent study in June 1996 estimated
the casinos actually produce $239 million per year in
net losses for local economies — even counting tax
revenues as gains.
MINNESOTA — The state’s Restaurant and Hotel
Association reported business down 20 percent to 50
percent at establishments near Indian casinos.
Gambling-related personal bankruptcies have soared
to an estimated 1,000+ per year, and a state that
previously had just one Gamblers Anonymous chapter
now has 53.
WISCONSIN — A 1995 survey of customers at
Indian casinos found: “More than 10 percent of the
locals would spend more on groceries if it were not
for the casino, while nearly one-fourth would spend
more on clothes. 37 percent said that their savings
had been reduced.”
LOUISIANA — Political scandals and organizedcrime raids led gubernatorial candidate Phil Preis to
joke in 1995, “The only growth industry we’ve got
right now is the FBI.” Other negatives include a “very
high” 7 percent problem gambling rate, and a study
showing that riverboat casinos drained $102 million
from the metro New Orleans economy through 1994.
MISSISSIPPI — Thefts and other crimes roughly
doubled in the towns of Gulfport and Bay St. Louis
after casinos opened. In Biloxi, divorces rose 250
percent, crisis calls to a local women’s shelter doubled, and total violent crimes rose from 5,072
(Sources not cited nor taken from public records: Edgar quote, Chicago
Tribune. Illinois study, Better Government Association of Chicago. Minnesota
figures, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune. Wisconsin survey, Wisconsin
Policy Research Institute. New Orleans study, Policy & Management
Associates for URA of Pittsburgh.)
TGI Friday’s benefits raise money for Make-a-Wish
A check for $20,000 was presented to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast PA
from money raised at the Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport and Quakertown TGI Friday’s
Bartender Challenges and also at a recent benefit golf outing. From left to right are
Andy Sweitzer, general manager, TGI Friday’s; Jeffrey Metz, vice president of operations, TGI Friday’s; Art Owens, director of program services, Make-A-Wish
Foundation; and Jessie Hardy, president and CEO, Make-A-Wish.
Downtown Hazleton.
All Hazleton photos by Bob Urban
N
eighborhood blight, a declining
population and businesses that
moved out were all problems
that plagued the City of Hazleton in the
past. It wasn’t a malady peculiar to
Hazleton but a familiar pattern that blossomed in thousands of mid-sized cities in
the 1960s when the suburbs began their
enormous growth.
Today, it’s clear that this northeast
Pennsylvania city is making a strong recovery that includes new downtown businesses and housing, and a new attitude.
“We had a great work force but we had
a negative image and we had to change
that image,” said Mayor Louis J. Barletta.
“When the image changes, attitudes
change. Outside companies are then
attracted to the city.”
The mayor said that in the past, many
businesses left the city because of the
political infighting taking place.
“When businesses see infighting, they’re
CITY LOOKS TOWARD REVITALIZATION
BY ROBERT CURRAN
more apt to move their businesses to
other locations,” he said.
Like other cities, there was also a population drain. In1968, Hazleton’s population was 32,056.Today, the population
stands at 23,000 residents.
Working with developers and business
organizations, and gaining state Keystone
Opportunity Zone status, which provides
tax abatement to companies, the city has
numerous projects up and running.
An important anchor downtown, on
Broad and Wyoming Streets, is the tallest
building in the city, the 12-story Markle
Building, a well-known former bank that
had been vacant since 1998 and was
under decline.
The building was purchased by businessman George Hayden and is going
through a restoration. Eight companies
are expected to be settled in the building
before the end of the year, and Barletta
said most are in there now.
The clients include Markle Building
Leasing and Property Management;
Precision Medical Billing Solution Inc.;
BNA Financial Services; Education
Technology Services;The Hazleton
Development Co.; Cedar Emergency
Physicians Inc.; K 12 Software; and the
Park Plaza Hotel.
A ribbon-cutting took place on July
17, and Barletta believes that hundreds of new jobs will be the out-
come at the Markle Building.
In promoting Hazleton, city officials
and business leaders point out that the
city is within two hours of Philadelphia and New York City, and is located
within a 300-mile radius of nearly half
the population and total production of
the United States.
The mayor said that since he took office
in 2000, more than 100 new businesses
have opened in the city.The vacancy rate
on the street level, he said was 16 percent in 1990; 20 percent in 2000; and 12
percent in 2002.
Other signs of progress, the mayor said,
include the Downtown Athletic Club, formerly a vacant bank, and now an active
location with 800 members; Hazle Drugs,
the city’s oldest pharmacy, which constructed a new building; Broad Street
Business Exchange, the former site of two
vacant department stores, but now housHazleton continues on next page
July 1, 2003
This announcement constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. This offering is made only by the Offering Circular which is
available upon request and only in the jurisdictions in which such solicitations and sales may lawfully be conducted.
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ince its inception in 1999, individuals, professionals and business owners have experienced
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Learn more about this capital campaign at a Capital Campaign Community Meeting to be held
in your community this summer. The offering will end September 29, 2003.
Capital Offering Community Meetings (RSVP required):
Harrisburg/Camp Hill Thursday, July 31, 6 PM
Hazleton
Thursday, August 7, 6 PM
Williamsport
Thursday, August 21, 6 PM
Towanda/Sayre
Thursday, Sept. 11, 6 PM
Radisson Penn Harris, Camp Hill PA
Valley Country Club, Sugarloaf, PA
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Markle Building
The Altamont
Continued from previous page
Offices, Apartments, & Store Fronts Available.
Newly renovated Dining room now available for banquets and weddings.
Home of the Patrician, Personal Care Home.
Rooms with private powder rooms available.
Call (570) 455-9711
Come vist us on the web at www.TheAltamont.com
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ing retail and professional offices and a branch of
Luzerne County Community College; Altamont
Building, a former hotel, now home to a restaurant, retail and services businesses; CAN DO
(economic development agency) at the
Renaissance Center; Brennan Law Offices, the
first completed KOZ project; and Café Ultima, a
California-style restaurant.
With ongoing projects, Barletta said progress will continue in Hazleton, including improvements at the Hazleton Airport,which is owned by the city.
The mayor said the city is re-addressing blighted neighborhoods and Pine
Street was the first project.
The city acquired three blocks and had blighted buildings demolished, and
Barletta said the new neighborhood there will receive national attention.
In center city, Barletta said, 25 new homes were built for people of all incomes,
but the homes are not average. He said amenities in the environmentally friendly
homes includes roof shingles that have a 50 year warranty, and master bathrooms
upstairs and downstairs for families that want to bring their parents to live with
them.“Bringing people back to the city will help new businesses and jobs we
hope to locate downtown,”
The new
Barletta said.
Hazle Drugs
George K. Leitner, vice presStore.
ident of Markle Building
Leasing, agrees that the business activity in Hazleton will
result in more companies
coming to the city.“We had
brain drain and now there’s
brain gain,” he said.“Hazleton
is going through a tremendous renaissance.”
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on the grow!
CAN DO’s economic development specialists and the Greater Hazleton Chamber of
Commerce have been working together for more than 50 years providing
exceptional support for business and industry to help them grow and prosper.
To learn more about this growth and the many opportunities awaiting you,
visit our web sites at
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and
www.hazletonchamber.org
I
t used to be that prescription drugs were “compounded” or mixed by the
pharmacist and made to order.
Today, most pharmacies dispense pre-measured and premixed dosages of prescription medicines.
Hazle Drugs, at two locations
in Hazleton, has always provided compounding services and
has extended that by specializing in hard-to-get items like
homeopathic and herbal remedies, as well as hormone
William Spear, Jr., co-owner, Hazle Drugs.
replacement therapies.
“We’ve been in business in
downtown Hazleton for 135 years,” says co-owner William Spear, Jr., who with
his father,William Spear, Sr., is building a state-of-the-art pharmacy with a learning center where they will teach the science of compounding.
“The climate in Hazleton is one of revitalization and rebirth,” says Spear, Jr.
“We have a long-standing commitment here, Hazleton feels like home, it’s
always been home to us.” Though the city will never be a retail giant like the
downtowns of generations past, people are getting excited he says.“It’s time to
take a leap of faith in the city’s leaders,” he says, noting that people want something different.“Hazleton has a unique mixture of elements that the malls don’t
have... professionals, arts and athletic clubs.”
7KLQN/RFDOO\
“I have a clear plan and
vision for the revitalization and continued growth
in Hazleton. I expect to see
projects completed that
will change the complexion
of our region for many
years to come.”
Hazleton Downtown Athletic Club
— Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta
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1548 Hwy. 315, Wilkes-Barre
570-826-0439 • (800) 924-TEAM
FAX 208-1093
Airport Beltway, Hazleton, PA
570-455-4920 • (800) 464-TEAM
FAX 455-3595
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uring the almost 11 years I have been at
First Federal, we have had several opportunities to invest further in our presence
in the city or to consider relocating. We have always
chosen the investment opportunity and have been
pleased with that decision.
During the past few years we have seen the downtown businesses community invest in the city in projects such as First Federal’s refurbishing of its offices at
25 and 31.W. Broad St, the occupancy of the Business
Exchange office space at Broad Street and Laurel Street
E. Lee Beard
(First Federal is one of three banks that invested in this
project with equity as well as loans), the renovations
to the new Hazleton Downtown Athletic Club and the YM/YWCA, the renovations in process for the Markle and the Hazle Drugs buildings, and the ongoing
community renovations for the Pine Street Community and various playground
projects (First Federal's
Charitable Foundation has
been a contributor to these
playground improvements).
First Federal benefits from
all of these improvements as
the quality of life in downtown is improved for our
employees, our customers
and clients, and the overall
community. These investments in downtown are generating renewed interest in
Hazleton — a city First
Federal has been proud to
call home for over 65 years
and a city that we look forward to serving for many
years to come.”
“D
— E. Lee Beard,
President/CEO, First Federal,
Hazleton
The Broad Street Business Exchange.
Welcome
to FNCB
First National Community Bank
Is Opening Soon In Hazleton.
Come Celebrate With Us!
330-352 West Broad Street, Hazleton
At First National Community Bank, community is our middle
Office and Drive Thru Hours
Monday – Thursday 9:00 – 5:00
Friday 9:00 – 6:00
Saturday 9:00 – 12:00
name, that’s why we are very excited to be a new member of the Hazleton
community. Please allow us the opportunity to introduce you to some of
the great banking products and services we have to offer, as well as our
grand opening celebration special offers.
Special In-Branch Bonus CD Rates!
(CD terms may be limited.)
FREE Checking Account for 2 years!
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Youth Accounts!
Competitive Loan Rates!
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Online Banking!
Drive-Thru Service!
Drive-Thru ATM!
Holiday Clubs!
Vacation Clubs!
T
here is much activity taking place in
the Greater
Hazleton Area. Many new
businesses are opening
throughout the area,
Downtown Hazleton is seeing much revitalization
with the renovation of the
Markle Building and the
new construction of the
Hazle Drugs Building. In
addition,The Altamont is
also making some major
improvements in that
impressive structure.The
YWCA just completed a
major renovation project and the Pine Street Housing Project is just about ready to
accept new tenants. In Hazle Twp. business is booming along the Airport Beltway
and in the Humboldt, Route 924 area. Eagle Rock Resort is nearing completion on
its new hotel and exercise/spa facilities with additional improvements and construction to follow.
Not only is business growing in our area, but communities are coming together
to promote just what Greater Hazleton has to offer through the Chamber’s new
“Community Awareness Initiative” campaign.The campaign is geared towards highlighting the many activities/events that Greater Hazleton has to offer such as
Funfest, First Night Hazleton, Harvest Moon Balloon Festival, sports, arts and culture.As president of
YWCA/YMCA
the Greater Hazleton
Chamber of
Commerce, I am very
pleased with the
progress of the
Greater Hazleton Area
and look forward to its
continued growth.
More new construction in downtown Hazleton.
— Donna Palermo,
President, Greater
Hazleton Chamber of
Commerce
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ChamberChoice health plan launches ‘vigorous’ regional expansion
Dwindling health choices addressed by chambers
By Ralph Nardone
In October, over 22,000 area employees
will be without health insurance coverage as another insurance carrier, Health
Net, leaves northeast Pennsylvania.
Companies like Health Net have been
backing out of this area over the last
few years because they cannot compete with local providers, says Jeff
Rubel vice president of the Greater
Scranton Chamber of Commerce.
The affected employers will have to
shop for a replacement insurance carrier to cover their employee benefits
such as medical insurance, dental and
vision insurance.
However, Rubel believes the local chambers of commerce in northeast
Pennsylvania offer an employee insurance
plan to their members that can fill the
void created by Health Net’s departure.
The plan, which is administered by the
Chambers of Commerce Service
Corporation (CCSC), offers packages local
employers can customize to fit the needs
of their workforce, he says.
The CCSC plan offers a variety of traditional and HMO plans as well as dental
and vision coverage at a very competitive
cost, Rubel says.
At this time, about 200 member employers from the Scranton Chamber are using
the CCSC plan named “ChamberChoice.”
Rubel encourages any local employer with two to 50 employees to
check with their local chamber
about the ChamberChoice plan.
Rubel said that the ChamberChoice
provides coverage from stable insurance
carriers, such as Blue Cross of Northeast
Pennsylvania, so employers don’t have
to worry about shopping around
because their insurance carrier is
pulling out of the area.
Any employers interested in the CCSC
plan must become members of their
local chamber, which costs them $260
per year. Rubel said that chamber membership offers many other benefits and
the CCSC insurance plan is one of the
primary ones.
Using ChamberChoice can result in
lower premiums according to Jessica
Hettler, chief operating officer of the
CCSC in Pittsburgh.
She says local employers can save 10 to
25 percent on their insurance premiums
by using the CCSC plan compared to
Health Net’s plan. Hettler adds that the
CCSC plan offers more participating doctors and hospitals because it works
through Blue Cross.
Hettler points out that ChamberChoice
administers the entire program, including
billing, premium collection, claims processing, customer service, and so forth —
taking that responsibility away from the
employers, further reducing the cost of
insuring their employees.
She adds that small sized employers
often do not have sophisticated human
resources departments available to keep
up to date on insurance.
“Our ChamberChoice plan is very
attractive to small businesses because it
offers more than medical benefits. It also
offers ‘one-stop shopping’ by offering all
types of insurance through reliable carriers and the value-added administrative
service provided by CCSC,” Hettler says.
What makes the ChamberChoice plan
so competitive is that it is customized to
the employer’s work force demographics.
The type of work the employees do,
their age and sex, and other variables are
all considered when the premiums are
calculated. Plus, employers can manipulate coverage and deductibles to reduce
premiums. So, if an employee is willing to
forgo a certain type of coverage the plan
can be altered and savings realized,
Hettler adds.
“ChamberChoice studied its members
over the last decade to determine what
they want for coverage options and at
what cost,” Hettler says. CCSC put together the current plan and is finding an
increasing number of employers are signing on each year.
Hettler is confident ChamberChoice
will expand significantly locally in the
coming years.
“We have a vigorous expansion program
in place for northeast Pennsylvania,”
Hettler says.
She adds that ChamberChoice will continue to work with the best insurance
carriers available.
THEY’RE COMING TO N.E.P.A....
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guide will carry your message to this group that wants to spend their money in
your store.
Reach a mobile market of 25,000 with this valuable resource.
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Economist: no evidence
of ‘housing bubble’
With slow economic growth, stagnant or slightly rising mortgage rates,
and a disappointing job market, housing sales in the near future may be
dependent on consumer confidence
and affordability, a Penn State
Economist wrote as part of a quarterly
economic review for the Pennsylvania
Association of Realtors (PAR).
Fortunately, homes across Pennsylvania
remain at a fairly affordable rate, according to Dr. Jacob De Rooy, an economist in
the School of Business Administration,
Penn State Harrisburg campus.
“The Pennsylvania Affordability Index is
still high.Affordability depends largely on
housing prices, buyers’ incomes, interest
rates and other credit conditions,” De
Rooy said.“Housing prices are not likely
to grow at the torrid pace of the last few
years. In some regions of Pennsylvania
they are declining.As long as unemployment does not increase, housing prices
do not rise above the general inflation
rate (or decline), and mortgage interest
rates do not increase, we can expect that
affordability may actually increase.That
will strengthen the market.”
De Rooy said home-buying decisions
are influenced by consumer confidence
in the future. Higher levels of consumer
confidence could strengthen demand for
single family homes over the next few
months and off-set any upward creep in
mortgage rates.
“The sharp decline in mortgage interest
rates did much to boost housing demand
up to this time, so do not expect any significant declines in the next year or two,”
De Rooy said.“It is possible that interest
rates will drift upward when economic
recovery really takes hold.This forecast is
based on projections of inflation.While
prices of manufactured goods have been
soft, prices of services are rising. The
U.S. is largely a service economy so that
costs of services are more important
than are prices of manufactured items.”
De Rooy also wrote that while some
experts predict that the housing bubble
will burst, that there are few indications
that will actually happen.
“Despite all the talk by non-professionals outside real estate, there is no evidence of a housing price bubble,” De
Rooy wrote.“However, the growth rate of
housing prices, which has been very
high in most regions, will moderate to a
more conventional level.”
Coast Guard Auxiliary sets
‘boating certification’ class
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla
15-04 is conducting a 10-week “Boating
Skills & Seamanship” course beginning
September 29.The course covers the
requirements needed to obtain a state
boating certificate, which is now mandatory for persons born on or after January 1,
1982 operating a powerboat of more than
25 horsepower on Pennsylvania waters.
The bill,Act 199 of 2002, was signed by
former Gov. Schweiker and became effective on Feb. 7. Course topics include
engine maintenance, trailering, navigation,
boating rules, weather, the buoy system,
communications and safety equipment,
and usage.The information is applicable
to watercraft of every size. For more information, call (570) 383-3842.
It’s bad news if you haven’t heard any bad news lately
bad news in a while, that may be the
REALLY bad news requiring attention.
Contributing to the recent debacle at
Here are some tips that helped me and
the New York Times was an environment
that may help you elicit and respond to bad
where subordinates were uncomfortable
news for the good of the organization.
sharing bad news.
“Personnel Decisions
It’s sad to say, but most of us
International’s Successful Manager’s
know managers like the editors
Handbook” is an excellent resource
at the Times who disconnected
for more background.
from the unpleasant challenges
■ Be open to the expression
facing their organization.
of opposing views. In the way
The manager’s ability to help
you respond to challenges and
the organization achieve its goals
bad news, you can help others
faltered and, in extreme circumfeel that you took the time to
stances, a real disaster occurred.
understand their point of view.
Smedley
Jim Pilversack, an executive
It won’t work to say “I want to
coach and chairman of a CEO
change, and I hope you’ll start
support group with clients in northeast
sharing bad news with me.” Rather, take
Pennsylvania, comments that executives
advantage of discussions where you
often feel they are shielded from and the
sense concerns as they occur naturally.
last to know what’s really going on withNeutral ground, like a conference room,
in their organizations.
works much better than your own
Is it that they are ogres, hold a grudge,
office, especially as you begin building
seek revenge and kill the messenger?
credibility in this approach.
Perhaps. But, since those types couldn’t
■ Be prepared. Check your own motiimagine this column relating to them, I’ll
vation and emotions. As you invite opposfocus on the well-intentioned leaders
ing views, take a nondefensive stance.
among us who unwittingly convey the
Learn not to take the criticism personally;
message that bad news is not welcome.
monitor and focus on changing your own
While I was a director at a Fortune 500
thinking, emotional state and body lancompany, a co-worker shared the followguage. Bring a stance of genuine curiosity
ing:“Lee, I know you ask for feedback,
and active listening to the problem and
and I’ve seen your positive actions in
how its solution can help your group
response to it. But when I offer it, you
respond. If you are, indeed, nervous and
seem to be in such pain, even angry. I’ll
tense, then begin with one-to-one converhave to admit, I think twice before comsations with staff and co-workers with
ing to share bad news. I wonder if others whom you have good relationships.
come at all.”
As you become more comfortable,
What a shock: not my intentions, not my
expand to conversations with those who
actions, but my emotions and body language have been reluctant to speak and to
had betrayed me. If you haven’t heard any
groups. As you develop credibility, your
confidence will grow along with your
reputation for being more accessible.
■ Listen first, second and third.
Respond last.Your training in active listening will serve you well here; seek first
to understand, then to be understood. If
you want your co-workers to share their
concerns more freely, you must avoid
jumping quickly to judgment, criticism or
rebuttal. Limit questions that begin with
“Why,” as many sense them as interrogation. Rather, seek background and history
to better understand the speakers’ point
of view, using phrases like “Tell me more
about… Can you help me understand the
background on this?…I’ve not been
aware of this issue, but am interested in
hearing your point of view…”
Share your understanding of the major
points and confirm whether or not it
matches the speaker’s view.
Next, see if you can elicit approaches
from the speaker and others on how to
deal with the issue. Then and only then
should you begin sharing your own interpretation, reaction or judgment.
■ Whenever possible, use the information you gain to create positive
change. Listening to bad news and
employee concerns without responding
or taking action will backfire. But, taking
positive action will speak volumes. It also
encourages others interested in positive
change to speak up in the future.
■ When you choose not to take action
on the information, explain why. Even
if your staff doesn’t like your reasoning,
they will respect your having listened to
their points of view and having explained
your decision.
■ Build a culture that anticipates,
addresses and celebrates solving
challenges.This suggestion will take
considerable time and commitment.
Assess your own and your staff’s attitude towards bad news and problems
that threaten your group’s performance.
Consider changing subtle but important
elements of your operations — things
like meeting agendas, what you talk about
informally, and what you celebrate.
Try a “here’s a problem I’d like to ask for
help with” meeting agenda item, talking up
the proactive work being done to address
a threat head on, and bringing in pizza
when that challenge has been overcome.
Recognize and give special assignments,
even promotions, to those who bring up
and take action to address bad news.
You’ll know your culture is changing
when you return from vacation and get
the report of a major challenge identified
and actions already taken to address it.
With some time and attention, you can
create an environment where you’ll begin
to hear bad news freely shared and positively addressed. It surely beats silence.
Lee Smedley, Ed.D., is an organizational development consultant. Learn more
about his work at www.theconsultantsforum.com/smedley.htm
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Make it easy for employees to bring you the bad news
By Lee Smedley, Ed.D.
Throughout August, Gov. Edward
Rendell hosted representatives of each
county at his residence to discuss the
economic stimulus package that he is trying to get passed, as well as economic
development projects now in progress or
slated to start within the next four years
throughout the state.
On August 12, Northumberland County
had the opportunity to speak with the
governor, his top aides and department
heads, as well as representatives from
DCED (Department of Community and
Economic Development); DEP
(Department of Environmental
Protection); and PennDOT.
Representing Northumberland County
was Rep. Merle Philips; Commissioners
John Boback, Robert Greco, and Sam
Deitrick; James King from the
Northumberland County Industrial
Development Authority; Barry Miller from
Susquehanna Industrial Development
Corporation; John Shipman from Sunbury
Pride and Renaissance Coalition; Robert
Hickox from the Milton Area Chamber of
Commerce; and, from the Brush Valley
Regional Chamber of Commerce, Sandra
Hutchinson, CEO; Richard Subasic, president; and Melissa Hovenstine, chair of the
Economic Development and Governmental Affairs committee.
The meeting began with a push by
the governor in support of his eco-
nomic stimulus package.
Rendell also announced that the DCED
is starting a low-interest rate loan for
acquiring new sites designed for industrial development, the details on this program will be provided to the state’s
chambers of commerce this fall.
The governor reviewed projects currently in progress throughout
Northumberland County, including the
“Butternut Creek Project.”
Rendell announced that $4 million
has been set aside for this project and,
as soon as an agreement is received
from Mt. Carmel Township, the money
will be released.
The projects’ primary design will be to
construct a rectangular concrete channel
and concrete box culverts along
Shamokin and Butternut Creeks in the
Borough of Mt. Carmel and the Township
of Mt. Carmel. Once constructed, it will
provide flood protection to the residents
of both Mt. Carmel Borough and Mt.
Carmel Township.Another project that
was discussed was the “Cameron Bridge
Project.” This project will alleviate the
daily congestion and improve the safety
of travel at the intersection of state route
61, state route 225 and 2nd Street in
Shamokin. PennDOT indicated that $13.5
million has been allocated for the project; construction will begin in 2005 and
it will take two years to complete.
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A Tobyhanna worker implements ‘6S.’
following the 6S process,” said Sharon
Smith, chief of Tobyhanna’s Productivity
Management Division, Resource
Management Directorate.“Implementation of 6S will simplify the work environment, while improving quality, efficiency and safety.”
Lean requires an organization to think
in terms of the product and look at its
processes like the customer would.
Personnel organize around what adds
value to the customer and eliminate or
minimize what doesn’t.
Implementation of 6S will simplify the
work environment, while improving quality, efficiency and safety, Smith said.
The six S’s are: Safety is applied to all of
the other five S’s. Sort the unnecessary
items from the workplace.Straighten
what’s left after the sorting is completed.
Scrub/Shine the work area to thoroughly
clean it after the clutter has been
removed and the necessary items have
been properly located and straightened.
Standardize the best practice in the work
area. Sustain focuses on defining a new
status quo and standard of workplace
organization.This is considered the most
difficult “S” to achieve because human
nature resists change.
Ad agency staff ‘stars’ in ‘Sex and the City’
On July 28 the staff of DFA Inc. was in
New York City strutting their stuff on the
set of “Sex and the City.”
And they were literally strutting all day
long, take after take, walking past the “Sex
and the City” stars as they shot their scene
at 92, an Upper East Side restaurant.
“You can’t believe the amount of time it
takes to shoot a three-minute scene,” said
Lisa Smith, a designer at DFA.
It all started when DFA met Michael
Patrick King at a Scranton chamber dinner.“I’m such a big fan of the show, I
can’t tell you how excited I was to get a
chance to be on it,”said Tricia Pegula,
media director at DFA.
“We sent them our head shots and were
surprised when they called and said they
wanted everyone to be on the show,” said
Michael Frigoletto, creative director.
Being on the set gave DFA a real appreciation for what it takes to produce a
major TV show.“We produce a lot of local
TV commercials on budgets that would
not even pay for the breakfast for the
extras” said Frigoletto.
“The stars are so beautiful, even more
beautiful in person” said Tara Smith,
account supervisor at DFA.
Pegula got her brush with fame when
she bumped into Sarah Jessica Parker.
“She was so nice.The only thing I could
think to say was,‘That’s a great purse.’
She laughed and said,‘I know. I wish I got
to keep it.’”
“We did get to speak with Michael
Patrick King. He was walking by and I
said something stupid like,‘Hey Scranton,’
but it stopped him in his tracks. He was
so grounded and magnanimous, he complimented us on how great we looked
and said that we did Scranton proud,”
said Paul DeLuca, president of DFA.
The entire staff of DFA will appear on
the September 14 episode of “Sex and
the City.” But don’t blink — you might
miss the backs of their heads or shoulders passing the girls.
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From left to right: Tricia
Pegula, Lisa Smith, Paul
DeLuca, Tara Tomasetti-Smith,
Michael Frigoletto.
Since ‘Do-Not-Call,’ telemarketers homing in on precise targets
Call center employees are being trained to be ‘consultative’ rather than ‘assumptive,’ says telemarketing executive
By Ralph Nardone
The “Do-Not-Call” law has put telemarketers against the ropes. Over 30 million
telephone numbers across the United
States are registered for Do-Not-Call.
Since the government’s hand is raised
to restrict “out-calls,” where telemarketers call unsuspecting targets, marketers are now concentrating their
efforts on maximizing the sales potential of “in-calls,” where customers call
toll-free numbers to gather information, complain, or make a purchase.
Call center employees are being
trained to be more consultative, helping
meet the needs of callers, rather than
assumptive, trying to stumble upon a
potential sale, according to Reenie
Johnson, vice president of client operations at Telerx Marketing Inc., in
Hanover, Luzerne County.
She says the 250 employees who handle
the over two million calls a year concentrate on “responding directly to caller
feedback.” They are more concerned
with answering their questions than posing questions to them, she says.
Telerx contracts its call center services to 60 different clients who utilize
the call center as a strategic marketing
tool, Johnson said. Depending on what
the clients objectives are, and the
objectives can be just learning about
the customer or making an intense
sales push,Telerx gathers key market
information. When a Telerx representative is talking with a customer, they can
learn a lot of things, she says.
Telerx provides a valuable customer
records management service, Johnson
adds.They categorize calls by type, for
example: complaint calls; compliment
calls; ship date inquiries; and technical
inquiries.“This information is valuable to
our clients because it helps them determine the reasons for the success or failure of a product or the changing needs of
the consumer,” she adds.
Johnson notes Telerx will customize its
call service messaging based on the
client’s needs.“Some clients use marketing messages to the caller to build awareness of new products,” Johnson said.
“Others want to do promotion,” she said.
Johnson notes telemarketing strategies
are very effective tools.“The bottom line
is telemarketing sells,” she added.
George Monahan, telecommunications
design expert at Guyette Communications
in Plymouth, Luzerne County, says the “auto
attendant” telephone answering systems he
offers his clients can be customized to
callers with any type of message during
their calls. Callers can be pitched new
product promotions when they are being
routed to their requested destination.And,
they can offer deals when customers are
waiting on hold.
Using messages that make sales pitches
have become increasingly popular for
when customers are on-hold versus play-
ing music or a local radio station
Monahan says.The customer who calls in
and is put on hold is a prime target for
promotion, he says.They are already an
established consumer and are therefore
directly interested in the organization
they are calling.
The on-hold message may be general
information, Monahan adds, or can be targeted with more precision based on what
the caller is requesting. For example, a
customer calling to purchase clothing
can be listening to a message offering
upcoming seasonal specials while waiting
for the representative to pick up the call
and finalize the transaction.The messaging can be targeted because, when customers call, the marketer and the customer both know why they’re there.
Monahan emphasizes that utilizing call
promotions is a relatively inexpensive
marketing tool compared to mass market
advertising or personal selling through a
sales force. Plus, it’s a method with good
target market precision, he says.
Linda Roerig, inside advertising manager
for the Scranton Times in Scranton, says
her staff play a consultative role to help
customers meet their needs.
Roerig says a lot of time is spent “giving
the caller an ‘Advertising 101’ course.”
“When an advertiser calls, they seek our
educated opinion about what the best
advertising strategy is for them,” Roerig
says.“We don’t make pitches to the caller
OPEN
FOR
BUSINESS
unless it
can
benefit
them,”
she
adds.
Roerig
differentiates
between
telemarketing
and
inside
sales.
Reenie Johnson, vice president
Teleof client operations at Telerx
market- Marketing Inc., says the future
ing
of telemarketing is in answeruses
ing questions, not trying to
“stumble on a sale.”
outcalls to
pressure customers into buying a product and often takes advantage of them.
That is why the Do-Not-Calls were initiated, she adds.
Roerig says her staff are inside sales personnel who take the time to interview
the callers to learn about their business
and objectives.Then they can propose an
advertising program based on a “qualified
and professional opinion.”
“We are filling a need versus seeking a
way to manipulate someone into a purchase,” Roerig says.
Look for Northeastern Pennsylvania Business
Weekly every Sunday. It is the largest, most
comprehensive business news section in the
area — providing you with business news and
trends from Lackawanna and Luzerne counties,
as well as advice on pocketbook issues.
Features include the Harvard Business Review;
People on the Move — featuring business people throughout the region; Advice from the
Experts — area finance experts answer your
questions in a weekly column; and Business
Briefcase — a list of upcoming events, conventions, lectures, trade shows, etc.
Look for “Business Weekly”
every week in
To subscribe to The Sunday Times call 348-9190;
to The Sunday Voice call 821-2010.
L
Leadership Quality
eaders, molded from the circumstances of their lives and the drive from within, share some basic traits but differ in style
and skill.
A few professionals offered their opinions
on the leadership styles of President George
Bush, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld,
Secretary of State Colin Powell and Senator
Hillary Clinton.
Intelligence tops the list of traits shared by
successful leaders.
“To be a good leader, you have to be smarter
than your troops,” says William J. Parente, Sr.,
Ph.D., professor of political science at the
University of Scranton.“You have to be able to
express yourself spontaneously when the press
is interrogating you. Powell, Rumsfeld and
Clinton, in particular, are articulate. Bush is
learning on the job.”
But strong opinions from Rumsfeld and
Clinton, who tend to overstate their ideas, can
hamper their effectiveness.
“It’s important for a leader not to alienate
segments of the people he serves,” says
Parente.“I think that means you have to moderate your own political views so as not to
make the job of leading these people more
difficult than it already is.”
Paradoxically, Colin Powell’s style displays
that moderation, a characteristic that draws
unified support and bonds ideas along nonpartisan lines.
Humor also creates a bond between leaders
and those they guide.“Bush is very good at
this,” says Parente.“It speaks to a person's selfconfidence and innate self-esteem if you can
make fun of yourself.”
But some situations call for challenge, and
responsibility exhibits a leader’s true grit.
“America desperately needed a decisive,toughtalking task-oriented leader to make us feel safe
and powerful again after 9-11,and that happened
to be President Bush's strength,” says Henry O.
Patterson,Ph.D.,assistant professor of
psychology at Penn State’s BerksLehigh Valley campus.“He effectively
used confrontational and competitive
strategies to build cohesion and confidence among Americans.”
When factors change, such as the
end of war and economic decline,
Powell
strength can turn to weakness.
Change requires a more deliberative, collaborative and consultative style than the President
has displayed so far, according to Patterson.“If
he is not flexible enough to change his style in
response to changing situations, his leadership
effectiveness will likely diminish over the
remaining years of his presidency.”
Patterson questions whether Donald
Rumsfeld will be able to adjust his style to a
more collaborative and consultative one as the
world situation changes. Since September 11,
Rumsfeld comforted Americans’ fears with his
confidence, certainty and willingness to use his
powers in the face of extreme circumstances.
“Rumsfeld's style appears to be textbook task-oriented autocrat,” says Patterson.“This style works
best when the situation is highly uncertain and followers want and need structure and clarity.”
But good leaders surround themselves with
others whose skills and styles supplement their
own.“Secretary Powell displays some qualities
of a transformational leader — someone who
can inspire others by virtue of his accomplishments and his character,” says Patterson.“Unlike
President Bush or Senator Clinton, who rose to
prominence in part because they were thrust
into the public eye, there is little doubt that
Secretary Powell achieved his success because
of his own skill and determination. He earned
his position, and that in itself gives him respect,
credibility, and influence as a leader.”
Powell’s effective management skills and consultative, people-oriented style contributes to
his popularity today and to his inspiring success as a general.
Similar to Powell, Hillary Clinton appears to
be more consultative and people-centered in
her style and capable in her own right, despite
her lack of experience.“A liability Senator
Clinton appears to have as a leader is lack of
credibility,” says Patterson.“Doubts that many
people have about her management of personal finances and her reactions to her husband's
affairs don't inspire confidence or loyalty.”
But motivation defines the style of all leaders,
according to Cathy L. Greenberg, executive
director of the Institute for Strategic
Leadership, LeBow College of Business, Drexell
University and co-author of “Global Leadership:
The Next Generation.” Motivation by affiliation,
power or achievement drives every leader.
“President Bush is motivated by achievement,” says Greenberg.“I don’t think of him as
somebody who is motivated to do things without the appropriate information. I think he is
driven by a specific set of milestones and an
end point that he has judged with a very strong
set of values and principles.”
Successful leaders complement their own
strengths with those of differing skills and styles.
“Colin Powell combines affiliation with
achievement quite well,” says Greenberg.“He is
somebody who does well in negotiations.That’s
a reality of what I call emotional intelligence:
his capacity to read others and to respond in a
way that allows him to create an opportunity
that people can get together, as opposed to a
position of win or lose.”
Rumsfeld, like Bush, is more motivated
by achievement.“He tends to make decisions based on firm, practical information
that’s usable for his particular point of
view at the time,” says Greenberg.
Rumsfeld’s influence permeates through
the ranks.“His people are dedicated, practical,” says Greenberg.“They serve in all
capacities to each other, to the public, to the
military.” His style balances well with Powell’s
to create a dynamic partnership.
Dynamic accurately describes Hillary Clinton,
whose motivation focuses on power.“A power
individual uses the style of dressing for success,
influence and discussion to achieve an outcome,” says Greenberg.“They generally do it in
combination with their strong understanding
and emotional intelligence around affiliations.”
Clinton’s powerful presence and good judgment
helped to gain the respect of her peers.She
reflects the traditional female executive who toiled
to succeed in a male-dominated world.
“From our research, we found that women are
much better at shared leadership and network
leadership than their male counterparts,” says
Greenberg.“I think Hillary practices that well.”
So what can we learn from these
notable leaders?
“The use of accurate information balanced
with perspective from the population that they
serve is always important,” says Greenberg.
“Relying on information in a vacuum on a logi-
Clinton
Bush
Rumsfeld
cal path doesn’t necessarily always
get you to the end point that you
want.” In order to be a successful
leader, you have to use information
from several different means but
you can’t rely on that information
solely.” Learning to separate the
wheat from the chaff requires intelligence and savvy.
“Leaders are not leaders unto
themselves,” says Greenberg.“They
have to practice their leadership in a
network of people who are helping
them with leadership.” Recognizing
you can’t be all things to all people
and sharing leadership provides a
key component for success.
By Kathy Ruf f
“I think leaders who surround themselves with people who are very similar to
themselves are making a very large mistake because they will not get the balanced perspective they need when they
make decisions,” says Greenberg.
Finally, recognition of diverse styles provides the foundation for leadership success.
“I have worked in a lot of companies
where the leader is surrounded by people
who use the same characteristics and the
same style of the leader and that doesn’t
really get you where you want to be long
term,” says Greenberg.“The companies that
I’ve seen be successful over 15, 20 years
do so because they recognize that diversity of style and thinking are complementary in the long run.”
Tomorrow’s leaders learn what to do —
and what not to do — from those who
lead today. Their legacy is our future.
Raymond Cattell, a pioneer in the field of personality assessment, developed the Leadership
Potential equation in 1954. The traits of an effective leader include the following:
Emotional stability. Good leaders must be able
to tolerate frustration and stress. Overall, they must
be well-adjusted and have the psychological maturity
to deal with anything they are required to face.
Dominance. Leaders are often times competitive
and decisive and usually enjoy overcoming obstacles. Overall, they are assertive in their thinking
style as well as their attitude in dealing with others.
Enthusiasm. Leaders are usually seen as active,
expressive, and energetic. They are often very optimistic and open to change. Overall, they are generally quick and alert and tend to be uninhibited.
Conscientiousness. Leaders are often dominated by a sense of duty and tend to be very exacting in character. They usually have a very high
standard of excellence and an inward desire to do
one's best. They also have a need for order and
tend to be very self-disciplined.
Social boldness. Leaders tend to be spontaneous risk-takers. They are usually socially aggressive and generally thick-skinned. Overall, they are
responsive to others and tend to be high in emotional stamina.
Tough-mindedness. Good leaders are practical,
logical, and to-the-point. They tend to be low in
sentimental attachments and comfortable with
criticism. They are usually insensitive to hardship
and overall, are very poised.
Self-assurance. Self-confidence and resiliency
are common traits among leaders. They tend to
be free of guilt and have little or no need for
approval. They are generally secure and free from
guilt and are usually unaffected by prior mistakes.
Compulsiveness. Leaders are controlled and
very precise in their social interactions.Overall, they
are very protective of their integrity and reputation
and consequently tend to be socially aware and careful, abundant in foresight, and very careful when
making decisions or taking specific actions.
Beyond these basic traits, leaders of today must
also possess traits which will help them motivate
others and lead them in new directions.They must
have the following personality traits:
High energy. Long hours and some travel are
usually a prerequisite for leadership positions,
especially as your company grows.
Intuitiveness. Reasoning and logic will not get
you through all situations. In fact, more and more
leaders are learning to the value of using their intuition and trusting their “gut” when making decisions.
Maturity. To be a good leader, personal power
and recognition must be secondary to the development of your employees.
Team orientation. Instead of promoting an
adult/child relationship with their employees, leaders create an adult/adult relationship which fosters team cohesiveness.
Empathy. Being able to “put yourself in the
other person's shoes” is a key trait of leaders
today. Without empathy, you can't build trust.
Charisma.Leaders who have charisma are able
to arouse strong emotions in their employees by
defining a vision which unites and captivates
them. Using this vision, leaders motivate employees to reach toward a future goal by tying the goal
to substantial personal rewards and values.
Source: Small Business Administration
Mericle hosts event at Hanover Industrial Estates
Hanover Township, Hanover School
District officials and Wilkes-Barre
Chamber representatives were on hand
last month to help Mericle Commercial
Real Estate Services promote the benefits
of locating a business in the Hanover
Industrial Estates.
Steve Yokimishyn, a member of the
Governor’s Task Force, provided key
information on Keystone Opportunity
Zones (KOZ) to real estate professionals
and prospective tenants.
Mericle opened the doors of three of its
properties, the 144,600 square foot facility
at 1058 Hanover Street; the 55,556 SF facility at 535 Stewart Road; and 320 Stewart
Road, a 108,000 SF Butler building with
many modern state-of-the-art features.
Mericle has made a significant investment in the local economy through its
development of over two million square
feet of property in the Hanover Industrial
Estates and nearby Hanover Crossings.
Together with its regional partners,
Mericle has helped relocate over 40 businesses and bring over 1,600 new jobs to
the area in these two parks alone.
Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services
is a full-service commercial and industrial
real estate company specializing in development, brokerage, construction, and
property management.
For more information, phone (570) 8231100 or visit www.mericle.com
Seen at the open house were, left to
right,Tom Williams,Team PA coordinator/
retention specialist, Greater Wilkes-Barre
Chamber of Business and Industry; Donna
Sedor, vice president, communications,
Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber; John
Augustine, director of Innovation Center
operations and entrepreneurial development;Tom Ruskey, project development
specialist, Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber;
Bob Besecker, vice president, brokerage,
Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services;
Lorraine Heydt, Hanover Area School
District; Steve Yokimishyn, Governor’s
task force; Dr.Alberta Griffiths, superintendent, Hanover Area School District; Jim
Hilsher, vice president, marketing, Mericle
Commercial Real Estate Services; John
Sipper, Hanover Twp. commissioner;
Robert Frodsham, Mericle Brokerage; and
Robert Burns, Hanover Twp. commissioner. In attendance but not pictured:
Florence Lohman, Hanover Township
board of commissioners.
California wholesale distributor leases space in Rock Creek Corporate Center, brings 80 sales jobs
A California-based wholesale distributor of hand tools and industrial supplies
has entered an agreement to lease
4,200 sq.ft. of Class A office space at
the Rock Creek Corporate Center in
Olyphant, effective last month.
The company,Tools for the Trades, is the
largest distributor of Bosch accessories in
the United States.The company also carries Mikita, Milwaukee, 3M Electrical and
Thomas & Betts products.
“We were interested in opening an
office in the Mid Atlantic region and were
very impressed with the tremendously
productive labor force the area has to
offer.We couldn’t be happier with our
offices here,” said Dave Wilding, president,
Tools for the Trades.“It’s an absolutely
beautiful building with fantastic amenities
and the perfect location.The ownership
of Rock Creek is top-of-the-line.They were
very accommodating and moved the
transaction along very quickly.”
Tools for the Trades, with three other
locations in Santa Barbara, Boston and
Austin, is currently looking to fill 80 sales
positions in marketing for their national
sales organization. Employment is ideal
for former contractors, but no experience
is necessary.Anyone interested in employ-
ment opportunities at Tools for the Trades
should call (570) 487-1900.
Rock Creek Corporate Center is
located off of Exit 2 of the Casey
Highway in Olyphant.
For more information on the Rock
Creek Corporate Center, call Andy Glosser
or Peter Saligman at (570) 383-3900 or
take a virtual tour of the building at
www.rockcreekcorporatecenter.com.
HEALTHCARE
UPDATE
FALL 2003
Healthcare choices
to help you maintain
your business and your life.
From employee rewards to stress reduction...
Business and the healthcare industry work hand in hand.
It’s important for every employer to understand the
constant changes occurring every day in the healthcare
industry.
The Fall 2003 edition of the Healthcare Update
will take a look at:
NEPA’s public health system: is it prepared for a crisis?
• Bioterrorism, SARS, even West Nile virus are real potential
threats to the region’s populace.
• How ready is our public health network to respond to these
crises?
• Can health officials recognize the signs and symptoms? Are
they trained and ready to respond?
Find out in the Fall 2003 Northeast Pennsylvania Business
Journal Helathcare Update.
Just a few reasons this supplement is
made available...
The Healthcare Update is a semi-annual publication focusing
Publication Date:
October 2003
on the healthcare field and is a vital supplement for business
owners and managers. We invite you to be a part of the most
recognized supplement in healthcare. Take advantage of the
Advertising Deadline:
September 15, 2003
exposure by advertising in the Northeast Pennsylvania
Business Journal Healthcare Update.
Call the Business Journal today.
570-207-9001 • 877-584-3561
Fax 570-207-3452
Focus on architects and engineers:
The old is new and vital again
By Ralph Nardone
Northeast Pennsylvania cities and towns
are dotted with interesting architecture
created years ago. Many area investors and
policy-makers are focusing on restoring
these buildings to house the offices,
stores, and residences of the future.
The issues in restoring these venerable
fixtures center around how to take a property built in the late 19th century and
maintain its “historical significance” while
meeting the requirements of its new occupants, say local architects.
Richard Leonori, a partner with
Hemmler Camayd, an architectural firm
in Scranton that is currently working on
the old Scranton Central High School
building now the headquarters for
Lackawanna College says some parts of
that building had to be “modernized”
and other parts restored.
“Every building has some attributes
worth restoring.A professional architect
can usually tell by looking at them
whether they are worth restoring,” he said.
The Central High School building was
built in the late 1800s and early 1900s and
the restoration project will take about six
years and cost over $15 million.The project should be completed in 2006.
“The building has an outstanding exterior envelope,” Leonori says.“The interior is where most of the work has to be
done,” he says.The exterior has the
details from a time when architecture
was done with a high level of “artistry
and craftsmanship,” he adds.
The objective is to ally the building’s aesthetic features with its new
functions, he said.
The architects said they were able
to restore the theater, now named
the Mellow Theater; the massive
lobby; the ornate corridors; and the
library, which now is the boardroom
for Lackawanna College.
But other areas had to “succumb to modernization” Leonori says.“Central High
School used to have a boy’s and a girl’s
side, with separate lockers and showers.
That all had to be changed,” he said.
In the early 1900s, buildings were
designed with excessive partitioning, an
office design trend of the time.
Now, offices are designed to be wide
open to allow flexibility and maneuverabil-
ity, Leonori says. So, walls had to be
removed and floor plans changed, he said.
The building had to be brought up to
current fire codes. It had a open staircase,
which was popular earlier in the past century. However, today, those wide open
areas are considered big chimneys by fire
officials, Leonori adds. In addition, firerated doors are needed.
Leonori notes that buildings constructed after the 1920’s usually require less
fire and safety-related changes because,
by and large, they live up to modern
codes. But those built before that time are
usually not compliant with current codes
at all, he says.
Another modernization necessity is
making the building handicap-accessible,
Leonori says.That was not a priority in
the early 1900s.
For example, some corridors and elevators had to be changed so wheelchairbound visitors can use them.
Leonori points out that new construction can be “very disappointing.” Newer
buildings are often not as sturdy and can
be very nondescript.
He adds that the Central High School
building has a “uniqueness and character”
that make it worth restoring.
George Leitner, vice president of the
Markle Building located in downtown
Hazleton, says that when an old building is
targeted for restoration, then designers,
investors, builders, and consultants all
must work as a team.
The 12-story Markle Building, constructed in 1910, is the highest structure in
Hazleton and its restoration will cost
around $5 million. Another six story section, built in 1923, is attached.
C
COLMAN SALES CO., INC.
IMAGINATION.
Clarks Summit, PA 18411 • 570.587.1188 • fax 570.587.4798
www.colmansales.com • Jim Colman, Owner
Proud Suppliers of Industrial and Commercial Equipment
for Over 50 Years in Northeastern Pennsylvania
Companies We Represent:
GREENHECK FAN CORP: Including industrial fans,
commercial fans, kitchen hoods, architectural louvers and
dampers
DUCTSOX INC: Fabric duct for interior design, wide color
selection available
BILCO COMPANY: Floor doors and roof scuttles for any
application from sewage treatments to warehouses with
smoke vent requirements.
OHIO GRATING: Steel, aluminum, fiberglass grating,
walkway style, bridge and forklight grating, fiberglass
grating available for chemical applications.
Projects We Have Been Involved With Include:
• The Lackawanna County Stadium • Wachovia Arena
• Many Area School Districts • Proctor and Gamble
• Various Commercial Buildings
Colman Sales Co., Inc.
will be happy to discuss any
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DELIVERED.
At Borton-Lawson we know that brilliant ideas, well
executed, are essential to your project’s success.
That’s why we’re committed to delivering imagination–
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We’re wide ranging–so whether it's engineering and
architectural design for a major building; civil engineering
needed to reduce the effects of development on the
environment; unique industrial power alternatives that
increase productivity; or designing a bridge to the
future–count on Borton-Lawson for bold new ideas and the
infrastructure to accomplish the task.
For a comprehensive portfolio and project success reports,
call 570-821-1999 or visit borton-lawson.com.
E N G I N E E R I N G
|
613 Baltimore Drive, Suite 300
•
•
6814 Chrisphalt Drive, Ste. 200
A R C H I T E C T U R E
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702-7903
Bath, PA 18014-8503
•
•
Voice: 570 • 821 • 1999
Voice: 610 • 837 • 5916
There’s renewed interest and new use
for the area’s architectural gems.
Gothic arches
grace the exterior
of the renovated
Lackawanna
College building,
Scranton.
Photo by Bob Urban
The property is listed as a Keystone
Opportunity Zone (KOZ) by
Harrisburg which will offer tax benefits to new occupants.
“We feel the building is a jewel of northeast Pennsylvania,” Leitner says.
Leitner says a lot of the modernization
for the Markle Building did not threaten its
“historical integrity” at all.
State-of-the-art telecommunications and
computer-controlled climate systems were
installed, for example, without any destruction and Leitner emphasizes that these are
features new occupants will want.
Leitner points out that 551 new windows were put in for energy efficiency
without changing the aesthetics of the
window openings.Also, some infrastructure changes were made, such as the addition of a service elevator and loading dock
that were all but invisible from the street,
Leitner said.
With respect to fire codes, a $650,000
12-story back staircase had to be added
to allow a fire escape route, Leitner said.
However, the walls are made of 18-inch
concrete with steel beam girders which
exceed current fire codes, Leitner said.
Fire alarms and sprinkler systems were
also installed.
“Investors or tenants want to see adequate safety features,” Leitner said. After
September 11, the emphasis across the
United States is on smaller more secure
buildings, he said.
Some decisions to modernize or restore
had to be made as the project progressed,
Leitner adds. For example, when the construction team removed the drop ceiling
installed in the 1970s, they found a patterned plaster ceiling.They elected to
spend the money and time to restore it
because of its beauty, he said.
Leitner admits that, for the cost of restoring the Markle Building, investors can probably buy a new building in a Hazleton suburb. However, he feels that restoring the
Markle Building is in line with a restoration
“renaissance” in northeast Pennsylvania.“Its
a civic pride issue,” he said.
The Markle Building will have mixed
uses. It will house a Park Inn and Suites
Hotel, a fine dining restaurant, and a deli
with plans for other types of occupants.
Alex Rogers, executive director of
CityVest, the corporation currently marketing the soon-to-be-restored Sterling
Hotel in Wilkes-Barre to prospective
occupants, points out that the key to
restoring a property hinges on what purpose the property will serve.
“It’s not a case of ‘build it and they will
come,’” Rogers said.
At this time, the Sterling’s final redesign is
an unknown, says Rogers.“It’s premature at
this time to say exactly what has to be
done at the Sterling.The specific issues of
what will be done to it will present themselves as the development takes place.”
If a hotel company is interested in the
Sterling Hotel tower, for example, relatively
minor redesign is necessary, Rogers said.
However, if the decision is to use it for residential or office use, much more redesign
will be needed.
Rogers emphasizes his objective for the
Sterling is to strike a “balance” between
historical preservation and modernization.
Rogers notes that the Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Commission
(PHMC) has guidelines to help restoration
of older buildings. PHMC consults with
redevelopers to determine what features
of a building qualify as “historically contributing” or significant, he says.
PHMC can provide “technical assistance”
and offers grants and federal tax credits to
projects it identifies as preserving “the
architectural resources of Pennsylvania,”
according to the PHMC Web site.
QproQ Engineering, Inc.
A structural Engineering Firm
Services
Projects
Bridge Design
Building Design
Feasibility Studies
Value Engineering
Forensic Engineering
Equipment Support Design
Construction Phase Services
Athletic
Healthcare
Government
K-12/Universities
Commercial/Residential
Manufacturing & Industrial
Warehousing & Production
Providing Architectural, Engineering and Construction Services
to Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Clients in Eastern Pennsylvania.
SERVING ALL OF PENNSYLVANIA
K.C. Larson Inc.
mechanical & electrical contractors
PLUMBING
PROCESS PIPING
ELECTRICAL
HEATING
VENTILATION
AIR CONDITIONING
97 Eck Circle,Williamsport, PA 17701
ENERGY CONSULTING
Phone: 570.329.1441, FAX 570.321.5439
SPECIALTY SYSTEMS
TOLL FREE: 877.371.1441
www.kclarson.com
TURN-KEY PROJECT CAPABILITIES
COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
187 North Main Street, Wilkes Barre, PA • 570-823-9935
www.QproQ.com
Kuykens
Lipson
Pavlick
Woodruff
AMERICAN ADVERTISING FEDERATION
Helen Lavelle was unanimously elected governor
of District II in the American Advertising Federation
(AAF) for a second consecutive term. District II, the
premier district of the AAF, is comprised of advertising agencies, media companies and corporate
clients from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C. She is
creative director of Lavelle Murray Advertising,
Scranton, which she co-founded nearly 20 years
ago. As governor, Lavelle will guide and direct the
advertising industry through economic challenges,
legislative issues and relevant industry initiatives,
while continuing to develop best practices and
solutions to major industry challenges. In addition
to the National Student Advertising Competition,
Lavelle has championed achieving diversity in the
advertising and marketing industries. Lavelle has
been recognized repeatedly for her own creative
excellence, contributing to her Scranton-based
agency receiving countless ADDY awards, communication arts awards, and industry marketing honors. Lavelle was recently awarded the Northeast
Pennsylvania Business Journal’s Outstanding
Women in Business Award.
AVENTIS PASTEUR
Luc Kuykens, M.D., was appointed vice president of regulatory affairs North America for
Aventis Pasteur, Swiftwater. He is also responsible
for optimizing regulatory affairs efforts globally. He
serves as the key point person in communications
with the Food and Drug Administration. He also
coordinates the activities of the many departments involved in the submission of
Investigational New Drug Applications/Biologics
License Applications and ongoing submissions to
those files. Previously, Kuykens served as director,
worldwide regulatory affairs, vaccines & biologicals
with Merck and previously as director, regulatory
affairs-Europe. His career also includes increasing
roles of responsibility in the medical and public
health fields in Africa and the Caribbean. He has
authored and co-authored a number of articles
and papers in industry publications, including the
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
and the Leprosy Review. Aventis Pasteur Inc. is a
subsidiary of Aventis Pasteur SA. It provides the
broadest range of human vaccines and biologicals
commercially available from any single U.S. vaccine company and is a leading supplier of vaccines to protect against influenza, diphtheria,
tetanus, pertussis, polio, Japanese encephalitis,
yellow fever, Haemophilus influenzae type b disease, meningitis, rabies, and typhoid fever.
BARRY ISETT & ASSOCIATES
The northeastern Pennsylvania office of the full
service engineering and surveying firm, Barry Isett
& Associates (BIA), has relocated to in the Broad
Street Business Exchange, Suite 114, 100 West
Broad Street, Hazleton. Gregg Pavlick, who has
been with the company since 1998, was named
project manager to develop and oversee projects
throughout northeast Pennsylvania. Vice president
Terry DeGroot, PE is the principal in charge of the
Hazleton office.
BRUSH VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Sandra Hutchinson was named CEO of the
Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. She
has been with the chamber since 1998. In her
new position, she makes plans to keep relationships healthy with government officials at all levels by continuing the current agenda and encouraging a more effective coalition to address problems that affect the businesses in the region and
continue her active roll on all of the committees
motivating the volunteers towards the goals of this
chamber. The Brush Valley Regional Chamber of
Commerce serves Shamokin, Coal Township,
Kulpmont, Mount Carmel, Ralpho Township,
Elysburg, Trevorton, and Paxinos.
Woelkers
Killeen
Arthur
Bartoletti
Gorman
FOCUS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
The directors and board of trustees of Focus
Central Pennsylvania welcomed their new president, Kate Fairweather. Since 1999, she has been
associated with Lafarge Road Marking in
Montgomery, most recently as sales manager for
the New Parts, Service and Repair department.
Focus Central Pennsylvania serves as a regional
economic development marketing alliance dedicated to promoting Central Pennsylvania as the premier place for new business investment and the
creation of family-sustaining jobs.Focus Central
Pennsylvania members include the Clinton County
Economic Partnership, Danville Area Chamber of
Commerce, Mifflin County Industrial Development
Corporation, Susquehanna Industrial Development
Corporation, Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of
Commerce, PPL Electric Utilities, and SEDA-COG.
GRANGE NATIONAL BANK
Thomas A. McCullough, president and CEO of
Grange National Bank, Tunkhannock, announced the
promotion of Joseph I. Killeen from vice president to
senior vice president. Grange National Bank operates
12 full-service banking offices in five counties.
LANDMARK COMMUNITY BANK
Paul C. Woelkers was named to the board of
directors of Landmark Community Bank, headquar tered in Pittston. He is president of
Lackawanna Mobile X-ray and US Mobile Health
Ser vices Inc., Dunmore, and vice president of
Carolina Diagnostic Ser vices Inc., Piedmont, SC.
He currently ser ves on the following boards:
Nor theastern PA Long Term Care Association,
Ser ving Seniors of Lackawanna County and
Lackawanna County Drug and Alcohol Treatment
Ser vices and is an annual host for a day at St.
Francis of Assisi Kitchen, Scranton.
LUZERNE NATIONAL BANK
Luzerne National Bank, Luzerne, announced the
following appointments:
Denise S. Bartoletti was named chief credit officer and will assist in establishing Luzerne National
Bank’s strategic lending goals, objectives and credit policies. Bartoletti has been active in the banking industry since 1986 and was one of Luzerne
National’s commercial loan officers.
Michael J. Bibak was named chief lending officer
and will be responsible for lending functions of
Luzerne National Bank. He will also lead the
bank’s business development function. Bibak has
been involved in banking for 16 years.
Scott Nogles was named chief financial officer and
became a member of senior management. He will
be responsible for the financial leadership of Luzerne
National Bank and will be responsible for cash management functions, financial reporting and new product
analysis. Nogles has been active in banking and
finance for 10 years with several community banks
and is also a certified public accountant.
MCCORMACK MORTGAGE SERVICES INC.
Walter Sarafinko joined the mortgage services
team of McCormack Mortgage Services Inc., Clarks
Summit. He is responsible for new business development, sales management, and training of a team
of mortgage originators. Sarafinko brings over 17
years of banking experience to this position, most
recently serving as vice president and Community
Banking Division manager for a local financial
institution. He is on the board of directors of the
Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and
serves on the Ambassadors Committee.
METZ & ASSOCIATES LTD.
James Dickson was promoted to divisional vice
president of Metz and Associates Ltd. His most
recent position with Metz and Associates was that
of eastern regional vice president. In his new position, Dickson will assume responsibility for all col-
Bibak
Prebich
Nogles
Fertig
lege/university and business dining operations at
Metz and Associates. Dickson is a 30-year veteran
of the foodservice industry. His experience is
extensive and includes serving as vice president of
educational services for Sodexho-Marriott
Corporation, resident district manager at the Wood
Company, senior food service director at ARA
Services and district manager at Custom
Management Corporation.
Kathy Gonzalez assumed the position of divisional director for healthcare services at Metz and
Associates Ltd., where she focuses her talents and
energy on dining management matters in the
healthcare industry. Her previous position with
Metz and Associates was the director of corporate
nutrition services. She also remains involved in
overseeing Metz and Associates’ team of dietitians
and in developing company-wide nutritional education programs. She is a registered dietician with
over 20 years of experience. Gonzalez previously
held positions as consultant for Home Health
Services and corporate dietitian for Emery Medical
Management Company both located in Pittsburgh.
Toby Horner was named divisional director for
school dining services where he is responsible for
kindergarten through grade 12 dining operations.
His previous position at Metz and Associates was
district manager, where he serviced accounts
including healthcare and business and industry as
well as school districts. He has 26 years of experience in the food service industry.
MICHAEL BAXTER & ASSOCIATES
John H. Davis joined the staff of Michael Baxter
and Associates Commercial Real Estate,
Tannersville, as a commercial specialist. His background is in marketing and customer service.
PARENTE RANDOLPH PC
Jeffrey P. Lipson joined Parente Randolph PC as
chief information officer. Lipson is responsible for
modernizing information technology within the
organization, increasing ser vices for the staff and
leading various information technology initiatives.
He brings over 10 years of management experience in information technology to the firm and
has extensive experience in small to mid-sized
entrepreneurial organizations, most recently with
Shepherd Technologies.
Richard B. Woodruff II joined Parente Randolph as
human resources manager. He is responsible for
employee relations, compensation and benefits,
staffing and recruiting and human resources
administration. Woodruff has more than five years
of progressive human resources experience and
over 10 years of business experience. As one of
only two human resource professionals retained
by Ber telsmann of For t Washington during its corporate acquisition of CDNOW, Woodruff directed a
full range of divisional and corporate human
resources activities and programs for a 100-person technology client group. He provided consultation to executives, senior management, legal
and human resource depar tments in many locations throughout the United States.
J. Robert Arthur, CPA, joined Parente Randolph
and will ser ve as its director of international ser vices. A senior level tax executive, Ar thur brings a
diversified background and significant experience
and exper tise in global tax planning and analysis.
In this position Ar thur will help companies establish efficient corporate structures, navigate the
U.S. tax anti-deferral subpar t F rules, improve foreign tax credit utilization, enhance tax savings on
qualifying expor t sales, reduce foreign taxes,
determine whether they have permanent establishments and identify their withholding tax obligations. Ar thur was a senior manager in practice at
KPMG LLP prior to joining Parente.
PENNSTAR BANK
James T. Gorman joined Pennstar Bank,
Scranton, as senior vice president and regional
Dickson
Sitoski
Davis
Kaczmarek
lending manager for Luzerne County. He plays a
leadership role in Luzerne County and works with
the local business development board to increase
market penetration and direct the daily commercial
banking activities within the region. Gorman brings
over 20 years experience in lending to Pennstar
Bank including corporate investment banking, capital markets and merger and acquisition financing.
Scott P. Prebich was promoted to community
banking officer in Pennstar Bank’s small business
lending department. He is responsible for developing and servicing a portfolio of small business
loans, assisting the branch network with developing new business and servicing the bank’s existing
small business loan customers. He most recently
served as a loan analyst in the credit administration area prior to his promotion.
PHASEONE
Josie Fertig joined PhaseOne, Sunbury, as a
graphic designer. She formerly was employed at
Power/Warner Communications Group Inc, in
Winchester, Va. Her responsibilities include creative design and electronic layout of documents
and imagery/illustration creation and manipulation.
PNC BANK
Elizabeth K. Sitoski was promoted to vice president at PNC Bank, Northeast PA. Sitoski is the sector
sales manager for the Hazleton-Mountain sector of
the RCB and is based out of the Hazleton Broad
Street office. She is responsible for the management
of the sales activities of the four Hazleton offices,
Freeland, Conyngham and Blakeslee offices. She
joined the bank as a teller in the Hazleton Broad
Street office in 1979, advanced to head teller in
1982, where she served until entering the management training program in 1992.
TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT
Frank Kaczmarek is director of the Systems
Integration Directorate at Tobyhanna Army Depot.
As an industrial operations manager, he is responsible for the fabrication and systems integration in
support of the depot mission. Kaczmarek temporarily served in this position since June 2002.
Previously, he was the chief of the directorate’s
systems overhaul and fabrication division. He
began his depot career in October 1978 as a
sheet metal mechanic, earning various promotions
over the years. In 1989, he became a sheet metal
mechanic supervisor. He received the Army
Achievement Medal in 2000 for the scheduling,
planning and execution of the fiscal year 2000
mobile depot maintenance (MDM) mission.
UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON
University of Scranton President Scott R. Pilarz,
S.J., has announced 16 faculty promotions,
including tenure decisions, which go into effect at
the beginning of the 2003-04 academic year.
The following faculty will be promoted to professor effective this fall: Michael O. Mensah, Ph.D.,
accounting; Daniel S. Townsend, Ph.D., biology;
Rose Sebastianelli, Ph.D., operations and information management; Nabil Tamimi, Ph.D.,operations and information management; Sharon
Meagher, Ph.D., philosophy; Robert A. Spalletta,
Ph.D., physics, and Steven Dougherty, Ph.D.,
mathematics. The following will be promoted to
associate professor and granted tenure
beginning in the fall: Scott Bader-Saye, Ph.D.,
theology; Ann Pang-White, Ph.D., philosophy,
and Elizabeth Jacob, Ph.D., counseling/human
ser vices. The following will be promoted to associate professor beginning in the fall: Narda Tafuri,
M.A., librar y, and Richard Larsen, M.F.A.,
English. Tenure for the following faculty members
will become effective in the fall: Ronald Deitrick,
Ph.D., exercise science and spor t; Timothy J.
Hobbs, Ph.D., education; Barbara Cozza, Ph.D.,
education, and Carol L. Reinson, Ph.D.,
occupational therapy.
Economic downturn spawns new business niche
Jeannette Hubbard started her Wayne County company, Virtually There Business
Solutions (VTBS), after noticing more corporate downsizings and layoffs. In large
cities like Chicago, New York and Boston, companies that provide professional secretarial services are commonplace. “Think of VTBS as a confidential member of your
staff,” she says.
By Robert Curran
With the downturn in the economy
forcing many employers to downsize or
layoff employees, Jeannette M. Hubbard
has started a company that she believes
will fill important needs.
Hubbard is president of Virtually There
Business Solutions (VTBS) of Pleasant
Mount, in Wayne County, which provides
professional secretarial services to com-
panies. “I’ve been dabbling with this idea
since 1993 and then, at the end of last
year, I said ‘this could work, so let me do
it,’” she said.
Using leading-edge technology,VTBS
offers a variety of administrative, mailing,
translation and transcription services,
along with PowerPoint presentations
and word processing that will deliver
work assignments to businesses by way
of the Internet, e-mail, fax, express mail,
diskette, real-time online messaging or
any other method.
Before starting VTBS in January, Hubbard
was an executive assistant for 18 years,
including positions at Marian Community
Hospital, Carbondale, and the
Philanthropic Initiative, Boston, Mass.,
which assisted companies in reaching
philanthropic goals. She said she decided
to start VTBS after watching companies
downsize and impose layoffs.“I feel I have
a niche here,” she said.“It’s just a matter
of getting the word out.”
Hubbard has a Web site and she said
that, because of all the new technology,
she can reach prospects anywhere on the
globe.“The advantages that come from
using my services are great, especially for
small businesses,” she said.
As part of the decision-making process
on whether to start her business,
Hubbard went through the necessary
market research work and concluded that
there was a market for the type of business she wanted to start.
She found that large cities, like Chicago,
New York and Boston, had these services,
but she also found an absence in smaller
cities and regions.
“Think of VTBS as a confidential member of your staff,” she said.“We’re available
whenever you need us and only when
you need us.”
Her accounts are diverse, and include a
healthcare organization, a pharmacy and a
bed and breakfast, with each one requiring different services.
Her company will make arrangements
for travel, cars, meals, hotels and the like
for busy executives, along with providing
an additional assistant if one is needed to
meet schedules.
Benefits to clients, she said, are many.
Retaining the services of VTBS means no
payroll expenses, and no health
benefits,vacations or sick days.
“There’s no need for computer equipment, no need for additional office space,
and there are flexible work hours,” she
said.“I work when they need my
help.This is important in emergencies. No
matter what time a client calls and says,‘I
need it done by tomorrow morning,’ I will
have it tomorrow morning.”
First and foremost, Hubbard said, are her
skills, which translate into skilled professionalism. She said when she takes on an
assignment, she realizes that it’s a two-way
street.“I’m a partner in the success of
their business,” she said.“If they stay in
business, I stay in business. So it’s a winwin for both of us.”
With more people of Hispanic backgrounds moving into northeast
Pennsylvania, Hubbard said her company can fill yet more business needs
because she reads and writes fluent
Spanish.“I can help a number of companies this way,” she said.
At the present time, Hubbard does most
of her company’s work herself, but she’s
looking to VTBS to grow. “If the time
comes and, hopefully, it will, I’ll have other
qualified people assisting me,” she said.
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Additional competition prizes
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Honorary chairman is
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Chairmen are Chris Haran
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For additional information, please contact Junior Achievement of NEPA
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Airport completes ‘Phase I’ of renovation
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International
Airport held a ribbon-cutting ceremony
on July 29 for its new parking garage, surface Parking and roadway network.
The construction of the new passenger
terminal facility and related projects are
broken into two phases:
Phase I — New parking garage, surface parking and roadway network.
Phase II — New terminal building
and pedestrian tunnel.
This project completes Phase I.
Total construction cost of Phase I is
approximately $19.5 million.The project
includes a parking garage, surface parking
lots, roadway network, generator building
and toll plaza.
The new four-level parking garage is
approximately 246,800 square feet. It
can serve a total of 640 vehicles on the
four levels, and provides “under roof”
parking for 480 vehicles.The parking
garage is equipped with two elevators
and two staircases.
When constructed, the new terminal
building will be accessed via a pedestrian
tunnel from the second level of the parking garage. During construction of Phase
II, the current terminal building can be
accessed via a bridge on the top level of
the parking garage.
The new surface parking encompasses
four parking areas: one revenue parking
area and three nonrevenue parking areas.
Total surface parking is for 712 vehicles, and overall parking in both the
parking garage and all surface parking
is for 1,352, or a 34.5 percent increase
in total parking spaces.
The one-way loop road serving the terminal has been expanded to encompass
all parking facilities within the loop.
To achieve this, the approach to the
new/relocated terminal building will be
re-aligned to provide a more direct
approach to the east prior to turning
northward to reach the terminal building.
When fully completed, the loop road
will be two lanes with a four-lane-wide
section in front of the new terminal building to accommodate curbside activity.
Barry Centini, airport director, said,
“We are really excited to provide these
new services to our area business and
leisure air travelers. With Phase I of
our major expansion project complete,
we now move forward into Phase II
for a new pedestrian tunnel and a new
terminal building.”
Several firms were engaged to prepare
plans and specifications for the work.
They were: HNTB Corporation,
Alexandria, Va.; Acker Associates Inc.,
Moscow; Highland Associates Ltd.,
Clarks Summit; and Michael J. Pasonick,
Jr. Inc., Wilkes-Barre.
Construction work on the new parking
garage was completed by Sordoni
Construction Services Inc., Forty Fort.
Construction work on all surface parking, the roadway network, the new generator building and the toll plaza was completed by Pikes Creek Site Contractors,
Hunlock Creek.
Funding for the $8 million parking
garage and revenue surface parking lot, as
well as the $11.5 million new roadway
network and nonrevenue parking lots
came from the following:
$10.3 million . . . . . . FAA grants
$4.275 million . . . . . State grants
$4.925 million . . . . . . Lackawanna
and Luzerne counties and the airport.
Phase II commenced with construction
of the pedestrian tunnel last month.
Scenes from the renovation of the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre International
Airport. Phase I — estimated at $19.5
million — of the project has now concluded. Phase II began with the construction of a pedestrian tunnel.
Photos by Bob Urban
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Southern Union locates headquarters in Scranton
M
Like the Book?
Lackawanna Avenue in downtown
Scranton was a regionwide joke just over
a decade ago. Once the commercial centerpiece of northeastern Pennsylvania,
the avenue had fallen into an advanced
state of decay and seemed destined to
continue falling toward a very hard floor.
Now, the avenue seems to be defying
gravity. Southern Union Co., parent company of PG Energy and one of the
nation’s fastest growing energy distribution companies, announced that it will
build a 40,000-square-foot, $10 million
headquarters at 415 Lackawanna Ave. In
addition to giving the city its only major
corporate headquarters, a substantial and
handsome new office building, and about
100 high-end jobs, the project could well
prove to be an accelerant for more downtown development.
Southern Union’s decision also has an
important symbolic component. It is an
emphatic vote of confidence in the city
that will help to further the momentum
toward the city government's recovery,
and toward overall economic growth.
The company's relocation, along with
other major projects on Lackawanna
Avenue, validates the risky infrastructure
and development investments that have
been made by the state, federal and local
governments over the last 15 years, and
the perseverance of downtown businesspeople who have stood by the city.
— From the Scranton Times
A rendering of Southern Union’s headquarters
to be built in downtown Scranton.
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Dairy plant’s business model: buy local
By Marianne Tucker Puhalla
It has been known for years as the
place to find the yummiest of ice creams
and the sweetest of milk.Anyone with
any love for dairy products is sure to
know the name of Hillside Farms, in
Trucksville, Luzerne County.
Owned by the Conyngham family,
Hillside Farms has been in the business of
producing milk and milk products in the
Back Mountain for the past 100 years.
Today, the company, which opened its
dairy store in 1977, no longer has a herd
of its own to milk, but is teaming up
with Nescopeck dairy farmer Gary
Rinehimer and other local dairy farmers
within the Luzerne County agricultural
community, to use only locally-produced
milk in its products.
According to family member, and store
manager,Will Conyngham, Hillside
processes about 1,500 gallons of milk
per day, all of which comes from within
a 50-mile radius.
“We had a processing plant that was
being under-utilized so we decided to
refocus our efforts on processing. Even
though we don’t have many cows anymore, we do buy our milk locally, process
our milk locally and sell our milk locally.”
Under the new business plan, the farm
receives milk from a number of neighboring dairy farms, paying a premium to
contracted producers.
“It is important to me to know that the
product I am selling comes from local
farms, small farms with high quality control,” Conyngham says.
Conyngham says payment is based on
the dairy store’s Class I fluid milk utilization, which at Hillside is near 90 percent. Larger milk processors average
only 40 percent use for Class I purposes. Class I represents the highest grade
of milk and results in the best price
paid to the farmer.
Hillside collects an average of 25,000
pounds of milk per week from the
Rinehimer farm.
Conyngham says he believes in support-
Manufacturers’ Association fetes area firms
Offset Paperback, Inter Metro, Schott earn awards
Darlene Robbins, president of the
Manufacturers’Association of Mid-Eastern
Pennsylvania (MAMP), has announced the
2002 “Manufacturing Excellence” awards.
The award winners will be honored on
Sept. 9, following a tour of Offset
Paperback Manufacturers, Dallas, one of
the winners. Dinner will follow at the
East Mountain Inn,Wilkes-Barre.
Offset Paperback is one of the largest
manufacturers of mass market paperback
books in the world and has a state-of-theart manufacturing facility.
In addition to Offset Paperback, this
year’s winners are Inter Metro Industries,
Wilkes-Barre; and Schott Glass
Technologies Inc. of Duryea.
The awards are presented for outstanding achievement by the honorees in the
manufacturing industry.
The tour and dinner are open to the
manufacturing community by reservation
only. Early reservations are urged.
Additional information and reservations
may be made by calling the MAMP office
at (570) 622-0992.
Lobar lands several school building contracts
Lobar Inc., the largest school builder in
Pennsylvania, announced last month that
it has won major contracts from school
districts in Monroe and Tioga counties.
Those contracts, together with a municipal award in Dauphin County, have a
total value of approximately $37 million.
The award in Monroe County continues Lobar Inc.’s expansion into eastern
Pennsylvania, which began earlier this
year. Stroudsburg Area School District
awarded an $8.715 million contract for
a new middle school.
The 264,000-square-foot building will
accommodate a three-story classroom
wing, gymnasium, auditorium, auxiliary
gym and administrative offices.
The project architect is an HLM Design.
Other contracts:
Client: Wellsboro Area School
District, Tioga County.
Project description: New three-story,
126,000-square-foot high school and partial demolition of existing school.
Contract amount: $13,099,500
Architect: McKissick Associates PC
Lobar Inc. (www.lobar.com) specializes
in work for the public sector, at the local,
state and federal levels. Based in
Dillsburg, Lobar Inc. also operates an
office in Williamsport. Lobar Inc. is independent of Lobar Associates.
Lobar Inc. recently was named “General
Contractor of the Year” by the American
Subcontractors Association of Central
Pennsylvania Inc. Lobar Inc. also recently
achieved ISO 9001:2000 quality certification, joining a small number of general
contractors across the United States that
have earned the distinction.
ing the local farm community and knows
that he is providing the freshest milk possible.“Large milk processing plants might
get their milk from as far away as 200
miles — there’s nothing local about it.”
The new system is a sign of the changing times in a very tough, competitive
business.“You need to know when you
have the volume to survive independently,” says Conyngham.“The common
wisdom it that we would need to have
300 milking head for the dairy farm to
produce enough milk to stay self-sufficient in the current business market. We
have neither the room nor manpower
to carry that out.”
At the height of Hillside Farms milk production, about 500 gallons of milk was
produced daily.At that time, there were
almost 300 on-farm dairy plants/stores
throughout Pennsylvania.Today, less than
three dozen remain.
Pecora Brothers Dairy, in Drums, operates the only other fluid milk processing plant in Luzerne County. Hillside
remains the only local dairy to sell milk
in glass bottles.
“About one third of our business is
wholesale, with contracts to numerous
local schools and two state prisons,”
Conyngham reports.“The vast majority of
our sales occurs on site, at the dairy in
Trucksville. It is there where our customers can come to buy our locally produced dairy products, honey, flowers and
seasonally available local produce.”
PEL releases tax analyses
The Pennsylvania Economy League (PEL)
released its overview summarizing the city
component of its annual analyses of real
estate tax levies, tax rates and assessed valuations in Berks, Blair, Cambria, Cumberland,
Dauphin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh,
Luzerne, Lycoming, Northampton and York.
■ Gross real estate tax levies increased in
11 of the 16 cities in the 12-county area
between 2002 and 2003; during the past
five years, levies rose in nine of these cities.
■ The largest increase in real estate tax
levy since last year was recorded in
Allentown.The largest of the five decreases
during this period occurred in York.
■ For the five-year period, the largest
absolute increase in tax levies were
recorded in Allentown and Lancaster.The
largest proportionate increases occurred
in Lancaster and York.The largest of the
seven absolute decreases between 1998
and 2003 were in Altoona and Reading;
the largest proportionate decreases were
experienced in Altoona and Wilkes-Barre.
■ Real estate tax rates increased in four
cities between 2002 and 2003; decreased
in one; and were unchanged in 11.The
largest increases were in Allentown,
Bethlehem and Lancaster.York decreased.
■ For the five-year period, real estate tax
rates increased in seven cities; de-creased in
three; and remained unchanged in six:
Easton, Hazleton, Johnstown, Nanticoke,
Pittston and Reading. Proportionally, the
largest millage increases were in Lancaster
and York.The millage decreases between
1998 and 2003 occurred in Altoona,
Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre. Harrisburg’s
decrease was primarily the result of a county-wide re-assessment in 2002.
Hinman Howard & Kattell, LLP
Attorneys At Law
116 North Washington Avenue, Suite 1E
Scranton, Pennsylvania 18503 • (570) 558-5931
www.hhk.com
James T. Mulligan, Jr., LLP
Joins Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP
As Special Counsel And Concentrates His Practice In The
Areas Of Environmental Law, Real Estate
And Commercial Transactions
Attorney Mulligan has nearly 10 years of experience in Environmental Law
and other related commercial matters. His practice includes matters relating
to site contamination and cleanup, Brownfield development, environmental
aspects of real estate development and lender liability. He also represents
and advises regulated facilities with regard to permitting and compliance
issues. Attorney Mulligan has counseled numerous townships and municipalities throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in connection with
other environmental problems including remediation of scrap tires.
Prior to his affiliation with Hinman, Howard & Kattell, Attorney Mulligan managed a successful private practice in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Attorney
Mulligan served as Assistant District Attorney for Lackawanna County from
1988 through 1990. He served as Solicitor for the Riverside School District
from 1990 through 1994 and served as General Counsel and Solicitor for the
City of Scranton in 2000 and 2001.
James T. Mulligan, Jr. graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a
B.S. in Criminal Justice in 1980. He attended Villanova University for a
Masters in Public Administration. He obtained his Juris Doctorate in 1987
from Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C. He is on the Board of
Trustees of The Northeast Theatre and is an active member of many civic
organizations.
Do
Not Call
Continued from page one
since the Pennsylvania list went into
effect,Telemarketing Resources Inc. is
here to stay.
“We’re the last company left… we
list went into effect, many states, includemploy over 30 people.That tells you how
ing Pennsylvania, developed statewide Do we do business, the relationships we have
Not Call lists with the same purpose: to
with the companies we do work for and
keep unwanted telemarketers from callthe integrity of our workers. Nobody is losing consumers at home. Millions of
ing his job here.The owner is working
Pennsylvanians signed up, jamming the
very hard to make sure that everyone here
toll-free phone number and Internet Web
keeps his job,” says Brannon.
site in the first few days.
So why is it that so many consumers hate
One Pennsylvania company that uses
being called by telemarketers? The answer,
telemarketing regularly is Commonwealth
according to an area psychology professor,
Telephone Enterprises in Luzerne County.
is rather simple.
While telemarketing is a component of
“These calls are an invasion of privacy.
their marketing strategy, the company
They are totally uninvited and are a nuialready had many of the policies outlined
sance.They typically interrupt family time
in the national list as its own procedures.
and important conversations, usually over
Depending on the marketing campaign,
dinner, because that
CTE contacts cusis the time of day
tomers based on
when most telemargeography, if the
keters make their
hile virtually all of
consumers are curcalls,” says Charles
rent clients, or if
the telemarketing
LaJeunesse, Ph.D.,
they are looking to
professor of psyfirms in the Scranton and
add new clients.
chology at College
“The list has had a Wilkes-Barre areas have shut
Misericordia in
modest, if not
Dallas.“In the early
down or moved since the
minor, impact. Our
days it was chronic,
company policy and Pennsylvania list went into
with people calling
customer approach
constantly and
were already aligned effect, Telemarketing
many of the prodwith the policies of
ucts were distasteResources
Inc.
is
here
to
stay.
the Do Not Call list
ful.That’s where
for some time.We
the negative image
even have our own list. Our approach has
first started for the telemarketing industry.”
been, and is today, very much in line with
After a while, according to LaJeunesse,
the FTC’s list.We had some administrative
consumers started fighting back, and
and tracking issues, but addressed those,”
telephone companies began to help,
says Joe Mozden, senior vice president of
offering services such as Caller ID, so
sales and marketing for Commonwealth
homeowners could screen a call before
Telephone Enterprises.
answering.Today’s technology, such as a
Maria Brannon, operations manager of
new program offered by CTE, is much
Telemarketing Resources Inc. of Scranton,
more sophisticated.
says these new lists have only made her
An alternative to signing up for statewide
staff more efficient with their telemarketand national lists,“Block ’em” prevents
ing efforts.“We do not contact people who unwanted, unidentified telemarketing calls
do not want to be contacted.We do work
from getting through to a consumer’s
all over the state; for lawyers in
home phone.“If a telemarketer calls your
Philadelphia and several newspapers, even
house, and you have this service, and it reccompanies in California, but we have strict
ognizes the number as being a telemarguidelines,” she says.
keter, it automatically adds your phone
One problem with the list, according to
number to that company’s personal ‘do not
Brannon, is that people think they are on
call’ list,” explains Mozden.
the list and they aren’t.“The system is
automated, so wrong area codes are associated with wrong prefixes; when someone thinks they are on the Do Not Call
As much as people complain about
list, and we call them, we have to listen
advertising — all the junk mail, spam and
to them explain that they are on the list.
telemarketing calls — they really do
When they are that adamant about not
want to be in the marketing loop, says
wanting to be called, we explain to them
Michael R. Solomon, in his book,
how to correctly get their numbers on
“Conquering Consumerspace: Marketing
these lists,” says Brannon.
Strategies for a Branded World.”
While virtually all of the telemarket(www.amanet.org/books/catalog).
ing firms in the Scranton and WilkesRather than “passive pawns at the
Barre areas have shut down or moved
receiving end of a sales pitch, consumers
are control freaks,” says Solomon.
“We enjoy the feeling of power that
comes from having input into what we
do, see and buy — even if it just means
The median population of the towns and
getting to vote on a candy flavor,” as
cities where outbound call centers are located:
Lifesavers demonstrated several years ago
26,532.
when the company threatened to elimi Twelve percent of the towns and cities with
call centers also are communities that have been
nate the pineapple flavor in its popular
designated by the federal government as labor
candy and more than 400,000 people ralsurplus areas or empowerment or enterprise
lied to “save” it.
areas qualifying for federal benefits and incentives
to keep businesses and their employees in place.
Studies show a correlation between
Another view of telemarketers is their national
good
health and feeling in control, he
mean annual wage of $20,285 compared to the
says.“We want to be involved, we want to
national mean annual wage of other sales professionals, which is $31,535, and the national mean
know if we’re having an impact and we
wage of all workers, which is $37,005.5
hunger for the validation that comes from
Source: The Direct Marketing Association,
making the ‘correct selections.’”
www.the-dma.org
W
Customers talk back
The Faces and Places of
Telemarketing
Fast Facts —
Telemarketing and Blast Fax
Statistics —
Direct Mail and Spam
FCC Changes Fax Rule Again
Regarding Established Business
Relationships
Weight of paper in U.S. municipal solid waste in
1980: 55 million tons
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
last month announced that it was extending the
Aug. 25, 2003, deadline for companies to get
their customers’ prior written permission before
sending them commercial faxes until Jan. 1,
2005. The FCC’s August 18 order “extend[s],
until Jan. 1, 2005, the effective date of our determination that an established business relationship will no longer be sufficient to show that an
individual or business has given express permission to receive unsolicited facsimile advertisements.” Previously, the FCC — as part of its
recently announced changes to the Telephone
Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA) – had
changed TCPA rules so that all commercial faxes
were prohibited unless the sender had the recipient’s prior written permission to send the fax —
even if the sender was faxing a consumer or business with whom it had an existing business relationship — beginning on August 25. For the FCC’s
order, go to
hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC
-03-208A1.doc.
New FCC rule regarding voice mail
The Direct Marketing Association (The DMA) is
giving notice to members of a new Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) rule that
impacts marketers who employ a “live” operator
to leave either a personal or a pre-recorded commercial message on prospective customers’
voicemail when the person is unavailable. The
Association is urging members affected by the
change to contact FCC staff immediately.
The FCC’s recent amendments to the Telephone
Consumer Protection Act of 1991, which were
announced on June 26 and took effect on Aug.
25, 2003, included a little-noticed provision that
prohibits for-profit companies from leaving commercial messages on non-customers’ voicemail.
In particular, the Commission’s rules now forbid
almost all uses of prerecorded messages — even
to reach people who are not on the Federal Trade
Commission’s (FTC) National Do Not Call Registry,
which opened its doors on June 27.
Moreover, the new FCC rule forbids the use of a
prerecorded message even when the message
does not constitute “unsolicited advertising.”
For example, the most significant change from
the FCC’s previous rules is that prerecorded messages that invite customers to call back in order
to meet with a potential vendor of goods, property, or services are now banned.
Consequently, any entity – such as insurance
companies, mortgage companies, resort timeshare providers, home improvement contractors,
personal health and self-improvement – that previously used prerecorded messages in an effort to
generate interest from prospective customers can
no longer do so unless it fits within one of the
five narrow exceptions listed below:
1. Made for emergency purposes;
2. Not made for a commercial purpose;
3. Made for a commercial purpose but
does nothing more than leave a name and
call-back number;
4. Made to a person with whom the caller has
an existing, established business relationship; or
5. Made by or on behalf of a tax-exempt
organization.
Source: The Direct Marketing Association, www.the-dma.org
Weight of paper in U.S. municipal solid waste in
1999: 87.5 million tons
Number of trees it takes to make a ton of paper:
24
Weight of catalogs and other direct mailings in
the U.S. municipal solid waste stream in 1999:
5.6 million tons
Rate at which bulk mail was recycled in 1999:
22 percent
Number of garbage trucks it would take to haul
away all the unrecycled junk mail in the U.S. to
landfills and incinerators each year: 340,000
Typical weight of 4 elephants:
17.8 tons
Amount of bulk mail delivered annually by each
of the U.S. Postal Service's 293,000 letter carriers: 17.8 tons
Amount of time the average American spends
opening bulk mail over the course of his or her
life: 8 months
Percentage of bulk mail that is thrown away
unopened: 44 percent
Money spent by U.S. companies on direct mail
in 1993: $27.3 billion
Money spent by U.S. companies on direct mail
in 1998: $39.3 billion
Tax dollars spent to dispose of junk mail:
$320 million
Pieces of bulk mail sent by U.S. nonprofits in
one year: 12 billion
Amount donated to nonprofits in response to
those bulk mailings: $50 billion
Source: www.newdream.org
SPAM STATISTICS
In 1999, the average consumer received 40
pieces of spam. By 2005, Jupiter estimates, the
total is likely to soar to 2000.
America Online estimates that spam
already accounts for more than 30 percent
of e-mail to its members – as many as 24
million messages a day.
Seventy-four percent of customers
believe that their ISPs should be responsible for fixing spam problems.
Seven percent of ISP churn was directly
attributed to spam.
Thir ty-six percent of e-mail users would
switch ISPs in order to reduce the flow of
spam they received.
Twenty-four percent of users would be willing
to pay an incremental for spam blocking.
AOL alone receives 250,000 spam-related
complaints every day.
Nearly $2 of each customer's monthly bill can
be attributed to electronic junk mail and other
forms of spam.
Source: www.anti-spam-software.com
information and target us. I don’t think
most of us mind much of that.”
But debate continues on where public knowledge ends and privacy begins.
Privacy advocates gather steam to regulate the gathering and sale of information to curb the onslaught of spammers and other uninvited solicitations.
An overwhelming response to signups
for the “Do-Not-Call” list reveals the
public’s cry for relief from unwanted
telemarketing solicitations.
According to Forrester Research, 90
percent of consumers want the right
to control how their personal information is used.
“If you have a magazine subscription,
there is a good chance somebody is buying your name,” says Gaetan Giannini,
president of G2 Integrated Marketing
with offices in Laurys Station and
Stroudsburg.“It’s a good way to target
market. If you get Golf Times, it’s a good
chance you golf.Any time you fill out an
application or a survey and don’t specifically say this information is confidential
and cannot be reused, you have in effect
given the OK to do it.”
Privacy concerns are a gray area.
The question becomes: where does use
become abuse? While marketers provide
helpful information, sometimes their
methods can be intrusive or annoying.
“I value my leisure time at home and
often get a barrage of phone calls from
telemarketers,” says Dean Hosier, marketing manager for PenTeleData, an Internet
service provider in Palmerton, Carbon
County.“However, I’ve accepted some of
these offers from various companies.
These personal forms of communication
with the consumer have been proven to
be very effective forms of advertising.”
Effective or not, statistics show an estimated 74 percent of Americans support a
“do-not-spam” registry.
Advocates know enforcement may be
elusive, so the burden rests on each of us
to take steps to ensure our own privacy.
“In many cases you have reputable companies giving the consumer an ‘opt out’
option on receiving future e-mail,” says
Hosier.“In other cases, you have compa-
nies or individuals using mass mailing
tactics whereby when an individual
opts out, they have now actually given
away their real e-mail address, adding
to the consumer’s current problem.”
In addition, viruses and worms can
be used to pull arbitrary information
from your computer, and spammers
and hackers use such tools to harvest email addresses. E-mail addresses can also
be pulled from newsgroup posts, so it
pays to weigh your options carefully.
“As in most things, there is a trade-off
regarding how much a person values his
privacy and how convenient he wants his
online experience,” says Chris Kruslicky,
information security specialist for
PenTeleData.“Those who choose convenience will have their online actions noted
by marketing firms, such as the famous
case of DoubleClick, and more recently
via any number of Spyware products’
‘phone-home’ features.Those who choose
not to have their online activities recorded
will need to be diligent about things like
Internet/browser settings, and forego the
special offers and online contests that
require personally identifiable information.”
Another controversy in the privacy battle includes the use of ‘cookies’ — and
they’re not chocolate chip.
“Generally speaking, what the cookies
are telling a Web site is where you have
been,” Ed Redding, general manager of
R&D Communications, Pine Grove,
Schuylkill County.“A cookie remains from
the site you previously visited. So the
next site essentially gets a view of your
browsing and shopping habits and, in
some cases — depending on the sophistication for that particular Web site — the
site can serve up pages of information
that are sensitive to the places where
you’ve been.”
Privacy advocates consider cookies spying, but marketers disagree.“What merchants and marketers are trying to do is
nothing more than a good retail clerk
would in the store: get a sense of what
you’re looking for,” says Redding.“It could
be painted as being insidious but it’s really (what) people have always done in
business to answer customers’ needs.”
But debate continues.
“I think that all legitimate business people have no interest in, and there is no
TELEMARKETING STATISTICS
Alone
continued from page one
State
ALASKA
ALABAMA
ARKANSAS
ARIZONA
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
WASHINGTON, DC
DELAWARE
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
HAWAII
IOWA
IDAHO
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
KANSAS
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MASSACHUSETTS
MARYLAND
MAINE
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
MISSOURI
MISSISSIPPI
MONTANA
NO CAROLINA
NORTH DAKOTA
NEBRASKA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO
NEVADA
NEW YORK
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
OREGON
PENNSYLVANIA
PUERTO RICO
RHODE ISLAND
SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA
TENNESSEE
TEXAS
UTAH
VIRGINIA
VERMONT
WASHINGTON
WISCONSIN
WEST VIRGINIA
WYOMING
2000 Census
Population
634,892
4,454,356
2,692,090
5,307,331
34,501,130
4,417,714
3,425,074
571,822
796,165
16,396,515
8,383,915
1,224,398
2,923,179
1,321,006
12,482,301
6,114,745
2,694,641
4,065,556
4,465,430
6,379,304
5,375,156
1,286,670
9,990,817
4,972,294
5,629,707
2,858,029
904,433
8,186,268
634,448
1,713,235
1,259,181
8,484,431
1,829,146
2,106,074
19,011,378
11,373,541
3,460,097
3,472,867
12,287,150
1,058,920
4,063,011
756,600
5,740,021
21,325,018
2,269,789
7,187,734
613,090
5,987,973
5,401,906
1,801,916
494,423
US Department of
2000
Labor Estimate of the
Census
Number of People
Working
Employed in the
Pop.
State in TeleNon Agri. marketing
100,500
350
1,900,200
3,260
1,156,800
5,040
2,239,600
12,870
14,658,700
40,040
2,198,700
13,340
1,679,300
3,390
402,372
2,330
417,400
260
7,193,600
44,850
3,893,900
11,140
551,000
790
1,463,100
10,880
567,300
2,590
5,931,400
17,060
2,896,100
10,220
1,363,800
3,170
1,827,400
3,950
1,929,700
6,940
3,294,300
10,330
2,454,000
12,170
611,700
4,190
4,543,100
9,900
2,659,900
9,080
2,687,600
10,300
1,125,400
1,210
393,600
580
3,879,400
6,680
331,500
2,950
912,400
7,000
627,100
1,700
4,007,100
11,030
760,500
3,330
1,073,000
2,110
8,538,000
26,710
5,516,100
14,140
1,519,800
9,100
1,581,200
4,580
5,647,400
21,370
1,390
484,800
1,880
1,829,200
4,260
380,800
1,190
2,706,000
7,930
9,559,500
48,570
1,067,000
4,020
3,504,100
10,820
296,600
320
2,650,500
6,250
2,827,500
8,970
730,900
5,340
249,400
1,250
Percent of the
Working Population
Engaged in
Outbound
Telemarketing
for a fee
0.35%
0.17%
0.44%
0.57%
0.27%
0.61%
0.20%
0.58%
0.06%
0.62%
0.29%
0.14%
0.74%
0.46%
0.29%
0.35%
0.23%
0.22%
0.36%
0.31%
0.50%
0.68%
0.22%
0.34%
0.38%
0.11%
0.15%
0.17%
0.89%
0.77%
0.27%
0.28%
0.44%
0.20%
0.31%
0.26%
0.60%
0.29%
0.38%
0.39%
0.23%
0.31%
0.29%
0.51%
0.38%
0.31%
0.11%
0.24%
0.32%
0.73%
0.50%
Number
Unique
Cities &
Town
which
Telemk.
3
14
15
15
148
28
14
1
4
80
30
1
57
6
90
25
17
16
7
43
31
26
46
28
32
10
12
29
19
29
10
80
9
6
68
56
16
15
83
1
6
12
10
19
75
15
33
6
24
25
14
3
Source: Direct Marketing Association, The Faces and Places of Outbound Teleservices in the United States
economic justification for, any invasion of
privacy,” says Redding.“In and of itself,
the recording via cookies is not very
important and certainly no invasion of
privacy. But a person who has become
sensitized to the issue, or who may be a
recent victim of identity theft, may find
that an egregious invasion. Privacy is in
the eye of the beholder.”
The Small Business Administration
(www.sba.gov/ privacy.html) provides a
comprehensive model privacy policy.
Its final words provide useful insight
for consumers and business alike:“Be
informed. You are the best qualified to
protect your own privacy.”
Advertising’s extreme sport: ‘off the wall’ and ‘in your face’ ad placement
By Stephanie Phillips Taggart
They are everywhere you look — marketing messages.
Today, they are even popping up where
you least expect it — the bottom of golf
holes, supermarket floors, cell phones, taxi
cab roofs, fresh fruit, on the boxer shorts
of a prize fighter and even on urinals.
Messages displayed on novel mediums
are called “off the wall” or nontraditional
forms of advertising.
This type of marketing is gaining popularity, and many advertisers say it helps
them stand out among the advertising glut
of traditional media. But just how effective
is nontraditional advertising, and is it
worthwhile for advertisers to pursue?
Michael P. Beiter, general manager of
Lamar Advertising, an outdoor advertising
company,Williamsport, says that although
off the wall advertising is effective, it is not
for every advertiser.
“Often times national advertisers or
local large advertisers are the ones to
use this type of marketing, because it
won’t be effective unless a brand has
been previously established. Don’t put
the cart before the horse, so to speak.
You want people to have familiarity with
your product to avoid confusion,” he
said.“When you are doing something off
the wall, it is good to add on to the traditional media people use. Start with
newspaper, television, outdoor, radio and
direct mail advertising and then, if there
is any money left over, you can use nontraditional media.”
Fred Bertino, president and chief creative
officer of Hill, Holliday, Connors,
Cosmopulos Inc., a Boston-based advertising firm stated in an Inc. magazine article
entitled “Upstarts: Nontraditional Ads,” that
nontraditional advertising should be used
as a supplement to traditional advertising,
because the smartest brand-building campaigns express one core idea across many
points of consumer contact.
However, if “out of the box” marketing
is used as a supplement, the additional
cost in these nontraditional mediums will
be staggering, suggests Bertino, pointing
out that advertisers who use “off the
wall” advertising usually have excessive
marketing budgets.
Dennis Sullivan, president, Nextt Media, a
full service advertising agency located in
Williamsport said that although the cost of
nontraditional advertising varies from campaign to campaign, creative mediums
don’t necessarily mean big dollars.
“You can still be creative and innovative
and stand out using a less expensive
avenue than traditional forms of advertising,” he said.
No matter how expensive or inexpensive
this type of “off the wall” marketing can
be, spending any amount of money may
be worthwhile if it works.
“Nontraditional advertising is here to
stay, because it works. If it didn’t work, no
one would spend the money to place the
ad. As long as it works and has an influence, marketers will be placing their mes-
Advertisers are
coming up with
ever-more inventive
ways to reach the
consumer.
Photo by Bob Urban
Off the wall continues on next page
Off
the wall
continued from previous page
sage in unique places. If someone asked
me to place their name on an elephant,
I’d tell them,‘I’ll quote you a price for
that,’” said Jonathan Balester, owner/sales
consultant Abba Advertising Products,
Shavertown, who said he made his company’s slogan “We will put your name on
anything,” because he saw the nontraditional trend “catching on.”
An elephant bearing a marketing message may very well grab your attention,
but something a little simpler may be just
as effective.
When Beiter, visited the First Union
Center in Philadelphia, he saw something
that caught his attention — something that
stood out from the many marketing messages at the center — an advertisement on
the stadium’s turnstiles.
“I thought the placement was not only
effective, but interesting. It blows my mind
“Off the wall” advertising is designed to break through the
advertising bombardment. “The more you can put the message in front of people, the more likely they are to recognize
your product.”
— Dave Schwartz, Ideaworks Marketing and Design, Plymouth
that it would go that far,” he said.“Another
nontraditional ad that I recently saw was
right here in Williamsport. I was at the
Weis Market the other day and saw photographic ads on the floor. They caught
my eye and were very well done.”
Supermarket floors and turnstiles may
seem acceptable places to advertise, but
Sullivan said some places that advertisers
market may be questionable.
“In the early 90s, I was in New York
City, and I saw an advertisement on urinal
strainers. Being in the business, I really
appreciate creativity in getting the message across, but unfortunately, in some
instances, good taste has taken a back
seat to the creativity. I’d like to see people
put more creative effort into the message
instead of location,” he said.
Dave Schwartz, vice president of marketing and communications, Ideaworks
Marketing and Design, Plymouth, who has
also encountered a similar ad locally said,
“A question that needs to be on advertisers’ and marketers’ minds is,‘Is it wise to
invade peoples’ privacy?’You may be doing
more harm than good.Another example of
this is the pop up advertisements on the
Internet. I’ll go to an information-based
Web page and six to eight pop up window
ads will appear for things like mortgage
rates and vacation packages. It might be a
great deal, but chances are that I am not
going to use it because I’ve just gotten
bombarded by advertisements.”
“Off the wall” advertising is designed to
break through the advertising bombardment, but Schwartz points out,“the more
you can put the message in front of people, the more likely they are to recognize
your product.The flip side to this is that
the audience may have sensory overload
— even if you use nontraditional media,
but if you do choose to place an advertisement using a nontraditional medium, it
may catch customers’ attention longer and
you might have a better chance of the consumer recognizing your product.”
More and more marketers seem to be
taking the chance and going out on a
limb to gain consumers’ attention by
using off the wall marketing. Who knows
what they will think of next, but as
Schwartz said, “There is always going to
be something new in advertising.That is
the nature of the beast. What is considered nontraditional now is eventually
going to become traditional . . . whether it
takes a month, a year, a decade.”
Tech boom has marketers looking for ‘deeper’ markets
led to changes in the way we market. We
can go all the way back to the wheel —
I have been asked recently why marit let our recently evolved ancestors get
keters have become so aggressive. The
more of their goods to more of their
answer starts with the “New Economy.”
neighbors in less time. Some other obviNot the high-tech, bubble-riding economy ous examples are: Gutenberg’s printing
envisioned in the 90s, but the sober
press; automated travel (planes, trains,
economy of the new reality
automobiles); telephone and
— this “new reality” being a
telegraph; motion pictures;
long span of modest ecoTV; computers, fax, Internet
nomic activity, rather than a
. . . so, we should not think
90s-like boom or a
that we are really experiencDepression-like bust.We will
ing something new, but just
all need to work harder and
the next step in the evolube smarter to succeed.
tion of commerce.
The tech boom did affect
What’s different about the
the world of marketing:
present age is the new way
First, by creating some
we are criticizing marketing
outstanding new avenues for
and advertising. In the 20th
communication, and vastly
century we questioned the
improving existing ones.
Giannini
content of marketing and
These innovations made the
advertising. That is, are the
world a much smaller place that operates messages truthful, ethical, and appropriat a much faster pace.Technology, espeate for their intended audience,?
cially communications, has leveled the
Today, the hot issues are not so much
playing field by providing even the small- the content of the messages, but the
est businesses an affordable means to get
method in which they are delivered.
their message to prospective customers.
Specifically, has the delivery of these
Secondly, the burst of the tech bubcommercial messages become an intruble, slowed the global economy to a
sion on the consumer’s privacy?
crawl, and created a large pool of unemWith traditional media (print and broadployed, savvy professionals. Being used
cast) the rules had been pretty clear. We
to accomplishment and a healthy payimplicitly agreed to suffer through comcheck, many of these folks contracted the mercial messages in exchange for content
entrepreneur bug and joined the already
(entertainment, news, sports).
burgeoning pool of fledgling American
With other media, especially Internet,
industrialists by venturing into their own
direct mail and telephone, there is no
businesses. This cycle has changed the
implied exchange and, without that consent, many consumers feel that these
business world as we know it.
methods of marketing violate their right
There are more companies competing
to privacy. (Telemarketing and spam draw
for a piece of a shrinking economic pie
the most ire because they come unsolicitthat has been spread to every corner of
ed, and require your attention as soon as
the world. To add to the challenge, we
they arrive. Mail can wait until you are
now measure changes in the market
ready to sort through it.)
place in hours and days, instead of
The facts of the whole matter are a bit
months and years.
of a paradox. Any time we are force fed
When we look at all that has happened
information we can legitimately claim an
in the past decade it is no wonder that
intrusion on our personal space of mind.
marketers have become aggressive. It is
On the other hand, we all rely on the
truly a matter of survival. Let’s not forget,
results generated by these marketing
however, that marketers have always
efforts for our livelihoods.
been aggressive, and many of the most
Unless someone buys the products,
significant technological advances have
services or ideas that our employers are
By Gaetan Giannini
selling, we don’t get a paycheck.
So, with overloaded and annoyed consumers on one side, and companies desperate for sales and growth on the other,
what can be done to bridge this chasm?
The answer is deceptively simple: Go
back to basics.
When we look closely we find that consumers do want to be marketed to, just
not for all things from every company.
Consumers will accept marketing for
goods and services that they need or are
interested in.They are even more accepting if it is on their terms, is somewhat
entertaining, or contains an offer of real
value to them.
Successful companies in this century
will be using personalized messages and
images via a mix of media to educate and
inform a laser-targeted audience of customers and prospects, thereby beginning
to cultivate a relationship with these market segments, and creating value in their
brand.We will find many companies looking not for the broadest markets for their
sales, but the deepest.
They will be asking themselves,“Where
can we bring the most value to the customer?” rather than,“Where can we get
the most volume?”
This approach will build a loyal, longterm customer base that is willing to pay
more for a product or service, rather than
a fickle customer base that is willing to
change brands on small differences in
price or with the ebb and flow of fads.
So business owners and marketers, take
heart. The recent public outcry against
certain types of marketing is not a signal
to stop marketing. It is a signal to start
marketing better. An intelligent, longterm approach to the right audience(s)
will yield success without alienating
clients or prospects.
Gaetan Giannini is president of G2
Integrated Marketing and an adjunct
professor of marketing and advertising
at East Stroudsburg University. He is
also an adjunct instructor for the
Manufacturer’s Association of Berks
County, and on the Business Advisory
Committee of Ben Franklin Technology
Partners. E-mail him at
gaetan@g2marketing.biz.
How to be heard
above the marketing din
Once a company embraces the concept
of value-rich target marketing, they will
still have a major challenge — how to
stand out in the crowd.
Here are just a few tips:
Micro-target.
Do your homework to find out which
consumers find the most value in your
product, service or idea.
Mix up the media.
Pursue this smaller, more valuable audience using a mix of media appropriate
to their preferences and styles. It is
more effective to have an audience-specific message that appears to be everywhere than it is to have a generic message that is only in one or two places.
Place marketing and media strategically.
Marketing has the most impact when it
appears at the same time that a prospective customer is thinking about the problem that your product or service solves,
or the need that it fulfills.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
The marketing axiom that it takes five
to 10 exposures to your message before
the average consumer will begin to identify with it is true. So, when you are getting tired of a given messages, you can
assume that the prospective customers
are just starting to absorb it.
Stay on message.
It is easy, and quite common for companies to have different messages and different looks on every marketing piece
they produce. Once you have found a
message and image that conveys the
value of your company to its customers,
make sure it is pervasive.
Be smart, have fun.
Marketing pieces that educate or
entertain work best. They are often kept
or passed around to others, which will
increase effectiveness exponentially. So
get creative!
— Gaetan Giannini
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Accreditations
The Pennsylvania Small Business Development
Centers were awarded full accreditation from the
national Association of Small Business Development
Centers. The review process, mandated by
Congress, is based on a strict set of standards guided by the Malcolm Baldridge Quality Awards to
ensure that SBDC programs are operating efficiently
and effectively. As part of its findings, the accreditation team indicated the Pennsylvania SBDCs have
numerous strengths including its quality control
process, the impact of its client successes and its
remarkable return on investment.
Easter Seals Eastern Pennsylvania (ESEP)
announced that it has been accredited by the
Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation
Facilities (CARF) for a period of three years.
CARF is an independent, not-for-profit accrediting
body that has established consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve
the quality of their programs and services.
Pennsylvania College of Technology's bachelor
degree nursing and certificate practical nursing
majors have received full accreditation from the
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
By earning the designation, those two majors join
the College's associate-degree nursing
major, which has been fully accredited by the NLNAC
since 1993.
Achievements
East Penn Manufacturing, Lyon Station, proudly
accepted the 2002 CARQUEST Outstanding Order Fill
Award on March 26. In qualifying for this award, East
Penn achieved a 96.4 percent rate in timely and
accurate order filling. East Penn supplies battery
accessories for CARQUEST auto parts stores including battery cables and terminal protection products,
delivering to approximately 40 distribution centers.
East Penn is able to provide accurate and on-time
deliveries utilizing its extensive distribution capabilities.
The Inn at Turkey Hill has received Wine Spectator
magazine’s “award of excellence” for its 2003 wine
list. The Inn at Turkey Hill is a country-style inn located at Exit 236 off of I 80 in Bloomsburg. Wine
Spectator magazine’s award of excellence is given to
restaurants that offer a wine list that includes wines
appropriate to its cuisine and an ambience that
appeals to a wide range of wine lovers. The award of
excellence designates lists that offer a well-chosen
selection of quality wine producers, as well as thematic match to the menu in both price and style.
Also, the Inn at Turkey Hill has also been accepted
into the Select Registry of Distinguished Inns of
North America. Select Registry is an association of
over 400 inns and bed-and-breakfasts throughout
the United States and Canada. “Preference, distinction, choice and authenticity” establish members as
select properties that exceed expectations when it
comes to lodging. Visit innatturkeyhill.com or call
(570) 387-1500.
Larson Design Group Inc. (LDG) environmental sciences department head Jonathan R. Klotz presented
at the recent World Water and Environmental
Resources Congress 2003 in Philadelphia. His presentation, “What is Fluvial Geomorphology? What is
Natural Channel Design?” provided an overview of
this special science of stream channel restoration.
Fluvial geomorphology applies engineering, geology,
biology, hydrology, soil science, and other specific
disciplines to work naturally with streams instead of
controlling them. Klotz also presented, “Stream
Restoration in an Urban Park Setting,” which
explored the use of fluvial geomorphology in the
restoration of Miller’s Run in Loyalsock
Township.LDG is headquartered in Williamsport.
Jeffrey Metz, vice president of operations for
Northeast Restaurant Group, was honored by the
Pennsylvania Restaurant Association as a state winner for the fifth annual Restaurant Neighbor Award.
Northeast Restaurant Group is a licensed T.G.I.,
Friday’s Inc. franchisee that operates nine Friday’s
restaurants in Wilkes-Barre, Quakertown and
Williamsport, Pennsylvania and Toms River, Atlantic
City, Brick, Somers Point, Manahawkin and
Turnersville, New Jersey. The Restaurant Neighbor
Award is a national program established by the
National Restaurant Association to honor and recognize restaurateurs for outstanding community involvement and to inspire other restaurant operators and
owners to do what they can in their respective communities.For more information, visit
www.tgifridays.com.
Shamokin area entrepreneur Linda Procopio was
on the speaker's podium with the director of the
Pennsylvania Department of Community and
Economic Development, Dennis Yablonsky, at
Bucknell University's Small Business and
Development Center (SBDC) 25th Anniversary
Celebration August 11. Procopio, managing partner
of Procopio and Associates Fundraising, is celebrating her own corporate anniversary in August; it’s
been one year since she established her company.
Procopio and Associates Fundraising specializes in
raising funds and writing grant proposals for nonprofit initiatives in the area. Procopio's speech at the
SBDC Anniversary Celebration detailed her struggle
to make her fledgling company profitable. It will also
allowed her to publicly thank the SBDC for their help
in providing her with legal, accounting, and marketing
assistance in the early months of the company's
founding.
Outstanding product knowledge and client service
have enabled George R. Shadie, of New York Life
Insurance, Wilkes-Barre, to earn membership in the
prestigious Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT).
Shadie, is a nine-year MDRT member. He is also an
assistant director of the PGA Committee, which oversees the operations of the annual meeting.
Achieving membership in MDRT is a distinguishing
career milestone, attained only by those who have
demonstrated exceptional professional knowledge,
expertise and client service. The Round Table’s
membership represents the top life insurance and
financial service professionals worldwide.
MaTech (Machining Technologies) Inc., a firm that
sponsors internships for Pennsylvania College of
Technology students and employs five Penn College
graduates, was presented with a “Mentorship
Award” on August 9 at Summer Commencement ceremonies. Representatives of the Hebron, Md.-based
company, which manufactures machined parts,
assemblies and subassemblies for the defense,
microwave telecommunications and poultry-automation industries, were honored at the ceremonies in
the Community Arts Center in Williamsport. The
Mentorship Award, which was established in 2002,
recognizes alumni and businesses that have made a
significant or ongoing contribution to the education
and development of Penn College students. MaTech
has sponsored internships for Penn College students
since 1999 - as many as six per summer. This program recently expanded to include interns from other
institutions, including The Pennsylvania State
University. Penn College is a special-mission affiliate
of Penn State. For more information about Penn
College, visit www.pct.edu on the Web or call tollfree, (800) 367-9222.
The recent bartender championships, held at all
Northeast Restaurant Group-owned T.G.I. Friday’s,
were a resounding success—raising more than
$28,000 for various charities. Northeast Restaurant
Group, owned by Metz Enterprises, is a licensed
T.G.I. Friday’s, Inc. franchisee that operates Friday’s
restaurants in Toms River, Atlantic City, Brick,
Somers Point, Manahawkin and Turnersville, New
Jersey as well as Wilkes-Barre, Quakertown and
Williamsport. The list of champions, along with the
money raised for their charity, includes: Rob Bakunas
of the Wilkes-Barre location with $8,000 raised for
the Make a Wish Foundation; Joel Albert of the
Williamsport location with $3,700 raised for the
Make a Wish Foundation; Henry Hufnage of the
Quakertown location with $2,800 raised for Make a
Wish Foundation; Fran Kramer of the Toms River,
New Jersey location with $5,000 raised for Dover
Township Police Vest-A-Cop; Brian Harris of the Brick,
New Jersey location with $3,500 raised for Brick
Vest-A-Cop; Dan Rooney, the recent winner of corporate T.G.I. Friday’s Best Flair Bartender in the USA,
of the Somers Point, New Jersey location with
$2,200 raised for the March of Dimes; Jay Morris of
the Atlantic City, New Jersey location with $1,500
raised for the March of Dimes, and Raun Lynch of
the Turnersville, New Jersey location with $1,500
raised for the American Cancer Society. The cancer
society will in turn present the money raised at the
Turnersville location to a former Friday’s employee
who had to leave work to take care of her husband
who has been diagnosed with cancer. Turnersville
and Somers Point also held a tandem team bartender competition, and the winners were Erin
Morrone and Paul Soltys in Turnersville and Dan and
Ken Rooney in Somers Point.
A soldier in the Communications Security and
Tactical Missile Systems Directorate at Tobyhanna
Army Department has been named the U.S. Army
Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM)
Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year (fiscal
year 2003).Sgt. William Tucker, a communications
security repair technician, earned the award after
winning CECOM Soldier of the Quarter (1st quarter,
fiscal year 2003). A native of Jackpot, Nev., Tucker
graduated from Jackpot High School in 1997 and
has been a soldier for five years. He began his
depot tour in March 2002.
Tree Design Studios Inc. of Wilkes-Barre captured
one Silver and two Gold awards at the District II
American Advertising Federation’s recent ADDY
Awards. With 60,000 entries, the ADDY Awards are
the nation’s largest advertising competition, honoring creative excellence in advertising across all
media. District Two of the American Advertising
Federation held its ADDY competition with entrants
from New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington,
D.C., New Jersey and Delaware. As a District winner,
Tree Design Studios will now go on to compete in
the national competition. Tree Design was awarded a
Gold ADDY in the Out-of-Home/Campaign category
for it’s on-site billboard style, Arena Advertising for
the Black Rock Brewery. Tree Design won a second
Gold ADDY in the Interactive Web site/B2B category
for it’s design of an animated Flash Web site titled
“SHELFWorks” for Trion Industries, Inc. The Web site
showcased the functionality of Trion’s newest product line. The Agency was also awarded Silver ADDY
in the Mixed Media Campaign/Local category for it’s
outdoor and newspaper advertising campaign titled
“Imagine That” for the Lackawanna County Library
System. Tree Design Studios, Inc. is a full-purpose,
multi-media advertising agency that services an
array of local and national clients in a variety of
industries. For more information on Tree Design
Studios, visit www.treedesign.com
www.treedesign.com/ or call 800-TREE-987.
For the second consecutive year, The University of
Scranton has been selected as one of the “most
interesting colleges” in the nation by a publication
that offers students an “unbiased” guide to their college selection. The University of Scranton is profiled
in the 2004 edition of Kaplan Publishing’s The
Unofficial, (Un)biased, Insider’s Guide to the 328
Most Interesting Colleges, by Trent Anderson and
Seppy Basili. The university is one of just 25 colleges in Pennsylvania to be profiled in this year’s
guide. The publication surveys students, recent graduates, guidance counselors and college administrators to compile an inside look of select colleges from
a range of perspectives. The University of Scranton
has been nationally recognized for quality by U.S.
News & World Report as one of the top 10 finest
comprehensive universities in the north for nine consecutive years – fourth in the 2003 edition. In 2002,
the Princeton Review added The University of
Scranton to its list of the nation’s “Best 345
Colleges.”
Bank Notes
Dimeco Inc. (Nasdaq “DIMC”), parent company of
The Dime Bank, reported earnings of $1,845,000
for the six months ended June 30, representing an
increase of 20.3 percent over the $1,534,000
reported for the same period in 2002. Net interest
income increased 7.8 percent during the first half of
2003 versus the same period in 2002. Earnings per
share increased $.32 or 16.0 percent, to $2.32 per
share. In addition, dividends declared year to date
increased 7.5 percent over the same period last
year to $.86 per share. The market value of Dimeco,
Inc. shares grew 29.7 percent to $57.05 per share
at June 30, 2003 from $44 per share at June 30,
2002. The company continued to experience growth
over the past year, with total assets of
$291,577,000 at June 30, 2003, representing an
increase of $31,134,000 or 12.0 percent. During
this time, deposits increased $29,742,000 or 13.8
percent while the loan portfolio increased
$37,001,000 or 22.0 percent. Return on average
assets and return on average stockholders’ equity
were strong at 1.32 percent and 14.51 percent for
the first half of 2003. Asset performance was
strong with the ratio of nonperforming assets to total
assets decreasing 35.7 percent to .27 percent at
June 30, 2003.
George H. Groves, chairman and chief executive
officer, announced the second quarter 2003 financial results for the Legacy Bank. Consolidated net
income rose 13 percent over the same period in
2002, its third consecutive quarter of earnings. For
the three months ended June 30, 2003 earnings
were $157,000 or $.06 per basic and dilative
shares compared to $139,000 or $.10 per basic
and dilative shares for the same period in 2002. Net
income before taxes for the three months ended
June 30, 2003 was $97,000, an increase of
$123,000 over the same period in 2002. For the six
months ended June 30, 2003 net income rose 15
percent or $263,000 over the same period in 2002.
Luzerne National Bank Corporation, Luzerne,
announced a second quarter dividend of $.08 per
share as of June 12. William V. Leandri, president
and CEO of Luzerne National Bank Corp., also
reported net earnings of $291,000 for the quarter
ending June 30, 2003.
Northeast Pennsylvania Financial Corp., the holding company for First Federal Bank, announced it will
be restating its prior period earnings for the fiscal
years from 1998-2002 and for the December 2002
and March 2003 quarters to reflect the correction of
errors in the accounting for the indirect auto loan
portfolio. The company estimates that the restatements will reduce the company’s capital as of March
31, 2003 and aggregate net earnings from these
prior periods by approximately $3 million. E. Lee
Beard, president and CEO, noted that the recently
identified errors resulted primarily from a computer
program coding error that impacted the calculation of
interest income earned on its indirect auto loans.
The June 2003 quarter earnings guidance discussed
below reflects the proper interest earnings rate for
these loans. The company is working to complete
the quantification of the errors and to submit an
amended form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
September 2002 and amended forms 10-Q for the
December 2002 and March 2003 quarters. Until
such amendments are filed, the company’s previously filed periodic annual and quarterly reports, including financial statements and auditors’ reports thereon, should not be relied upon. This restatement has
no impact on NEPF or First Federal’s cash flow and
the bank is well capitalized under regulatory capital
requirements. The accounting errors do not impact
any loan customer. The bank’s deposits continue to
be insured by the FDIC. Management affirmed that
the accounting errors that led to the restatement
were unintentional. Management believes that no
other similar system errors have occurred which
have not been detected by the company’s system of
internal controls. Staffing, system and procedural
changes have been and continue to be made to
ensure such errors do not occur in the future. The
company also announced it expects to report later
this week a net loss of approximately $1 million for
the three months ended June 30, 2003 and net
income of approximately $700,000 for the fiscal
year to date. These earnings include the impact of
an impairment loss recognized during the quarter of
$1.5 million for its investment in Builders First
Holdings Inc. No tax benefit has been recognized for
the current impairment loss. NEPF purchased $2 million of convertible preferred stock in Builders First,
headquartered in Greenville, S.C., in fiscal 2000.
Pre-tax losses of $500,000 had been recognized by
NEPF previously. The small builder, multi-state lending program of Builders First continues to operate,
however, efforts to raise additional equity capital
have proven unsuccessful. The Builders First contract with an investment banker seeking to raise
additional capital expired during the June quarter.
First Federal’s loans originated through the Builders
First program have been repaid with no losses. The
bank is no longer a lender for this program.
Northeast Pennsylvania Financial Corp. is the holding
company of First Federal Bank, Higgins Insurance
Associates Inc., Abstractors Inc. and Northeast
Pennsylvania Trust Co. The company, through its
subsidiaries, serves northeastern and central
Pennsylvania through its 16 full service community
office locations, three financial centers and a loan
production office.
George H. Groves, Chairman and CEO and Thomas
W. Lennox, President of The Legacy Bank (OTC-BB:
LBOH) jointly announced receipt of Preferred Lender
Program status by the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA). The Preferred Lender Program
or “PLP” status is the highest designation awarded
by the SBA. The designation is granted to the SBA’s
best participating lenders, who will receive faster
service from the SBA, have their lending portfolio
periodically examined by the SBA and ensure a
streamlined loan application, underwriting and decision process. In 2002, the Legacy Bank settled 17
SBA guaranteed loans totaling $3,441,000. To date
in 2003, the Legacy Bank is currently ranked 20th in
loan volume for the SBA’s Philadelphia region.
First Columbia Bank and Trust Company accepted
two new college graduates from Bloomsburg
University’s class of 2003 into its management training program. The two graduates began work June 2
and each had previously been marketing interns at
the bank. First Columbia’s management training program is a blend of on-the-job experience and classroom training, structured to allow creativity and flexibility in scheduling. Trainees rotate through assignments in key business departments and work on
special projects. The graduates are Katrina Callahan
of Wellsboro and Christopher Kier of Danbury, Conn.
First Columbia Bank and Trust Company reported
total assets in excess of $226 million as of June
30. It operates seven community branch offices in
Columbia County and can be found at
firstcolumbia.com.
Bankruptcies
(Definitions: In accordance with the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code, in a Chapter 7, an appointed
trustee takes ownership of the debtor’s assets to
determine whether any assets are available for liquidation to pay creditors; in a Chapter 11, a debtor,
usually a corporation, in order to repay a debt, develops a reorganization plan; in a Chapter 12, debt-burdened family farmers file a repayment plan to satisfy
debt; in a Chapter 13, a debtor, having regular
income, with less than $750,000 in secured debts
and $250,000 in unsecured debts, must file an
installment plan lasting no longer than five years to
repay creditors. In Chapters 11, 12 and 13, the
debtor’s plan must be approved by the U.S.
Bankruptcy Court, U.S. Trustees Office and the
debtor’s creditors.
Abbreviations: a-k-a - also known as; d-b-a - doing
business as; f-d-b-a - formerly doing business as; f-t-a
- formerly trading as; p-d-b-a - previously doing business as; t-a - trading as.
Bankruptcy cases listed in the Business Journal
are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle
District of Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre division of the
court.
Chapter 7
Case: 53557. Weir Mountain Transportation Inc.,
R.R. 3, Box 3489, Saylorsburg, Pa. 18353. Filed:
July 24, 2003.
Case: 53746. Chardonnay Inc., R.R. #6, Box
6003, East Stroudsburg, Pa. 18301. Filed: Aug. 5,
2003.
Case: 53894. Capital Computer Concepts Inc.,
P.O. Box 58, Long Pond, Pa. 18334-0058. Filed:
Aug. 11, 2003.
Business Notes
Breast cancer survivors can send a powerful message of hope through the "Gallery of Hope," an
inspiring pantheon of photographic portraits commissioned by Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
By participating in the Gallery of Hope, survivors
symbolically encourage others to fight breast cancer.
Through their portraits they advocate early detection
and treatment, and greater efforts at discovering a
scientific cure. Blue Cross annually commissions
portraits of breast cancer survivors for the Gallery of
Hope. Each professionally produced portrait
includes the survivor's photograph and a heartfelt
personal story. Honorees are recognized during the
annual Blue Cross reception held at the F.M. Kirby
Center for the Performing Arts in Wilkes-Barre. This
year's special guest is singer Natalie Cole. The
gallery is displayed at various venues following the
event. More than 70 breast cancer survivors have
volunteered for the Gallery of Hope during the past
four years. To be recognized in the Gallery of Hope,
write to Marlene Hogrebe, Blue Cross of
Northeastern Pennsylvania Community Relations, 19
N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, or call (570) 200-6302.
The Devereux Pocono Center Advisory Board
elected officers and approved the addition of a new
member at its recent Annual Advisory Board meeting
at the Sterling Inn in Newfoundland. The following
officers were elected: G. Richard Garman, of
Mountaintop, president; Barkley Stuart of Dallas,
Texas vice president; and Michael Peifer of
Greentown, secretary. Garman is director of Planned
Giving for Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale.
Stuart is executive vice president and chief operating
officer of Glazer’s, a wholesale distributors of wines
and spirits in 10 central U. S. states. Peifer is a certified public accountant and is the treasurer for the
County of Pike. Joining the Advisory Board as a new
member is Janet Hunter of San Diego. Hunter and
her husband are parents of a learning disabled adult
daughter who resides and works at the Devereux
Pocono Center. The other two Pocono Center staff
members of the Advisory Board are executive director, Mary F. Seeley, and director of development,
Jack Dennis. Today the Devereux Foundation consists of centers in 12 states and the District of
Columbia offering a comprehensive system of care
to children, adults and families with special needs
that derive from behavioral, intellectual, psychological or neurological impairments. The Pocono Center,
one of four centers in Pennsylvania, provides a wide
range of treatment services to its clients who come
from areas throughout the United States. For more
information on the Pocono Center or the Devereux
Foundation, contact Jack Dennis at (570) 676-3417.
Double Diamond Companies Inc., owner and operator of Eagle Rock Resort in Hazleton has
announced the development of a hotel with related
amenities. The lodge at Eagle Rock is tentatively
scheduled to open on Labor Day Weekend. Nestled
within the beautiful backdrop of the Blue Mountains,
Eagle Rock will boast the finest resort facilities in
the region. Each guestroom is over-sized and
equipped with a cozy fireplace, a bathroom with
his/hers sinks, a separate tub and shower and a private balcony with spectacular views. "We will open
our doors as the most luxurious hotel in Northeast
Pennsylvania," says Peter Bonell, Sr., vice president
of hospitality for Double Diamond. "It is our intention
to offer the area a first class resort that will attract
ground-breaking opportunities for the area and it’s
businesses," Bonell says. The initial phase will
include 46 deluxe rooms, a full-service salon and
spa and a state of the art fitness center. Located
adjacent to the hotel will be a swimming pool with a
bathhouse and lighted tennis courts expected to be
completed in the spring of 2004. Under construction
as well, is a full service driving range. Phase two
will include an additional 46 guestrooms plus a conference center for meetings and banquets. The Spa
at Eagle Rock will also hold its grand opening on
Labor Day weekend. The spa will offer an array of
services including hair cuts, styles and colors, manicures and pedicures, Massages, facials, skin treatments, tanning beds and much more. Also, inside
the relaxing spa is a state-of-the-art fitness center
with weight training and cardiovascular equipment
and a separate room for aerobics. Eagle Rock
Resort has an 18-hole championship golf course, 14
lighted ski slopes, snow tubing, an equestrian center
with trail rides and boarding and many more exciting
activities. It offers corporate rates, group packages,
spa, golf and ski getaways, banquets and more.
Call (570) 384-1378 for more information. Double
Diamond Companies Inc. was formed in 1972 and is
headquarter in Dallas, Texas. The company is recognized throughout the resort industry for its first-class
resorts, challenging golf courses, beautiful amenities
and professional service. Double Diamond’s portfolio includes over 10,000 acres of land including
White Bluff Resort on Lake Whitney in Texas, The
Cliffs Resort on Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas, The
Retreat in Cleburne, Texas and Eagle Rock Resort in
Hazleton. For additional information, contact Kelly
Beres at Double Diamond Companies (214) 7069893 or kberes@ddresorts.com, or Lloyd Williams,
general manager at Eagle Rock Resort at (570) 3841378 or Lwilliams@eaglerockresort.com
The Executive Women’s Golf Association, (EWGA)
Stroudsburg chapter has elected its officers for the
2004 season. They are: Wendy S. Roeber, president;
Linda P. Wasser, vice president; Wanda A. Hunter,
secretary; and Lynda N. Moscatello, treasurer.
Founded in 1994, EWGA is now in its second decade
of promoting the growth of women’s golf with over
16,000 members nationwide. The local Stroudsburg
chapter has more than 200 members with Mountain
Manor Golf Club in Marshalls Creek serving as host
club. Weekly play is held every Wednesday at 5:30
p.m. Clinics and various events are held throughout
the year. Information can be obtained via the Web
site, www.ewgastroudsburg.com. The national office
can be viewed at www.ewga.com.
The Innovation Center@Wilkes-Barre has named
its advisory board. Board members are: Chris
Alexander, King's College; Matt Alferio, First
Insurance Center; Dr. Jeffrey Alves, Kirby Center for
Free Enterprise; John Augustine, Innovation Center
@Wilkes-Barre; John Blake, Gov. Rendell's northeast
office; Frouke de Quillettes, Penn State Wilkes-Barre;
Tom Druby, Blue Cross; Jerry Ephault, Ben Franklin
Technology Partners; Kevin Foley, KKB; Dr. Tim
Gilmour, Wilkes University; Chris Haran, Great Valley
Technology Alliance Institute; Jim Hilsher, Mericle
Commercial Real Estate; Ruth Hughes, Wilkes
University SBDC; Atty. Joe Kluger, Hourigan Kluger
Quinn; Mary Ann Lambert, M&T Bank; Tom Mailey,
incubator consultant; Bob Max, NEPA Alliance; Chris
Mencer, Penn State Hazleton; Paul Moran, King's
College; Larry Newman, Urban Workshop; Atty. Lee
Piatt, Rosenn, Jenkins & Greenwald; Philip Santarelli,
Parente Randolph; Catherine Shafer, CDS Creative;
John Sumansky, College Misericordia; Alan Wilcox,
Luzerne County Community College; and Ed Yencha,
PNC Bank.
Leadership Lackawanna is accepting registrations
for the Executive Program. Sponsored by
Leadership Lackawanna, the Executive Program is
designed to assist new area residents in making a
knowledgeable transition to living in the community,
and assist new executives develop a network of business contacts. The program is open to public and
private sector professionals/key executives who
have either recently moved to the greater
Scranton/Lackawanna County area or have recently
been promoted to an executive level position.
Executives who have recently returned to the region
are also encouraged to apply. Applicants should be
interested in learning how Lackawanna County functions and be committed to enhancing the area's
economy and quality of life. Through five weekly sessions, the participants have an opportunity to meet
key business and community leaders and to receive
an extensive overview of the area's history, economic and political structures, cultural affairs, and
leisure amenities.Sessions are in September and
October of 2003. Each seminar consists of at least
two presentations that are facilitated by well-known
experts in a variety of fields. All programs include
cocktails and gourmet dinner. The series is limited to
10 executive professional participants and their
spouses or guests, and tuition is $650. To register,
please contact Christina Fenton at (570) 342-7711,
or at cfenton@scrantonchamber.com. Brochures are
available at the Chamber, 222 Mulberry Street,
Scranton. For more information, log on to www.leadershiplackawanna.com.
In an effort to resolve the critical nursing shortage
in the Northern Tier counties, Pennsylvania College
of Technology is seeking approval from the
Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing to offer a practical nursing program at its North Campus near
Wellsboro beginning later this year. The initial
approval for the program has been received. The proposed 12-month vocational program will be scheduled Mondays-Thursdays for students who choose to
work part-time while attending school. Clinical experiences will take place at Soldiers and Sailors
Memorial Hospital and the Green Home, Wellsboro,
as well as other area healthcare sites. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to take
the practical nursing National Council licensure exam
for full licensure as a licensed practical nurse. For
more information about the proposed practical nursing program at the North Campus, call (570) 7247703.
Pennsylvania College of Technology’s School of
Transportation Technology acquired four donated
vehicles recently that will be used for instructional
and transportation purposes. Toyota Motor Sales
U.S.A. Inc. is donating a 2003 Camry LE and a 2003
Corolla. The college also will receive a Dodge 1500
truck from Daimler Chrysler and a 2003 Econovan
from Ford Motor Co. For more information about the
automotive programs at Penn College, call (570)
327-4516, send e-mail to transportation@pct.edu, or
visit www.pct.edu/schools/tt/ on the Web.
Traffic safety, mass transit, aviation and highway
construction will be among the numerous issues
considered in central Pennsylvania’s long-range
transportation plan, which SEDA-COG is currently
developing. According to SEDA-COG’s Jim McAllister,
program director for transportation and public safety,
“The plan will not only encompass every aspect of
transportation in the region, it will address the relationships between them — rail freight and highway
freight, transportation systems here and their connections to other parts of the state. For instance,
there are fresh-water ports in Erie and Pittsburgh
and the Port of Philadelphia is a major departure
point for overseas freight. What can we do in central
Pennsylvania to improve our companies’ access to
these ports?” In terms of airline service, the longrange plan will consider use patterns of air travelers.
McAllister said, “We need to know why so many people in our region use the Baltimore/Washington
Continues on page 55
Saturday, November 15, 2003, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
at the Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center at
Kings College
Are you in business?
Are your customers
women of discriminating taste?
Yes? Then this event's for you!
For a luxurious, upscale event...that's intimate, interactive and fun, we've
created an elegant environment that will be the perfect setting to
present your products or services to our attendees.
Exhibitor space and Sponsorship Opportunities
available.
Why exhibit? Meet your target customers
face to face, improve top-of-mind awareness and
get in on this prestigious annual event that is
heavily promoted in multiple media outlets.
Event Features:
* Inspiring Roundtable Discussions
on a variety of topics: Eldercare,
Parenting, Depression, Personal
Growth, Overcoming Adversity
and many more!
*Beauty Makeover Advice
*Massages
* Health Screenings
* And more!!!
Call (570) 602-1175
for an Exhibitor Prospectus
or visit www.wvia.org
R e g i o n a l
B
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I
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F
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B u s i n e s s
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Foundation seeks new chief executive
Donating used cell phones aids VRC
Victims Resource Center (VRC) is
launching a new fundraising effort to offset funding cutbacks for the upcoming
fiscal year.Through this new program,
used cell phones are collected and
turned into Shelter Alliance, which then
reimburses VRC up to $10 per phone.
The proceeds received will help VRC
meet its mission of providing crisis intervention and ongoing services for victims
of crime in Wyoming County.
Vicki Prekel and Miranda Tagliaterra, volunteers at VRC, have organized this project by designing flyers, creating boxes for
phone collection, and contacting businesses and organizations to request participation. Businesses that are willing to
have a phone collection box placed in
their establishment can contact VRC at
(570) 836-5544.Anyone who has a used
cell phone to donate can look for the
boxes in area businesses or drop it off at
119 Warren Street,Tunkhannock.
Victims Resource Center provides a myriad
of confidential services including support
groups, counseling, advocacy, and a 24-hour
hotline for victims of crimes and prevention
education programs for the community.VRC
is a member agency of the Wyoming County
United Way. For more information about
Victims Resource Center, please call (570)
836-5544 or visit www.vrcnepa.org.Above,
left to right, are Miranda Tagliaterra,Vicki
Prekel and Heidi Morgan.
Tobyhanna tenant activity holds ribbon-cutting
A ribbon-cutting ceremony held June 19 officially launched the opening of the Army
Intermodal and Distribution Platform Management Office (AIDPMO) in the Logistics
Support Activity Packaging, Storage and Containerization Center (LOGSA PSCC).
LOGSA PSCC is a tenant activity, located at Tobyhanna Army Depot. The AIDPMO alleviates a readiness shortfall by serving as the single manager for all Army-owned containers, flatracks and distribution platforms, explained Brig. Gen. J.A. Mangual during
his opening remarks. Mangual is the Department of the Army’s director of Force
Projection and Distribution. LOGSA PSCC also celebrated its 40th anniversary this
year, pointed out Niels Biamon, deputy for current operations at the U.S. Army
Materiel Command (AMC), another guest speaker at the event. Other dignitaries in
attendance for the grand opening ceremony included Thomas Edwards, deputy to the
commander, U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command; Col. Kurt Weidenthal II,
commander, AMC LOGSA; Nelson Chandler and Don Stump,Transportation and
Distribution Division, Army G-4;and Oscar Lollis, former director of LOGSA PSCC.
The Williamsport-Lycoming Foundation
announced “with regret” that its president
and chief executive officer, Kimberley
Pittman-Schulz, will be stepping down
from her post by mid-November.
Pittman-Schulz relocated from the West
Coast nearly seven years ago to accept
her role as the first paid executive of this
87-year old community foundation, and
has been offered the opportunity to
return to Washington.
The foundation’s board of directors will
begin a search for a new chief executive
shortly. During Pittman-Schulz’s tenure,
the foundation has expanded from a
community foundation serving primarily
Lycoming County into a regional
resource serving the philanthropic needs
of a seven-county area.
While stock market conditions have
impacted the foundation’s charitable
portfolio in recent years, it has benefited
from tremendous support from its
donors, with the number of funds under
management growing from 85 in 1997 to
more than 200 current funds established
for a wide range of community benefit
purposes. During that time, annual grantmaking and charitable distributions for
community needs and priorities more
than doubled.With assets in excess of
$42 million, the Williamsport-Lycoming
Foundation remains one of the largest
community foundations in the nation in
relation to the population that it serves.
“It has been a pleasure and an honor to
work with Kimberley. She has been a
driving force in working with the board
and staff to raise the professionalism and
philanthropic impact of our community
foundation,” says Carol Sides, vice chair of
the foundation’s board of directors. “She
will be greatly missed, but we respect
and understand her personal decision to
return to the West.”
Pittman-Schulz
“It is with mixed emotions that my husband and I prepare to move on,” says
Pittman-Schulz.“However, I have been
blessed to work with a dedicated board,
and I have had the opportunity to engage a
caring group of professional staff to work
side by side with me in serving the community. I’m leaving the foundation in the
very capable hands of a knowledgeable
staff and board of directors until the next
chief executive is appointed.”
Pittman-Schulz will conclude her
responsibilities by mid-November to
become the president of the Clark
College Foundation in Vancouver,
Washington. With assets of approximately
$52 million, the Clark College Foundation
is the largest single-campus community
college foundation in the country.
For additional information about
the Williamsport-Lycoming
Foundation, call (570) 321-1500, or
visit www.wlfoundation.org.
Metz receives ‘Golden Wishbone’ award from Make-A-Wish
Jeffrey Metz, vice president of operations for T.G.I. Friday’s Restaurants, was recently
presented The Golden Wishbone award by Jessie Hardy, president and CEO, Make-AWish Foundation of Northeastern Pennsylvania. This award is the foundation’s highest
honor and represents Metz’s and TGI Friday’s commitment and dedication above and
beyond that of others to the organization’s mission and the children it serves.
Seen at the presentation were, left to right, Metz, Hardy and Art Owens, director of
program services, Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Continued from page 53
International Airport. In planning for the future,
should it be easier to get to airports in Harrisburg
and Philadelphia? We also want to look at the role of
airports in State College and Williamsport.”
Completion of the long-range plan is expected to
take 12 to 18 months, at a total cost of $90,000, of
which $72,000 is being provided by the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the
Federal Highway Administration. The balance will be
met through local matching funds and in-kind services.
The Sunbury Hill Neighborhood Task Force has
begun to develop its strategic action plan. The task
force is part of the Sunbury City Visions project,
being coordinated through SEDA-COG’s Community
Resource Center. Sunbury’s identified strengths are
its historic significance and the city’s friendliness
and spirit. Task force members are considering a
new name for the neighborhood which extends from
8th Street to the waterworks behind Sunbury
Community Hospital and from Wolverton Street to
the Pomfret Manor Cemetery.
Store Depot Inc., a store supply distribution company has opened in Northumberland County. Place
an order by 4 p.m. ET and receive it next morning
(based on one day regular ground UPS delivery
area). The Depot’s warehouse is stocked with items
to help business owners provide the best possible
service to their customers such as, hangers, display
cases, paper and plastic bags, jewelry displayers,
accessories and boxes, tagging guns and fasteners,
gift wrap and accessories — to name a few. “We are
your one stop source,” says Walt Lutz, president of
Store Depot Inc. “Talk with a person, not an answering machine.” Visit the Depot’s Web site at
www.storedepotinc.com. Orders can be placed on
this secure site. Store Depot Inc. accepts all major
credit cards, money orders and checks. Call toll free,
1-866-643-3768. Fax orders to 866-640-3458.
TNT—The Northeast Theatre, has a new Web site.
For complete information on the Theatre's activities,
visit: www.thenortheasttheatre.org. The site is updat-
September Events
1
Deadline for community project submissions
for PO-NE (Pocono Northeast) awards. The PO-NE
awards are an annual event managed by the
Pocono Northeast Development Fund (PNDF) on
behalf of the NEPA Alliance that recognizes community development projects that have contributed to
enhancing the quality of life in the region. Categories include: Community Improvement; Cultural
Enrichment; Economic Development; Environmental
Action; Healthcare; Human Services; Media/
Special Events; and Recreation/Tourism. All past
winners whose projects are still in operation are
also encouraged to submit an update to be considered for a new commemorative award recognizing
the program's 25th anniversary. For more information, contact NEPA at (570) 655-5581.
1
Deadline for discount on booth space and
grant application for 2004 EUROSATORY: International exhibition for Land/Air Defense & Security
Forces in need of products and services for military protection and operations. Grants available to
cover costs. For more information, contact Michael
Horvath at the NEPA Alliance at (570) 655-5581.
8
Transportation Enhancement Program
Application Workshop. Program funding applications are now available for projects that have a
relationship to the surface transportation modes
(highway, transit, rails and trails) through the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) 2003-04 Transportation Enhancements
Program. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance
(NEPA) and representatives from PENNDOT will be
conducting a pre-application workshop for prospective applicants with projects located within Carbon,
Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, or Wayne Counties. The
workshop will be held at the Monroe County Public
Safety Center on Gypsum Road in Stroudsburg
from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Directions to this facility can
be found at www.monroeco911.com/oes-. htm. For
the workshop registration form and additional information about the 2003-04 Transpor-tation
Enhancements application, refer to www.dot.
state.pa.us. To register for the workshop, contact
Brian Langan, NEPA’s local government specialist
at (570) 655-5581, ext. 255, or e-mail langan@
nepa-alliance.org by Sept. 1. Registration forms
downloaded from the PENNDOT Web site, may be
faxed to NEPA at (570) 654-5137.
9
Alternative Medicine and Rehabilitation,
7 p.m. presented by Dr. Eric Petterson at the
Schuylkill Rehabilitation Center, 300 Schuylkill
Medical Plaza, Pottsville. Free and open to the public. Registration required. For more information, call
Schuylkill Rehabilitation Center at (570) 621-9500.
10
Plan to attend the Greater Wilkes-Barre
Chamber's Annual Economic Outlook Breakfast,
sponsored by PNC Bank, scheduled for September
10 at the Woodlands. Come and listen to featured
speaker Stuart Hoffman, senior vice president and
ed regularly.
Three depot employees will chair Tobyhanna Army
Depot's Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) underway this month. The federal government's annual
fund drive for local, national and international charities concludes in October. The depot's CFC committee has set a goal of $120, 000 for this year's drive,
says CFC chairman Randy Simpson. Co-chairing the
drive are Rose Gesell of Clifton and Laura Dumback
of Scranton. The mission of the CFC is to support
and promote philanthropy through a program that is
employee focused, cost efficient and effective in providing federal employees the opportunity to improve
the quality of life for all, said Simpson.
Certifications &
Licenses
East Penn’s metals division was recertified by the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) for its voluntary protection program (VPP). On
April 7-11, the metals division, for the second time,
achieved the elite STAR status. East Penn is the
first battery manufacturer nationwide to have any
part of its operation granted STAR recognition in the
OSHA VPP receiving the first certification in October
1999.
Joseph Manda, mechanical designer, for StrunkAlbert Engineering received his Pennsylvania
Professional Engineering (P.E.) license. The
Pennsylvania P.E. license can only be awarded to
those who serve at least a four-year internship under
another licensed PA P.E., has a college degree, and
successfully pass the daylong P.E. exam. Manda sat
for the exam in April and was awarded his license in
June. It was his first attempt to secure his license.
As a licensed professional he has the ability to seal
engineering drawings and is legally bound to the
integrity of the design. Manda has been employed by
Strunk-Albert Engineering for the past 12 years.
Strunk-Albert Engineering is a mechanical and electrical consulting firm located in East Stroudsburg.
chief economist for PNC Bank Corp, discuss our
local, state and national economy. Register and pay
online at www.wilkes-barre.org/calendar, or contact
Trish Wilk at the Chamber at (570) 823-2101.
11
NEPA Alliance Annual Dinner at the Hilton
Scranton & Conference Center in Scranton. Keynote speaker is Joe Battipaglia, executive vice
president and chief investment officer for Ryan,
Beck & Co.LLC. For more information, visit
www.nepa-alliance.org or call (570) 655-5581.
12
Marywood University’s Conflict Resolution
Institute is offering a certificate program in conflict
resolution. The first of the series of elective courses to achieve the certificate is Mutual Gains
Approach to Resolving Conflicts, offered on Friday,
September 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost of the
course is $100 if registered by September 5, and
$115 after September 5. For more information, call
(570) 348-6237.
15
Marywood University’s Conflict Resolution
Institute is offering a certificate program in conflict
resolution. The first of the series of required courses
to achieve the certificate is Conflict Management
and the Culture of Work, being taught by center
coordinator, Dr. Michael Iluzzi, beginning on
September 15 and continuing every Monday evening
until October 6. Cost of the course is $275 if registered by September 8, and $290 after September 8.
For more information, call (570) 348-6237.
15
Local runners who register for the
Steamtown Marathon before September 15 receive
$10 off the $55 entry fee. Runners interested in
competing in the eighth annual Steamtown
Marathon scheduled for Sunday, October 12 at 8
a.m. are encouraged to register for the race, which
is already quickly filling up to its capacity of 2,500.
To register, a runner can either go to the
marathon’s Web site, www.steamtownmarathon.com and register on-line using a credit card, or
use a printed version of the application from the
Web site and mail it to Steamtown Marathon, P.O.
Box 20126, Scranton, Pa. 18502. Wheelchair athletes must register by September 30. The
Steamtown Marathon benefits the medically fragile
children of St. Joseph’s Center, Scranton.
15 - 19
King's College and NEPA's Pocono
Northeast Development Fund are hosting The
Grantsmanship Center's five-day workshop
September 15-19, at King's College. The
Grantsmanship Center is the world's oldest and
largest grantsmanship training organization. The
program is a five-day intensive workshop that combines expert instruction with practical exercises
that take participants through the application
process step by step. The cost of the workshop is
$775 and includes a one-year membership in the
Grantsmanship Center along with proposal reviews
and access to funding databases covering foundation, corporate and government sources. Class size
is limited to 25. Registration can be done online at
www.tgci.com or by calling The Grantsmanship
Center at (800) 421-9512.For more information:
contact Marla Mensch, King's College, at (570)
Deeds
Columbia County
Wachovia Bank formerly known as: f-k-a First
Union Bank (TSTE). Property Location: Benton.
Seller: Michelle L. Cregar a-k-a Michelle L.
Grenewich. Price: $2,613.85.
Robert R. and Karen J. Hergan. Property Location:
Catawissa Twp. Seller: Frederick M. and Jacqueline
H. Long. Price: $239,900.
Wilburton United Methodist Church. Property
Location: Conyngham Twp. Seller: George and Anna
Barlow. Price: $2,000.
Gregory K. and Diane M. Fayock. Property
Location: Scott Twp. Seller: George J. and Mary Jo
Kuczynski. Price: $224,500.
Robert A. and Stacey Brunozzi Jr., Property
Location: Bloomsburg. Seller: Citifinancial Services
Inc. Price: $30,000.
MSY Investments LLC. Property Location:
Berwick, Seller: Penn Petroco Inc. Price:
$180,000.
Christopher R. and Christina M. Dorothy. Property
Location: Scott Twp. Seller: John F. and Irene C.
Kropiewnicki and Helen A. Heller. Price: $288,000.
Community Banks f-k-a Citizens National Bank.
Property Location: Locust Twp., Seller: Marie
Parkansky and Joseph A. Gaughan, Price:
$4,622.33.
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Inc. Property
Location: Hemlock Twp. Seller: William J. Petroski,
Price: $1,863.04.
First Columbia Bank & Trust Co., Property
Location: Berwick. Seller: James M. and Lori Ann
Palermo. Price: $4,681.42.
Conesco Financial Consumer Discount Co.,
Property Location: Berwick. Seller: Paul Robert and
Sherri Dawn Prueitt. Price: $3,812.86.
Charles E. and Patricia A. Porter. Property
Location: Cleveland Twp. Seller: United States of
America Farm Service Agency f-k-a Farmers Home
Administration United States Department of
Agriculture. Price: $102,000.
Patricia D. Kukorlo, Property Location:
Bloomsburg. Seller: Northwestern Human Services
of Pennsylvania. Price: $170,000.
Sandro M. and Christine W. Sorge. Property
Location: Bloomsburg. Seller: Columbia Montour
Council Boy Scouts of America. Price: $69,000.
Eric I. And Maryanne E. Weisel. Property Location:
Scott Twp. Seller: John C. and Marianne J.
Menapace. Price: $272,000.
John J. Hunter. Property Location: Beaver Twp.,
Seller: Yamulla Trucking & Excavating Co. Inc.
Price: $35,000.
Edward R. and Laura A. Gleeson. Property
Location: Cleveland Twp. Seller: Southern Columbia
Corp. Price: $24,900.
Richard L. and Joseph L. Barto. Property Location:
Benton. Seller: Federal National Mortgage Asso. ak-a Fannie Mae, Price: $37,000.
Charles E. and Patricia A. Porter. Property
Location: Cleveland Twp. Seller: United States of
America United States Department of Agriculture
Farm Service Agency f-k-a Farmers Home
Administration. Price: $112,000.
Keith W. and Carmen R. High. Property Location:
South Centre Twp. Seller: Knorr Contracting Inc.,
Price: $30,000.
Berwick Industrial Development Assoc. Inc.,
Property Location: Berwick. Seller: Deluxe Homes of
PA Inc. f-k-a Donald E. Meske Enterprises Inc.
Price: $1.
Deluxe Homes of PA Inc. Property Location:
Berwick and Briarcreek Twp. Seller: BID Assoc. Inc.
Price: $1.
George E. Zapata. Property Location: Locust Twp.
Seller: Wm. Specialty Mortgage LLC. Price:
$61,500.
Town of Bloomsburg. Property Location:
Bloomsburg. Seller: Warrior Run Holding Corp. and
Gaylen M. and Gertrude R. Gerrish. Price: $0
Route 11 Developers LLC. Property Location:
Scott Twp. Seller: Piano Family Limited Partnership
Continues next page
208-5900, ext. 5359, or The Grantsmanship
Center, (800) 421-9512.
S E P T E M B E R
Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce is
hosting a one-day Human Resource conference
scheduled for September 16 at the Fernwood
Resort & Country Club.The event will feature over
15 different HR-related topics and a luncheon discussion by regional employers of “Best Practices”
in Human Resources. The cost of the Human
Resource Conference is $85 and includes lunch.
Participants interested in attending only the luncheon can do so for $25. Reservations can be made
by contacting the Pocono Mountains Chamber of
Commerce at (570) 421-4433 or e-mail mconway@poconochamber.net. This conference is
designed to appeal to both the HR professional and
today’s CEO by integrating the Human Resource
application into business through workshops that
are based on everyday business situations.
S
16
16
The Brush Valley Regional Chamber of
Commerce announces its first annual “Brush
Valley Business Showcase.” Both members and
non-members are invited to participate in the
event. Vendor fees are based upon status as a
member and restaurants who will be giving away
free food samples will receive a deep discount.
Table and linens will be included with the vendor
fee, as well as a discount advertising package supplied by BILL 95FM, who will be promoting the
event on the radio two weeks prior and hosting a
live remote from the showcase. The event is open
to the public, admission is free. The event will be
held from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Team PA
Career Link Center, 2 E. Arch Street, Shamokin.
Contact the chamber office for vendor fees and
new member special rates by calling (570) 6484675 or e-mailing bvrc@minesurfer.com.
17
PALS Renewal offered by the Education
Department of Community Medical Center
Healthcare System, 1800 Mulberry Street,
Scranton. For more information or to register, call
(570) 969-8986.
17 & 18
Healthcare Provider CPR
course, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. offered by the
Education Department of Community Medical
Center Healthcare System. For more information or
to register, call (570) 969-8986.
18
End of Summer mixer at the Black Rock
Brewing Company, Wilkes-Barre, from 6-8 p.m.
sponsored by the Northeast Pa. Ad Club. The event
will feature brewery tours, hors d'ouevres, cash
bar. $17 member; $20 nonmembers. RSVP: Karen
Saunders, (570) 476-7435 by September. 12.
23
Healthcare Provider Renewal course,
6 p.m. to 10 p.m., offered by the Education
(570) 969-8986.
25
An upcoming one-day seminar, “The
Leadership Edge,” has been designed by Penn
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State to help supervisors and managers enhance
leadership skills. The seminar leaders are all highly
experienced members of Penn State’s
Management Development faculty. The seminar will
feature three program tracks, each containing four
focused skill-building sessions. Participants can
stay with one track or mix and match sessions
from different tracks. Track 1 — Working with and
through Others: Essential Skills; Track 2 —
Creating an Environment for Success: Team
Management Skills; Track 3 — Meeting the
Challenges of Leadership: Strengthening Personal
Skills. The conference will be held on Sept. 25, at
the East Mountain Business Center, WilkesBarre.For more information, or to register, visit
www.outreach.psu.edu/C&I/LeadershipEdge or call
800-PSU-TODAY (778-8632.)
24
Customer Service Workshop, from 1 p.m.
to 3 p.m. presented by Joan Simmons and sponsored by the Entrepreneurial Network-NEPA
Alliance, in the NEPA Conference Room, Oak
Street, Pittston. For more information, visit
www.nepa-alliance.org or call (570) 655-5581.
25
IV Therapy, offered by the Education
(570) 969-8986.
25 & 26
ACLS Provider offered by the
Education Department of Community Medical
Center Healthcare System, 1800 Mulberry Street,
(570) 969-8986.
28
Seventh annual AIDS Walk 2003, Public
Square, Wilkes-Barre. Registration 11:30 a.m.,
walk begins 1 p.m. For more information, call (570)
823-5808.
29
Luzerne County Community College’s
Foundation Scholarship Golf Tournament will take
place on Monday, September 29 at the Blue Ridge
Trail Golf Club, Mountaintop. The day begins at 11
a.m. and includes lunch, noon tee off. At 5:30
p.m. there will be cocktails, dinner, prizes and a
raffle. Foursomes cost $500; foursome and tee
sponsor, $600; foursome, tee and scholarship
sponsor, $1,600 or $1,100; scholarship sponsor
only, $1,000 or $500; dinner only, $50. Call (800)
377-LCCC, ex. 7331 for details. Deadline to register is September 12.
Price: $1.
Lackawanna County
• JOIN THE TEAM •
ADVERTISE WITH US!
Call Bill Brennan • Sales Manager
today at
570.207.8547
WEEKDAY LINEUP
ESPN Morning Show (6-10AM) — This is
undisputedly America’s finest morning sports-talk
show. Hosted by Mike Golic and ESPN/ESPN News
Anchor Mike Greenberg.
The Tony Kornheiser Show (10AM-1PM) —
Kornheiser is a top Washington Post journalist and a
well-known sports radio personality.
The Dan Patrick Show (1-4PM) — The Dan
Patrick Show features interviews with newsmakers
and celebrities, appearances by ESPN commentators,
reporters and analysts, and a breakdown of the days
hot topics with Patrick and his on-air sidekick Rob
Dibble.
ESPN Game Day (4-7PM) — Host Doug Brown
runs down the day’s sports headlines, chats with bigname newsmakers and ESPN analysts, and previews
the evening’s upcoming games.
ESPN Game Night (7PM-MID) — Live hosts will
report all game results. They’ll give you live on-scene
reports, previews, analysis, reviews and interviews
with the day’s top newsmakers.
wejl-wbax.com
Daniel Fedor. Property location: Waverly. Seller:
John Morano. Price: $290,000.
Joseph Saccon. Property location: Moosic. Seller:
Glenmaura. Price: $269,000.
Greg Potochnick. Property location: Moscow.
Seller: 1st Heritage Financial. Price: $330,000.
University of Scranton. Property location:
Scranton. Seller: Flo Rossi. Price: $300,000.
Stephen Brosky. Property location: Old Forge.
Seller: S. Paranich. Price: $275,000.
Chaudhari Family Ltd. Property location: Dunmore.
Seller: M. Glassman. Price: $890,000.
University of Scranton. Property location:
Scranton. Seller: I. Nudelman. Price: $395,000.
George Milarck. Property location: Archbald. Seller:
G.F. Errigo. Price: $234,000.
Kevin Hamel. Property location: Gouldsboro. Seller:
J. Lukaszewski. Price: $399,000.
Luzerne County
Alan Ryder. Property location: Butler Township.
Seller: Samuel Perta. Price: $249,900.
Curtis Mattingly. Property location: Jackson
Township. Seller: Heritage Hills Estates Inc. Price:
$350,000.
Voitek TV Sales and Service. Property location:
Kingston Borough. Seller: Luzerne Co. Industrial
Authority. Price: $227,000.
Stephen Rosenthal. Property location: Kingston
Borough. Seller: Glenn Panzer. Price: $209,000.
Jeffrey Trumm. Property location: Kingston
Borough. Seller: Terry Niemuth. Price: $279,000.
Auto Properties. Property location: Plains
Township. Seller: MW Land Inc. Price: $13,300,000.
William Dacey. Property location: Wright Township.
Seller: John Gardner. Price: $290,000.
Frederick Thompson. Property location: Butler
Township. Seller: Sand Springs Development. Price:
$240,000.
Thomas Hanson. Property location: Dallas
Borough. Seller: Michael Duncan. Price: $370,000.
Gregory Zumchak. Property location: Dallas
Township. Seller: Patrick Deats. Price: $226,000.
Robert Hines. Property location: Fairview Township.
Seller: Douglas Paull. Price: $241,500.
Thomas Hamill. Property location: Kingston
Borough. Seller: Carl Charnetski. Price: $293,500.
Steven Letts. Property location: Kingston Township.
Seller: Walter Boris. Price: $410,000.
Steven Distasio. Property location: Wright
Township. Seller: Evergreen Hill Estates Inc. Price:
$249,000.
James Culhane. Property location: Wright
Township. Seller: David Coldwell. Price: $257,500.
George Mehalshick. Property location: Black Creek
Township. Seller: Joseph Bott. Price: $300,000.
Augustus Diana. Property location: Dallas
Township. Seller: Phillip Kindler. Price: $212,000.
Chris Heiberg. Property location: Fairview
Township. Seller: Daniel McIntire. Price: $315,000.
Smejj Inc. Property location: Hazle Township.
Seller: Mary Louise Wright. Price: $650,000.
Mark Kingston. Property location: Kingston
Borough. Seller: John Kropp. Price: $660,000.
Mark Kingston. Property location: Kingston
Borough. Seller: Robert Blasé. Price: $200,000.
Northern Realty. Property location: Kingston
Borough. Seller: Louis Domiano. Price: $265,000.
Borough. Seller: Terry Niemuth. Price: $279,000.
Samuel Perta. Property location: Larksville
Borough. Seller: Robert Gill. Price: $215,000.
Karyn Hilderbrand. Property location: Larksville
Borough. Seller: Michael Duda. Price: $237,000.
Randall Walsh. Property location: Ross Township.
Seller: Lester Lynn. Price: $234,000.
Auto Properties. Property location: Wilkes-Barre.
Seller: MW Land Inc. Price: $13,300,000.
Richard Uter. Property location: Butler Township.
Seller: Sand Springs Development Corp. Price:
$230,355.
Terrance Herron. Property location: Dallas
Borough. Seller: Donald Rood. Price: $245,000.
Philip Pecuch. Property location: Duryea Borough.
Seller: Healey Development Co. Price: $220,000.
Michael Blazick. Property location: Fairview
Township. Seller: Steven Griffin. Price: $264,000.
Carl Charnetski. Property location: Harveys Lake
Borough. Seller: Ivar Berg. Price: $335,000.
Robert Sabella. Property location: Harveys Lake
Borough. Seller: James Miles. Price: $250,000.
Ganija Vucetovic. Property location: Hazleton City.
Seller: Edward Tenetti. Price: $350,000.
Andrea Sordoni. Property location: Jackson
Township. Seller: David Dillon. Price: $540,000.
Gwen Galasso. Property location: Jenkins
Township. Seller: Lamar Moll. Price: $310,000.
John Nardone. Property location: Lehman
Township. Seller: Frank Svec. Price: $420,000.
Michael Ell. Property location: Nanticoke City.
Seller: Henry Wasilewsi. Price: $240,000.
Carl Kotch. Property location: Sugarloaf Township.
Seller: Randy Ervin. Price: $ 225,000.
Scott Nicholson. Property location: Swoyersville
Borough. Seller: Howard Klein. Price: $285,000.
Monroe County
Martin Sagofsky. Property location: Jackson
Township. Seller: Meadow Run Builders Inc. Price:
$440,000.
Todd and Donna Levitt. Property location: Pocono
Township. Seller: Audrey and Thomas Barr Sr. Price:
$255,000.
Michael and Tracey Casavant. Property location:
Jackson Township. Seller: Mark and Rosemarie
Wingertzahn. Price: $295,000.
Violet Kata. Property location: Middle Smithfield
Township. Seller: August and Julia Merlina. Price:
$292,500.
Taykut and Tulin Aydin. Property location: Pocono
Township. Seller: Gaby Barriga. Price: $283,000.
Eddie and Mary Vanderhoof. Property location:
Stroud Township. Seller: Richard and Lorna David.
Price: $468,000.
Mountain Manor Inn Inc. Property location:
Smithfield Township. Seller: Robert Shinaman. Price:
$40,000.
Ridge Top Village Owners Assn. Inc. Property location: Smithfield Township. Seller: Travel Marketing
INC. (by sheriff). Price: $1,384.67.
Chelsea Pocono Holdings LLC. Property location:
Pocono Township. Seller: Outletter Associates LP,
Crossings Factory Stores LLC, Insalaco Pocono Inc.
Price $114,880,000 and $50,000.
NE Burger & Sons Inc. Property location: Polk
Township. Seller: New 1901 Corp. Price: $15,000.
Eileen and Steven Siegel Sr. Property location:
Hamilton Township. Seller: Wayne and Jacklynn
Willet. Price: $265,000.
Relocation Resources International Inc. Property
location: East Stroudsburg. Seller: Timothy and
Michelle Harrigan. Price: $269,000.
Ashleigh and Bina Dani. Property location: East
Stroudsburg. Seller: Relocation Resources
International Inc. Price: $269,900.
1723 West Main Street LP. Property location:
Hamilton Township. Seller: Edward Koehler. Price:
$260,000.
Thomas and Eileen McPartland. Property location:
Middle Smithfield Township. Seller: John McGowan
and Sons Inc. Price: $200,000.
Christopher Stockley. Property location: Middle
Smithfield Township. Seller: Toll PA III LP. Price:
$536,917.
Michael Logan. Property location: Smithfield
Township. Seller: C&M Homes at Shawnee LP.
Price: $352,210.
Floyd and Phyllis Halley. Property location: Stroud
Township. Seller: Elias and Karen Morales. Price:
$272,000.
Six Eleven Development Corp. Property location:
Mount Pocono. Seller: Monto Vision Realty Inc.
Price: $650,000.
Laurie and Robert Miller Jr. Property location:
Stroud Township. Seller: Wendy O’Malley. Price:
$365,000.
James Anastasio. Property location: Tobyhanna
Township. Seller: Gertrude Kerrick. Price: $575,000.
East Stroudsburg School District. Property location: East Stroudsburg. Seller: Rosemarie and James
Walker Sr. Price: $285,000.
Jon and Mary Miller. Property location: Hamilton
Township. Seller: George and Lori Osmun. Price:
$350,000.
Abdullha Juya. Property location: Hamilton
Township. Seller: Mark and Catherine Burstein. Price:
$300,000.
Daniel and Joyce Herring. Property location:
Tobyhanna Township. Seller: David and Inna
Elvashvili. Price: $450,000.
Vickiann and Jeffery Hicks. Property location:
Stroudsburg. Seller: Stanley Zuba, David Prosser and
Sue Steinberg (part.). Price: $380,000.
Armando Garcia. Property location: Ross Township.
Seller: Deck Creations Inc. Price: $257,000.
Juan and Rafaelina Caraballo. Property location:
Stroud Township. Seller: Troy and Mary Nauman.
Price: $294,000.
Richard and Lisa Bye. Property location: Stroud
Township. Seller: John and Christine Reehl. Price:
$310,000.
Charles and Anne Hughes. Property location:
Jackson Township. Seller: Nasser Sabokbar. Price:
$262,000.
Diane and Mark Cloeren. Property location: Middle
Smithfield Township. Seller: Robert Gregoire. Price:
$280,000.
Lisa and Arthur Berry III. Property location:
Stroudsburg. Seller: Anthony Akoury Est., William
Morgan (Admr.). Price: $227,500.
Robert and Marianne Nichols. Property location:
Eldred Township. Seller: Alejandro Ortiz, Silvia
Isaacs-Ortiz. Price: $287,000.
Gary and Suzanne Campbell. Property location:
Stroud Township. Seller: Richard and Barbara Mayer.
Price: $282,500.
Joseph and Tonia O‘Connor. Property location:
Ross Township. Seller: Dwayne and Lori Duke. Price:
$269,000.
James and Barbara Roberts. Property location:
Barrett Township. Seller: June and Harry Derby III.
Price: $375,000.
Donald and Rose Casey. Property location:
Coolbaugh Township. Seller: George and April Verity.
Price: $420,000.
Wenshi Zhao and Jie Yu. Property location: Middle
Smithfield Township. Seller: John McGowan and
Sons Inc. Price: $325,000.
Pike County
Paul Forte. Property location: Hawley. Seller:
Richard Schroeder. Price: $350,000.
Evan Juro. Property location: Matamoras. Seller:
Jeanne Reggio. Price: $200,000.
Henryk Lodziato. Property location: Shohola. Seller:
Dennis Heimbrook. Price: $300,000.
Richard Cohen. Property location: Hawley. Seller:
Charles Zimnik. Price: $242,500.
Bonnie Zilenziger. Property location: Lords Valley.
Seller: Paul Matarazzo. Price: $217,000.
Gary Molampy. Property location: Hawley. Seller:
Charles Schmalzle. Price: $259,900.
Peter Dispenza. Property location: Hawley. Seller:
William Curry. Price: $260,000.
Peter Helms. Property location: Hawley. Seller:
Albina Thoma. Price: $550,000.
Jeffrey Drumheller. Property location: Milford.
Seller: Joseph Lapera. Price: $239,000.
Emrie Foster. Property location: Milford. Seller:
Harlan Coben. Price: $345,000.
Schuylkill County
Oaks Gun Club, Inc. Property location: South
Manheim Township. Seller: Donald Moyer. Price:
$5,946.
Robert Allen. Property location: Orwigsburg. Seller:
Cedant Mobility Financial Co. Price: $254,000.
Medical Plaza Partners. Property location:
Pottsville. Seller: Pottsville Hospital and Warne
Clinic. Price: $588,020.
Pinebrook Residence. Property location: West
Brunswick Township. Seller: Brookside Court
Property Inc. Price: $200,000.
Wayne County
James DeLisi. Property location: Paupack. Seller:
Timothy Congdon. Price: $565,500.
James Cleary. Property location: Preston. Seller:
Theta Land Corp. Price: $400,000.
Keith Heilner. Property location: Lehigh. Seller:
Warner Lent. Price: $380,000.
Bruce Covey. Property location: Salem. Seller:
Bruce Covey. Price: $340,346.
Bruce Covey. Property location: Salem. Seller:
Bruce Covey. Price: $230,000.
Danuta Piwinska. Property location: Paupack.
Seller: Alfred Marvin. Price: $245,000.
Thomas Seyfarth. Property location: Salem. Seller:
Joseph Marsico. Price: $295,000.
Mary Grieve. Property location: Honesdale. Seller:
Orley Mae White. Price: $220,000.
Joseph Ghartey. Property location: Damascus.
Seller: David Winner. Price: $405,000.
Miles Scott Krieger. Property location: Preston.
Seller: Carol Severs. Price: $277,000.
James Tennant. Property location: Salem. Seller:
Robert Halter. Price: $300,000.
John Catrombon. Property location: Paupack.
Seller: Charles Jurgensen. Price: $210,000.
Waymart Wind Farm. Property location: Clinton.
Seller: Russell Bass. Price: $230,000.
Francis Henofer. Property location: Paupack. Seller:
Candace Cianni. Price: $535,000.
Stephen Paroby. Property location: Paupack. Seller:
Elizabeth Novak-Wiggal. Price: $220,000.
Stephen Putzi. Property location: Honesdale.
Seller: John Weidner. Price: $350,000.
Thomas Grozalis. Property location: Paupack.
Seller: Leroy Wensel. Price: $430,000.
George Brown. Property location: Oregon. Seller:
Kent Brown. Price: $200,000.
Joseph Hyer. Property location: Lake. Seller:
Benjamin Franc. Price: $345,000.
Frank Mina. Property location: Lake. Seller: Gary
Gardner. Price: $308,000.
Michael DeFex. Property location: Paupack. Seller:
Arthur Lewis. Price: $255,000.
december 2003
Peter Barone. Property location: Ross Township.
Seller: Ricardo and Ginette Malinaro. Price:
$255,000.
Demmac LLC. Property location: Middle Smithfield
Township. Seller: Fox Glen Apartments Inc. Price:
$1,625,000.
Michael and Vanessa Petrozzino. Property location:
Jackson Township. Seller: Larry Buck. Price:
$250,000.
940 Commercial Inc., n/b/n/c Hill Farm Estates
Inc. Property location: Ross Township. Seller: Kelly
Lewis. Price: $500,000.
Alicia Sanders. Property location: Middle Smithfield
Township. Seller: Bank One NA. Amount: $265,000.
Bradford Moses and Mary Possi. Property location:
Coolbaugh Township. Seller: C. Herbert and Judy
Schneider. Price: $305,000.
Dilcia Phillips and Valerie Gowie. Property location:
Hamilton Township. Seller: Vladimir, John and
Anthony Melchiori. Price: $425,000.
Paul Mason. Property location: Stroud Township.
Seller: Matthew and Jacqueline Donovan. Price:
$305,000.
National Residential Nominee Services Inc.
Property location: Stroud Township. Seller: Michael
and Tracey Tanner. Price: $309,000.
Kevin and Roxanne Hutchinson. Property location:
Stroud Township. Seller: National Residential
Nominee Services Inc. Price: $309,000.
Theodore and Christine Auman. Property location:
Barrett Township. Seller: John and Adelaide Bisbee.
Price: $1,050,000.
Herb and Denise Grainer. Property location:
Smithfield Township. Seller: Karen Young. Price:
$339,000.
Wayne Dunlop and Lori Riede-Dunlop. Property
location: Paradise Township. Seller: Arthur Evans and
Carolyn Allen-Evans. Price: $259,700.
William and Eva Pither. Property location: Pocono
Township. Seller: Robert and Louise Szeligowski.
Price: $410,000.
Frederick and Alice Berthel. Property location:
Chestnuthill Township. Seller: Glenn and Janet
Tirpak. Price: $275,000.
Ramis and Tatiana Gimadeyer. Property location:
Hamilton Township. Seller: Steven and Terri Ewing.
Price: $599,999.
Kenbar Investment Group. Property location:
Smithfield Township. Seller: W. Peter Ahnert Jr.,
Abigail Ahnert, Emily Ahnert and Robert Ahnert II.
Price: $631,250.
Patricia Clifford. Property location: Ross Township.
Brenda Leonard. Property location: Ross Township.
Bruce and Marianne Brandli. Property location:
Middle Smithfield Township. Seller: Frank and Alice
Manhart. Price: $500,000.
Fred and Janice Fantuzzi. Property location:
Chestnuthill Township. Seller: LTS Development Inc.
Price: $299,000.
Robert and Laura Howe. Property location:
Tobyhanna Township. Seller: Joseph and Temi Miller.
Price: $465,000.
Paul and Susan Miller. Property location: Hamilton
Township. Seller: Elaina and Charles Prinzivalli. Price:
$415,000.
Christy Mara. Property location: Jackson Township.
Seller: International Custom Built Homes Inc. Price:
$395,000.
Bradley Miller. Property location: Coolbaugh
Township Seller: Frank and Linda Gleva. Price:
$340,000.
Michael and Roseanne Walters. Property location:
Barrett Township. Seller: Louis and Ingrid Larsen.
Price: $712,500.
Ronald Baumann. Property location: Chestnuthill
Township. Seller: Michael Stokes. Price: $655,000.
James Ertle. Property location: Stroud Township.
Seller: Lola Wary. Price: $295,000.
20
40
under
Wyoming County
Bruce Gendron. Property location: Tunkhannock
Township. Seller: James Faerber. Price: $340,000.
John Romero. Property location: Tunkhannock
Borough. Seller: Sally Steele. Price: $200,000.
Lavere Stiles. Property location: Eaton Township.
Seller: Duwayne Kutz. Price: $365,000.
Michael Stoko III. Property location: Overfield
Township. Seller: Richard Lahey. Price: $495,000.
Earnings
For the 2003 second quarter, CTE reported diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) of $0.64, versus
reported diluted EPS of $0.60 in the 2002 second
quarter. Included in CTE’s 2003 second quarter
reported diluted EPS is a $1.5 million (pre-tax), or
$0.04 per share (after-tax), charge reflecting legal
and financial advisory expenses in connection with
CTE’s proposed recapitalization, which was
announced on April 25, 2003. CTE’s 2002 second
quarter reported diluted EPS included the effect of
a $2.0 million (pre-tax) charge, or $0.05 per share
(after-tax), related to the impairment of WorldCom
receivables, and a $2.1 million (pre-tax), or $0.05
per share (after-tax), positive settlement in connection with CTE’s 2000 restructuring charge. CTE
ended the 2003 second quarter with a total of
473,375 switched access lines installed, reflecting
an increase of 18,437 switched access lines
installed in the past 12 months, or a growth rate of
4 percent. CTE’s consolidated revenues in the
2003 second quarter were $83.0 million, a growth
rate of 6 percent versus the 2002 second quarter.
The 2002 second quarter consolidated revenues of
$78.3 million included a $2.0 million charge in
connection with WorldCom receivables. CTE’s consolidated operating income in the 2003 second
quarter was $25.2 million, which reflected a 4 percent growth rate versus last year’s second quarter.
CTE’s 2002 second quarter operating income of
$24.1 million reflected both the aforementioned
$2.0 million pre-tax WorldCom charge against revenues, as well as the aforementioned $2.1 million
pre-tax positive settlement related to CTE’s 2000
restructuring charge. For the 2003 second quarter,
CTE reported net income of $15.2 million, versus
reported net income of $14.1 million in the 2002
second quarter. Consolidated capital expenditures
(“CAPEX”) were $12.1 million in the 2003 second
quarter, versus CAPEX of $14.0 million in the year
ago quarter.
Commonwealth Telephone Company (“CT”) had
a total of 338,340 switched access lines installed
at the end of the 2003 second quarter – a growth
rate of 1 percent versus last year. CT’s residential
additional line penetration was 40 percent at the
end of the quarter. CT’s business line growth in
The Business Journal
Wants To Showcase Our
Area’s Best And Brightest!
In December, the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal will
produce a special section in our publication on our region’s best
and brightest - our “Top 20 Under 40.” We are looking for readers
to nominate a business owner, entrepreneur or senior-level company
official to be spotlighted. The individuals we seek to honor must be
39 years of age or younger and play a decision-making role in a
business or organization.
To nominate yourself or someone else, simply go to the Business
Journal website at www.npbj.com and click on “20 Under 40” for a
nomination form. Or mail your nomination to the Business Journal at
149 Penn Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503. Be sure to include the name of
the nominee, his or her position in the company, age, and why he or
she should be honored. If you are nominating someone else, include
your name and contact information.
Publication Date..............................................December 2003
Nomination Deadline.....................................October 15, 2003
To advertise in this special supplement...
Ad Deadline...................................................November 7, 2003
Call 570-207-9001
Toll Free 1-877-584-3561
Fax 570-207-3452
Continues on next page
the 2003 second quarter was 3 percent versus the
2002 second quarter. CT’s 2003 second quarter
revenues grew 8 percent to $51.2 million, versus
revenues of $47.5 million in the 2002 second
quarter. The 2002 second quarter revenue figure
reflects a $2.0 million charge in connection with
WorldCom receivables. CT’s second quarter revenue growth was primarily driven by increased
access minutes of use, rate changes in the NECA
(National Exchange Carrier Association) average
schedule settlement formula that took effect in July
2002, and 6 percent growth in enhanced services.
CT’s 2003 second quarter operating income was
$23.1 million, a 22 percent increase over last year.
This solid growth in operating income was primarily
driven by growth in high-margin access revenues,
continued focus on cost control and the impact of
the $2.0 million WorldCom receivables charge,
which is included in CT’s 2002 second quarter
results. CT’s 2003 second quarter CAPEX were
$5.9 million versus $8.0 million in the 2002 second quarter. The change in CAPEX is substantially
due to timing.
CTSI, LLC (“CTSI”), during the 2003 second
quarter, CTSI installed 4,453 net access lines,
ending the quarter with 135,035 net access lines
installed – a growth rate of 13 percent versus the
2002 second quarter. At the end of the 2003 second quarter, 98 percent of CTSI’s access lines
were “on-switch,” and 52 percent were “on-net”
(defined as 100 percent on CTSI’s owned network).
CTSI’s business/residential line split at the end of
the 2003 second quarter was 90 percent/10 percent. CTSI’s 2003 second quarter revenues were
$21.5 million, a growth rate of 1 percent versus
revenues of $21.3 million in the 2002 second
quarter. This relatively flat growth rate was expected due to several factors that affected the quarterover-prior-year-same-quarter access revenue comparison at CTSI, including a modification to transport billings related to access trunking in last
year’s third quarter, the continued implementation
of the Federal Communications Commission’s
(“FCC”) mandated interstate access rate reduction
and further implementation of the FCC Order related to local reciprocal compensation. CTSI’s operating income in the 2003 second quarter was $2.5
million, versus operating income of $5.3 million in
the 2002 second quarter. CTSI’s 2002 second
quarter operating income included a $2.1 million
positive settlement in connection with CTE’s 2000
restructuring charge. CTSI’s 2003 second quarter
capital expenditures were $5.6 million, versus $5.4
million in the year ago quarter.
Northeast Pennsylvania Financial Corp. (the
"Company") (NASDAQ: NEPF), the holding company
for First Federal Bank (the "Bank"), reported a net
loss of $1.1 million, or $(.28) diluted earnings per
share, for the three months ended June 30, 2003,
which was a decline from the prior year comparable
quarter net income of $944,000, or $.22 diluted
earnings per share. All prior period amounts set
forth in this release reflect the anticipated restatement of the financial results for those prior periods
as discussed below. The decline was primarily due
to:
■ a $520,000 reduction in non-interest income
due to the recognition of a $1.5 million impairment
loss related to an equity investment by the
Company, partially offset by a $980,000, or 44%,
increase in other non-interest income;
■ a $974,000 decline in net interest income as
a result of an 18 percent decline in the net interest
margin from 2.98 percent to 2.44 percent;
■ a $124,000 increase in the provision for loan
losses due to an increase in classified loans; and
■ a $107,500 impairment loss in connection
with the closure of three bank offices as of July 1.
The reported net loss for the June 2003 quarter
was also a decline from the $1.0 million net
income, or $.26 diluted earnings per share, for the
quarter ended March 31, 2003. The decrease was
due to:
■ a $240,000 increase in the provision for loan
losses due to an increase in classified loans;
■ gains realized in the restructure of the investment portfolio in the March quarter of $1.1 million
(pre-tax) versus the pre-tax gains realized in the
June quarter of $386,000 for continued restructure
of the investment portfolio and a
partial
restructure of the adjustable rate mortgage portfolio;
■ the recognition of the $1.5 million impairment
loss for an equity investment; and
■ the $107,500 impairment loss related to the
July 2003 office closings.
The net interest margin for the June 2003 quarter of 2.44 percent was approximately the same as
the 2.43 percent net interest margin for the March
2003 quarter. Net income for the nine months
ended June 30, 2003 was $643,000, or $.16
diluted earnings per share, compared to $3.0 million, or $.69 diluted earnings per share for the previous fiscal year period. This decline in net income
was a result of the $3.0 million, or 16 percent,
contraction in net interest income due to a decline
in the net interest margin from 3.12 percent to
2.46 percent, the $1.5 million impairment loss on
the equity investment and a $2.8 million increase
in operating expenses as a result of the new branding campaign and staffing and occupancy increas-
es. The decline was partially offset by a $139,000,
or 7 percent, reduction in the provision for loan
losses, $1.2 million more from gains on sales of
investments and loans as well as increases in fees
generated from the banking, insurance, investment
and trust lines of business.
On July 21, 2003, the Company announced it
was restating its prior period earnings for the fiscal
years from 1998 through 2002 and for the
December 2002 and March 2003 quarters to correct errors in the accounting for the indirect auto
loan portfolio and purchased mortgage and consumer loan portfolios. E. Lee Beard, president and
CEO, noted that the recently identified errors resulted primarily from computer program coding errors
that impacted the calculation of interest income
earned on the indirect auto loans and from the
amortization of the premiums related to purchased
mortgage and consumer loans. The earnings discussed throughout this release reflect the proper
interest earned rates for these loans. The
Company is in the process of preparing an amended form 10-K for fiscal year 2002 and forms 10-Q
for the December 2002 and March 2003 quarters.
Until such amendments, including restated financial statements, are filed, the Company's previously filed periodic annual and quarterly reports,
including financial statements and auditor's reports
thereon, should not be relied upon.
The anticipated effect of the restatements is to
reduce the Company's capital by $3.2 million as of
March 31, 2003. This restatement has no impact
on the Company's or the Bank's cash flows and
the Bank continues to be well-capitalized under regulatory capital requirements. At June 30, 2003, the
total tier-1 capital ratio for the Bank was 6.69 percent and total capital to assets was 7.30 percent
for the company. The accounting errors do not
impact any loan customers. The Bank's deposits
continue to be insured by the FDIC. Management
affirmed that the accounting errors that led to the
restatement were unintentional. Steps have been
taken to ensure that no other similar system errors
have occurred. Staffing, system and procedural
changes are being made to ensure such errors do
not occur in the future. As part of these changes,
the Company hired Jerry Holbrook as interim CFO
and engaged The Outsourcing Partnership LLC to
provide internal audit services. Holbrook previously
served as CFO for E-Duction Inc., SVP for First USA
Bank and as Controller for WSFS Financial Corp.
Net interest income for the current quarter
decreased $974,000, or 16 percent, over the prior
year comparable quarter. The decrease reflects a
53 basis point decline in the yield on the mortgage
portfolio, due to payoffs of higher yielding loans
and generally lower interest rates on originated
loans, and a 163 basis point decrease in the yield
on investments. The decrease in interest income
for the quarter was partially offset by a lower cost
of deposits due to the current low interest rate
environment. Since June 2002, the Bank has
increased transaction accounts by 31 percent, to
40 percent of total deposits, in an effort to
decrease the reliance on higher-rate time deposits.
The Company has $15 million in outstanding Trust
Preferred Securities (TRUPs) with an interest rate
floating with the three-month LIBOR and $7 million
outstanding with an interest rate floating with the
six-month LIBOR. The $22 million of TRUPs added
$267,000 to interest expense for the June 2003
quarter. The Company used a portion of the TRUPs
proceeds to purchase $10 million of Bank Owned
Life Insurance (BOLI) in April 2002, adding
$133,000 of non-interest income during the June
2003 quarter and $445,000 during the nine
months ended June 30, 2003. The earnings rate
on the BOLI adjusts annually in April and was
reduced by 1.00 percent on April 3, 2003.
Net interest income and net interest margin for
the three months ended June 30, 2003 were basically comparable to the March 2003 quarter. This
was accomplished in the face of generally declining
interest rates with a combination of an increase in
the higher yielding consumer loan portfolio balances, a reduction in the cost of deposits and the
stabilization of cash flows from the investment
portfolio restructuring that began in the March
2003 quarter.
The fiscal year-to-date net interest income
declined $3.0 million compared to the nine month
period ended June 30, 2002, primarily due to the
124 basis point reduction in the yields on the earning assets, mortgage payoffs and an increase in
borrowed funds. The reductions were partially offset with declines in costs of deposits and an
increase in the investment securities portfolio balances.
The provision for loan losses for the current quarter increased by $124,000, to $850,000, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2002
and increased by $240,000 from the quarter
ended March 31, 2003. The increase was primarily
attributable to additional reserves established for
the increase in classified loans. The ratio of
allowance for loan losses to net loans increased to
1.15 percent, compared to 1.00 percent at June
30, 2002 and 1.06 percent at March 31, 2003.
At June 30, 2003, non-performing assets
increased by $2.1 million to $6.9 million, or .78
percent of total assets, compared to $4.8 million,
or .53 percent at September 30, 2002 and from
the $5.0 million or .55 percent level at March 31,
2003, primarily due to a $1.7 million commercial
loan that went into bankruptcy. The Bank has previously written off $100,000 of this loan, has established additional reserves and believes this loan is
adequately collateralized by the U.S. Dept. of
Agriculture and other collateral.
Total delinquencies as of June 30, 2003 for retail
mortgage loans, consumer (other than auto), and
auto loans were 1.24 percent, 2.23 percent and
0.95 percent of total loans, respectively. Net loan
charge-offs were $672,000 for the quarter ended
June 30, 2003, compared to net loan charge-offs
of $879,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2002
and $515,000 for the quarter ended March 31,
2003. Net loan charge-offs increased during the
quarter due to a change in the method of recognizing impairment loss at the time it becomes 90
days delinquent instead of at the time of foreclosure. Net loan charge-offs, as a percentage of total
loans for the current quarter, were 13 basis points
and for the fiscal year-to-date were 31 basis points.
Non-interest income for the current quarter
decreased $520,000, or 23 percent, over noninterest income for the prior year comparable quarter due to the Company's recognition of the $1.5
million impairment loss for its equity investment in
convertible preferred stock in a start-up mortgage
banking firm specializing in multi-state, small
builder loans. The Company purchased $2 million
of convertible preferred stock in the company in fiscal 2000. Pre-tax losses of $500,000 had been
recognized by the Company previously. The lending
firm continues to operate with historical highs in
loan commitments; however, efforts to raise additional equity capital have proven unsuccessful and
the company's contract with an investment banker
expired during the quarter. The Bank's loans originated through the program have been fully repaid
with no losses. The Bank is no longer a lender in
this program. Additionally, no tax benefit has been
recognized for the impairment loss due to a lack of
expected future capital gains. The Company holds
no other similar investments.Total non-interest
income accounted for 13 percent of interest
income plus non-interest income (gross revenue)
for the June 2003 quarter and 19 percent of gross
revenue for the nine months ended June 2003.
Non-interest income was $8.1 million for the nine
months ended June 30, 2003, compared to $5.4
million for the comparable nine-month period ended
June 30, 2002 as the current period reflected $1.5
million gain-on-sale of securities and loans, as well
as increased fee income earned from the banking,
insurance, investment and trust lines of business.
The prior year period included $332,000 of gain on
sale of $50 million of indirect auto loans. The
cross sales to customers among the lines of business has enhanced the service fee, insurance,
investment and trust related non-interest income.
Non-interest expense increased $800,000, or 13
percent, for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2002 and
$231,000, or 4 percent, compared to the quarter
ended March 31, 2003. The increase from the
June 2002 quarter was primarily due to increased
staffing for business development, a $107,500
impairment loss (on a pre-tax basis) recognized in
relation to the pending sale of two free-standing
bank offices closed on as of July 1, 2003 and
increased occupancy costs as a result of the addition of three offices purchased from Schuylkill
Savings in January 2002. The fiscal year-to-date
non-interest expenses for the nine months ended
June 30, 2003 increased 16 percent over the prior
year comparable period, as a result of increases in
staffing, the impairment loss related to the sale of
closed offices and occupancy expenses associated
with the acquisition of offices from Schuylkill
Savings in January 2002, as well as the increases
in marketing costs for the new branding campaign.
Penn National Gaming Inc. (Nasdaq: PENN) reported record second quarter results for the period ending June 30. The 2003 second quarter GAAP operating results are in line with the revised financial guidance issued by the company on June 10. Penn
National’s 2003 second quarter diluted earnings per
share without Hollywood Casino-Shreveport were
$.47, ahead of the revised financial guidance of
$.45 issued by the company on June 10 and exceeding the First Call analyst consensus estimates. Net
revenues for the quarter rose 98 percent to $325
million, compared to $164.1 million in the second
quarter of 2002. Net income and diluted per share
earnings computed in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles rose to $15.5 million,
or $.38 per diluted share in the second quarter of
2003 from $9.2 million or $.23 per diluted share in
the second quarter of 2002. Excluding a pre-tax
charge of $3 million, or $.05 per share after tax, for
loss on fair value of interest rate swaps, adjusted
earnings per share for the second quarter of 2002
was $.28. Second quarter 2003 EBITDA rose 98.6
percent to $71.7 million, from $36.1 million in the
second quarter of 2002. Income from operations in
the second quarter of 2003 rose 95.9 percent to
$52.8 million, from $27 million in the second quarter of 2002. Per share results are based on 40.5
million and 40 million diluted weight average shares
outstanding for the 2003 and 2002 periods, respec-
tively, and have been adjusted to reflect the June
2002 two-for-one stock split.
Grants
The Blue Ribbon Foundation of Blue Cross of
Northeastern Pennsylvania announced it is seeking
opportunities to partner with nonprofit organizations
that are interested in creating and implementing obesity prevention and intervention programs in the 13
counties of northeastern and northcentral
Pennsylvania. The Blue Ribbon Foundation has committed $500,000 over a three-year period toward
fighting obesity through its “well weighs” initiative.
Grants of up to $75,000 will be distributed to several projects that integrate long-term nutritional, physical, behavioral and/or medical interventions to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors, eating habits and
increased physical activity as part of a person’s daily
life. Nonprofit organizations that are interested in
“well weighs” can express their desire to participate
by submitting a letter of interest to the foundation.
Letters will be accepted until September 15 and
should include a description and general overview of
the proposed project, including goals, objectives,
expected outcomes and process measures with a
defined mechanism for reporting health outcomes; a
copy of the resume or curriculum vitae of those
responsible for implementing and evaluating the program; an estimate of funds needed for the project,
and IRS certification of tax-exempt, charitable status.
The foundation will review letters of interest and several applications will be selected to submit more
detailed, formal proposals by December 1. A pre-proposal conference will be held to provide technical
assistance and feedback to the prospective applicants that are identified through the letter of interest
process. Grants will be awarded to support the
development and implementation of innovative programs beginning January 2004. Subsequent annual
payments will depend on continued satisfactory
progress toward goals.
The Williamsport-Lycoming Foundation, the 86year-old foundation serving Lycoming County and the
surrounding region, approved nearly $50,000 in
grant funding during its recent mini-grant cycle. The
Williamsport-Lycoming Foundation board approved
$48,325 in grant funding from the unrestricted funds
available to support initiatives benefiting residents of
Lycoming County to the following organizations:
American Rescue Workers, $10,000 grant to support the revitalization renovation project to update
and renovate the facility that provides emergency
shelter and houses male residents in an effort to
help them rise above their current situations;
Bethesda Day Treatment Center, $5,000 grant to
provide funding to purchase program materials and
equipment for the Montoursville facility, which provides specialized education and counseling for adolescents; Curtain Middle School PTO, $6,000 grant
to assist with the restoration and conservation of 20
locally designed murals depicting Longfellow’s poem,
“Hiawatha,” so that they may once again be displayed in the school and the community; Jersey
Shore Public Library, a grant of up to $4,192 to purchase four computers that have the capacity to
accommodate the newer educational software for
the children’s section of the library; Kiwanis Club of
Williamsport, $6,735 grant to construct a second
modern restroom facility and replace the roof on the
main portion of the lodge at the Camp Kiwanis so it
can continue to serve many youth groups; Lycoming
County Health Improvement, $6,998 grant to support a youth survey that will help identify health-related risk factors in the community affecting the lives
of area young people; this data will be available to
other local agencies to guide efforts in meeting community needs; YMCA of Williamsport, $9,400 grant
to provide support for an afterschool activity program
(ASAP) with the goals of reducing childhood obesity,
and educating both children and their parents about
the risks associated with obesity. The WilliamsportLycoming Foundation’s next deadline for mini-grant
and regular grant application submission is
September 1. Potential applicants are strongly
encouraged to call Debbie Mader Miller, manager of
program and scholarship services, at 321-1500 to
discuss potential requests before submitting an
application.
Steven A. Solieri, Ph.D., assistant professor of
accounting at The University of Scranton, has
received a $30,000 grant from the Research
Foundation of the Institute of Internal Auditors to perform a field study entitled “Internal Audit’s Role in
the Corporate Governance Process: Restoring the
Public Trust in Accounting.” As a large part of this
project, Solieri and his co-author, Andrew Felo, Ph.D.,
of Pennsylvania State University - Great Valley, will be
visiting a number of Fortune 1000 companies and
studying interactions between the internal audit function and the corporate governance structures of the
companies. The project is scheduled for completion
in March 2004. Solieri has completed four master’s
degrees in business administration, manufacturing
management, information systems, and accounting,
and received his Ph.D. in management and accounting from Binghamton University. Solieri, Lake Ariel,
has been a Certified Public Accountant for the past
18 years with a license to practice in four states.
Congressman Don Sherwood announced two federal grants that have been awarded to Wayne
Economic Development Corporation to fund feasibility studies for a proposed business park in Sterling
Township, Wayne County. The federal funds, along
with local contributions, will partially offset the cost
of preliminary engineering and planning studies.
These studies are needed to determine whether the
organization will pursue the development of the business park. WEDCO president, Paul Lloyd, acknowledged the assistance given to WEDCO. “We are particularly grateful for the support we received from our
federal legislators and the Northeastern
Pennsylvania Alliance in helping us obtain these
grants,” Lloyd said. "In the long run, this support will
play a major role in bringing more jobs to our county.
Wayne County is now a top priority in good, sound
economic planning in the region." Visit the WEDCO
Web site for further details at www.wedcorp.org/.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources (DCNR) has awarded a
Conservation and Recreation Grant of $200,000 to
SEDA-COG for continuation of Phase II of the
Susquehanna Greenway plan. The Greenway, an
interconnected network of natural and cultural
resources, scenic trails, community parks, and recreation facilities, is being developed along the entire
500-mile length of the river in Pennsylvania. SEDACOG heads the Greenway planning team. Bloss
Associates Inc. and Pennsylvania Environmental
Council are lead consultants for Phase II contract
work on greenway design, and community outreach
and education, respectively. Phase II primarily
involves development of a conceptual design and
strategic action plan to implement the Greenway,
serving as a guide for county planners, municipal
officials, community groups, nonprofit organizations
and others seeking to establish components of the
project. The strategy will also address region-wide
issues, as well as specific concerns that have been
raised in the six planning areas (reaches) designated
within the Greenway. Five general categories of the
strategic plan are being considered including community, environment, economy, recreation, and public
awareness. Topic areas may include funding, organizational options, operations and maintenance, and
the integration of related transportation systems.
Reach Advisory Committees (RAC) have been established in each of the Greenway area's six reaches.
The RACs will be involved in developing specifics of
the strategic plan, just as they have been involved in
the initial design process of the Greenway.
Mortgages
Columbia County
Lois A. Barrall. Property Location: Beaver Twp.
Lender: Sky Bank. Amount: $227,200.
Joseph A. and Lori A. Scopelliti. Property
Location: Hemlock Twp. Lender: FNB Bank.
Amount: $204,900.
Robert R. and Karen J. Hergan. Property
Location: Catawissa Twp. Lender: Mortgage
Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount:
$215,900.
William R. and Lori A. Harding. Property
Location: Bloomsburg. Lender: Manufacturers
and Traders Co. Amount: $200,000.
Steven J. and Rebecca A. Marks. Property
Location: Montour Twp. Lender: Mortgage
$215,000.
Giuseppe and Edith A. Lafata. Property
Location: Scott Twp. Lender: Columbia County
Farmers National Bank. Amount: $239,000.
Joseph M. and Diane D. Wondoloski. Property
Location: North Centre Twp. Lender: FNB Bank.
Amount: $322,700.
John C. and Brenda J. Monick. Property
Location: Orange Twp. Lender: First Federal
Bank. Amount: $213,500.
MSY Investments LLC. Property Location:
Berwick. Lender: Sovereign Bank. Amount:
$1,350,000.
Guy E., Jr. and Kimberly S. Miller. Property
Location: Berwick. Lender: First National Bank of
Berwick. Amount: $275,000.
Harry A. Campbell. Property Location:
Sugarloaf Twp. Lender: Option One Mortgage
Corp. Amount: $269,500.
Douglas L. and Leslie W. Bryden. Property
Location: Catawissa Twp. Lender: First Mutual
Brandon R. and Lynette M. Eyerly. Property
Location: Scott Twp. Lender: Mortgage
$200,000.
Christopher R. and Christina M. Dorothy.
Property Location: Scott Twp., Lender: FNB Bank.
Amount: $230,400.
SBA Properties Inc. Property Location: North
Centre Twp. Lender: General Electric Capital
Corp. Amount: $220,128,160.
James and Ruth Hunter, Property Location:
Greenwood Twp. Lender: Columbia County
Robert N. Seebold. Property Location: Scott
Twp. Lender: Manufacturers and Traders Trust
Co. Amount: $460,000.
Eric I. And Maryanne E. Weisel. Property
Location: Scott Twp. Lender: Columbia County
Robert M. and Joan P. Larney. Property
Location: Scott Twp. Lender: PNC Bank. Amount:
$282,000.
Hervey A. and Deborah C. Gillespie. Property
Location: Bloomsburg. Lender: Columbia County
Thomas and Renee Hughes. Property Location:
North Centre Twp. Lender: Citicorp Trust Bank.
Amount: $233,108.85.
Douglas P. and Patricia A. Evans. Property
Location: Hemlock Twp. Lender: Columbia County
Douglas P. and Patricia A. Evans. Property
Location: Hemlock Twp. Lender: Columbia County
Julie Kontos. Property Location: Scott Twp.
Lender: First Federal Bank. Amount: $214,000.
John and C. Luane Zaginaylo III. Property
Location: Briarcreek Twp. Lender: AgChoice Farm
Credit. Amount: $221,500.
Kenneth E. and Melissa K. Chappell. Property
Location: Greenwood Twp. Lender: Mortgage
$200,000.
Matthew W. and Susan L. Laidocker. Property
Location: Greenwood Twp. Lender: Clair C. Hock.
Amount: $360,000.
Bloomsburg Center LLC. Property Location:
Scott Twp. Lender: Fulton Bank. Amount:
$5,500,000.
Alfred H. and Colleen K. Stammers. Property
Location: Scott Twp. Lender: FNB Bank. Amount:
$220,000.
Robert H. Ritter and Jamie Valerio. Property
Location: Scott Twp. Lender: FNB Bank. Amount:
$227,000.
Monzer K. and Susan F. Mereby. Property
Location: Cleveland Twp. Lender: FNB Bank.
Amount: $207,000.
Bart and Mary Rado. Property Location:
Briarcreek Twp. Lender: First National Bank of
Berwick. Amount: $378,000.
Sept 03 Morts.
Lackawanna County
Jeric Partnership. Property location: Dickson
City. Lender: 1st National Community Bank.
Amount: $945,000.
Frank Epifano. Property location: Gouldsboro.
Lender: Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Amount:
$231,160.
Kenneth Propst. Property location: Archbald.
Lender: Fidelity Bank. Amount: $210,000.
Downtown Senior Center. Property location:
Scranton. Lender: Pennstar Bank. Amount:
$250,000.
MSA Inc. Property location: Clarks Summit.
Lender: Peoples National Bank. Amount:
$300,000.
Jose De Los Rios. Property location: Dalton.
Lender: Wells Fargo Bank. Amount: $240,000.
Steamtown Mall Partners. Property location:
Scranton. Lender: UBS Real Estate. Amount:
$41,000,000.
Paul Abdalla, Jr. Property location: Moscow.
Lender: Community Bank. Amount: $300,000.
Lang P Su. Property location: Clarks Summit.
Lender: Pennstar Bank. Amount: $500,000.
Bennett Winters. Property location: Moosic.
Lender: Wells Fargo Bank. Amount: $650,000.
Leonard Burke. Property location: Clarks
Summit. Lender: 1st National Community Bank.
Amount: $250,000.
Joshua Olivo. Property location: Scranton.
$220,000.
David Lowe III. Property location: Clarks
Summit. Lender: America Wholesale. Amount:
$235,000.
Charles Mecca. Property location: Factoryville.
Lender: American Home Loans. Amount:
$274,000.
David Botscheller. Property location:
Factoryville. Lender: Penn Security Bank. Amount:
$318,000.
Donald Galacci. Property location: Clarks
Summit. Lender: Wachovia Bank. Amount:
$301,990.
Gerald Evans. Property location: Clarks Summit.
Deborah Hamby. Property location: Dalton.
Lender: Pennstar Bank. Amount: $220,000.
Daniel Bunevitch. Property location: Moscow.
Lender: Countrywide Home. Amount: $220,000.
William Giovagnoli. Property location: Archbald.
$296,000.
Daniel Fedor. Property location: Waverly. Lender:
Bank of America. Amount: $230,000.
Gerald O’Neill. Property location: Clarks
Summit. Lender: Citizens Bank. Amount:
$225,000.
Joseph Root. Property location: Olyphant.
Lender: Independent Mortgage. Amount:
$263,245.
Security National Properties.. Property location:
Scranton. Lender: Alaska Seaboard. Amount:
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$520,000.
Joseph Saccon. Property location: Moosic.
Lender: Merrill Lynch. Amount: $269,000.
Anthony Brutico. Property location: Scranton.
Joyce Cornell. Property location: Clarks Summit.
Lender: GMAC Bank. Amount: $258,000.
John Conway, Jr. Property location: Dunmore.
Lender: East Stroudsburg. Amount: $250,000.
Thomas Capezio. Property location: Blakely.
Richard Kenehan. Property location: Clarks
Summit. Lender: Merrill Lynch. Amount:
$433,200.
Maple Lake United Methodist. Property location: Moscow. Lender: Penn Security. Amount:
$450,000.
Kevin Gilbride. Property location: Moscow.
James Bradley Flickinger. Property location:
Clarks Summit. Lender: 1st National Community.
Amount: $214,000.
Gregory Martin. Property location: Moosic.
Lender: 1st National Community. Amount:
$282,000.
Robert Burke. Property location: Dunmore.
Michael Jalowiec. Property location: Clarks
Summit. Lender: Penn Security Bank. Amount:
$271,267.
Kenmaro. Property location: Scranton. Lender:
PNC Bank. Amount: $450,000.
Thomas Florey. Property location: Clarks
Summit. Lender: Penn Security Bank. Amount:
$500,000.
Thomas Florey. Property location: Newton.
Lender: Penn Security Bank. Amount: $500,000.
Thomas Florey. Property location: North
Abington. Lender: Penn Security Bank. Amount:
$500,000.
Stephen Brosky. Property location: Old Forge.
Lender: Guaranty Bank. Amount: $225,600.
Thomas Hauber. Property location: Moscow.
Lender: Bank of America. Amount: $300,000.
Martin Andrews. Property location: Carbondale.
Chaudhari Family Ltd. Property location:
Dunmore. Lender: 1st National Community Bank.
Amount: $1,390,000.
Steven Golden. Property location: Gouldsboro.
Lender: Fleet National Bank. Amount: $209,000.
Joseph Rinkunas. Property location: Clarks
Summit. Lender: 1st Liberty Bank. Amount:
$205,000.
Francis Opshinsky. Property location: Dalton.
Theodore Meadows. Property location: Moosic.
Lender: Decision One Mortgage. Amount:
$295,000.
Daniel Siniawa. Property location: Clarks
Summit. Lender: 1st National Community.
Amount: $225,000.
Donato Mecca. Property location: Scranton.
Lender: 1st National Community. Amount:
$242,000.
Nicholas Cortazzo. Property location: Moscow.
Lender: Penn Security Bank. Amount: $203,000.
Allison Uhrin. Property location: Old Forge.
Lender: Flagstar Bank. Amount: $220,000.
Luzerne County
William Thede. Property location: Dallas
Township. Lender: Allegacy FCU. Amount:
$245,000.
Jon Olenginski. Property location: Rice
Township. Lender: Bank of America. Amount:
$620,000.
Hazleton Community New Development
Organization. Lender: Butler Enterprises Inc.
Amount: $1,638,132.
Barry Santospirito. Property location: Fairview
Township. Lender: Chase Manhattan Mortgage.
Amount: $262,500.
Ronald Sturgeon. Property location: Wright
Township. Lender: Citizens Bank. Amount:
$230,000.
Daniel Mazzocco. Property location: Wright
Township. Lender: Citizens Bank. Amount:
$200,000.
Joseph Mantione. Property location: WilkesBarre Township. Lender: Community B&T.
Amount: $3,000,000.
Joseph Mantione. Property location: Dallas
Borough. Lender: Community B&T. Amount:
$3,000,000.
Joseph Mantione. Property location: Kingston
Borough. Lender: Community B&T. Amount:
$3,000,000.
Joseph Mantione. Property location: Hanover
Township. Lender: Community B&T. Amount:
$3,000,000.
Dean Copely. Property location: Jackson
Township. Lender: East Stroudsburg Savings
Association. Amount: $233,000.
Pietro Colella. Property location: Jenkins
Township. Lender: First Heritage Bank. Amount:
$215,000.
Alex Rogers. Property location: Kingston
Borough. Lender: First Horizon Home Loan.
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Amount: $322,700.
Robert Sabella. Property location: Harveys Lake
Borough. Lender: First Mutual Corp. Amount:
$225,000.
John Yenason. Property location: Harveys Lake
Borough. Lender: First National Community Bank.
Amount: $300,000.
Richard Uter. Property location: Butler Township.
Lender: Flagstar Bank. Amount: $207,310.
Michael Church. Property location: Bear Creek
Township. Lender: Honesdale National Bank.
Amount: $235,000.
Michael Sherneck. Property location: Dallas
Township. Lender: Irwin Mortgage Corp. Amount:
$268,000.
Hazleton Community New Development.
Property location: Luzerne County. Lender: Hazle
Township. Amount: $1,000,000.
Robert Stackhouse. Property location: Jenkins
Township. Lender: M&T Bank. Amount:
$275,000.
Ian Kellman. Property location: Jackson
$303,000.
George Sordoni. Property location: Jackson
Township. Lender: Merrill Lynch. Amount:
$432,000.
Terrence Herron. Property location: Dallas
Borough. Lender: MERS. Amount: $220,500.
Charles McAvoy. Property location: Kingston
Township. Lender: Option One Mortgage.
Amount: $236,000.
David Cebrick. Property location: Franklin
Township. Lender: PA State Emp CU. Amount:
$3,321,350.
Scott Nicholson. Property location: Swoyersville
Borough. Lender: PHH Mortgage Service.
Amount: $256,500.
Robert Sacco. Property location: Sugarloaf
Township. Lender: Wachovia Bank. Amount:
$270,000.
Thomas Medico. Property location: Jackson
$433,019.
Robert Connolly. Property location: Hazle
$249,960.
Raymond Ostroski. Property location: Kingston
Borough. Lender: Wachovia Bank. Amount:
$368,145.
Michael Ell. Property location: Nanticoke City.
Lender: Henry Wasilewski. Amount: $255,000.
Gwen Galasso. Property location: Jenkins
Township. Lender: Wells Fargo Bank. Amount:
$248,000.
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570-207-9001
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Deadline:
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149 Penn Avenue
Scranton, PA 18503
Fax: 570-207-3452
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NEWSPAPER
EMPLOYMENT
DATABASE
Samuel Perta. Property location: Larksville
Borough. Lender: ABN AMRO Mortgage Group.
Amount: $204,000.
Curtis Mattingly. Property location: Jackson
Township. Lender: America’s Wholesale Lender.
Amount: $262,500.
Gary Booth. Property location: Lake Township.
Lender: American Res Mortgage. Amount:
$203,200.
Georffrey Miller. Property location: Kingston
Township. Lender: Beneficial Cons. Disc. Co.
Amount: $245,284.
Karyn Hildebrand. Property location: Larksville
Borough. Lender: Century 21 Mortgage. Amount:
$225,150.
Ronald Harvey. Property location: Huntington
Township. Lender: Columbia City Farmers
National. Amount: $477,000.
Donald Stone. Property location: Huntington
Township. Lender: Columbia City Farmers
National. Amount: $314,000.
Gregory Bolesta. Property location: Plymouth
Borough. Lender: Crusader Mortgage. Amount:
$238,000.
Auto Properties. Property location: Wilkes-Barre
City. Lender: Daimler/Chrysler North America.
Amount: $13,000,000.
Auto Properties. Property location: Plains
Township. Lender: Daimler/Chrysler Services.
Amount: $13,000,000.
Aaron Wanchisen. Property location: Dorrance
Association. Amount: $225,000.
Permen Realty. Property location: Wilkes-Barre
City. Lender: First Heritage Bank. Amount:
$220,000.
Ironworks Local 489 Corp. Property location:
Yatesville Borough. Lender: First Heritage Bank.
Amount: $200,000.
Smejj Inc. Property location: Hazle Township.
Lender: First Heritage Bank. Amount: $850,000.
James Casey. Property location: Wilkes-Barre
City. Lender: Interbay Funding. Amount:
$250,000.
Greater Wilkes-Barre Development Corp.
Property location: Wilkes-Barre City. Lender:
Luzerne County. Amount: $750,000.
Lee Sadusky. Property location: Exeter Borough.
Lender: M&T Bank. Amount: $244,000.
Alan Ryder. Property location: Butler Township.
Lender: M&T Bank. Amount: $218,000.
Lee Glassberg. Property location: Hazle
$210,000.
William Gill. Property location: Kingston
Earl and Christine Ernest. Property location:
Price Township. Lender: Long Beach Mortgage
Co. Amount: $288,941.
1723 West Main Street LP and J&R Property
Investment LLC. Property location: Hamilton
Township. Lender: Pocono Community Bank.
Amount: $220,000.
Christopher Stockley. Property location: Middle
Smithfield Township. Lender: Chase Manhattan
Mortgage Corp. Amount: $429,533 and
$80,538.
Howard Klein. Property location: Stroudsburg.
Lender: Citimortgage Inc. Amount: $273,000.
Faith Lutheran Church of Blakeslee. Property
location: Tobyhanna Township. Lender: Trivent
Financial for Lutherans. Amount: $288,000.
Robert and Rebecca Krell. Property location:
Barrett Township. Lender: Dime Bank. Amount:
$1,000,000.
David Everitt III and Tina Drake. Property location: Ross Township. Lender: Lafayette
Ambassador Bank. Amount: $272,000.
Michael Logan. Property location: Smithfield
Township. Lender: Wachovia Mortgage Corp.
Amount: $277,000.
Floyd and Phyllis Halley. Property location:
Stroud Township. Lender: First NLC Financial
Services LLC. Amount: $272,000.
LTS Development Inc. Property location: Stroud
Township. Lender: First National Community
Thomas and Diane Keeley. Property location:
Hamilton Township. Lender: Windsor Financial
Mortgage Corp. Amount: $269,000.
Juris and Hugh Carroll and Arthur and Rachelle
Crispino. Property location: Chestnuthill Township.
Lender: Countrywide Home Loans Inc. Amount:
$274,300.
James Anastasio. Property location: Tobyhanna
Township. Lender: Countrywide Home Loans Inc.
Price: $460,000 and $115,000.
Jon and Marybeth Miller. Property location:
Hamilton Township. Lender: First Horizon Home
Loan Corp. Amount: $280,000 and $34,900.
Young Men’s Christian Association of Monroe
County. Property location: Stroudsburg. Lender:
Nazareth National Bank & Trust Co. Amount:
$750,000.
Abdullah Juya. Property location: Hamilton
Amount: $285,000.
Stroudsburg Wesleyan Church. Property location: Stroud Township. Lender: Wesleyan
Investment Foundation Inc. Amount: $350,000.
SBA Properties Inc. Property location:
$225,001.
Michael Weaver. Property location: Lehman
Township. Lender: Merrill Lynch Credit Corp.
Amount: $322,700.
Eric Dove. Property location: Wright Township.
Lender: Navy FCU. Amount: $252,500.
Dan Rochon, Jr. Property location: Dorrance
Township. Lender: Paramount Mortgage.
Amount: $213,000.
Keith Gramlich. Property location: Bear Creek
Township. Lender: SLM Financial Corp. Amount:
$224,000.
Joseph Novotnak. Property location: Hazleton
City. Lender: Saxon Mortgage. Amount:
$272,000.
Armand Mascioli. Property location: Dallas
Borough. Lender: Wachovia Bank. Amount:
$300,000.
John Weyrauch. Property location: Wright
$287,850.
Louis Goeringer. Property location: Bear Creek
$400,000.
Robert Gill. Property location: Huntington
Township. Lender: Wachovia Mortgage Group.
Amount: $322,000.
David Mallory. Property location: Dorrance
Township. Lender: Washington Mutual Bank.
Amount: $367,200.
Richard Powell. Property location: Wilkes-Barre
City. Lender: Wells Fargo Financial Bank.
Amount: $200,000.
Township. Lender: Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.
Amount: $251,100.
Monroe County
Martin Sagofsky. Property location: Jackson
Township. Lender: Fairmont Funding Ltd.
Amount: $275,000.
Kerry and Mira Althouse. Property location:
Smithfield Township. Lender: East Stroudsburg
Savings Assn. Amount: $415,000.
Barry and Chi Palmer. Property location: East
Stroudsburg. Lender: IFC Mortgage Corp.
Amount: $251,700.
Paul and Marie Webster. Property location:
Hamilton Township. Lender: Homecoming
Financial Network Inc. Amount: $381,000.
Taykut and Tulin Aydin. Property location:
Pocono Township. Lender: Public Savings Bank.
Amount: $268,850.
Smithfield Township. Lender: General Electric
Capital Corp. Amount: $220,128,160.
Daniel and Joyce Herring. Property location:
Tobyhanna Township. Lender: Washington Mutual
Bank FA. Amount: $322,700.
JD Real Estate Subsidary LLC. Property location: Stroud Township. Lender: Citicorp USA Inc.
Amount: $1,500,000,000.
Vickiann and Jeffery Hicks. Property location:
Stroudsburg. Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount:
$320,000.
Jeanette Jin and Peter Vinella. Property location: Smithfield Township. Lender: PHH Mortgage
Services. Amount: $281,500.
Juan and Rafaelina Caraballo. Property location:
Stroud Township. Lender: First NLC Financial
Services LLC. Amount: $294,000.
Ron Gorman. Property location: Stroud
Amount: $337,500.
Samuel Baurkot. Property location: Tobyhanna
Township. Lender: Merchants National Bank of
Bangor. Amount: $1,032,000.
David and Laura Turner. Property location:
Hamilton Township. Lender: American Federal
Diane and Mark Cloeren. Property location:
Middle Smithfield Township. Lender: America’s
Wholesale Lender. Amount: $252,000.
Robert and Marianne Nichols. Property location:
Eldred Township. Lender: Cendant Mortgage
Flostena Smith and Michael Franko. Property
location: Chestnuthill Township. Lender:
Countrywide Home Loans Inc. Amount:
$285,700.
Demmac LLC. Property location: Middle
Smithfield Township. Lender: Norcrown Bank.
Amount: $1,220,000.
John and Janice Rhodes. Property location:
Hamilton Township. Lender: Taylor Bean &
Whitaker Mortgage Corp. Amount: $288,400.
Shop Quik Inc. Property location: Ross
Township. Lender: Nazareth National Bank &
Trust Co. Amount: $1,700,000.
Russell and Sara Cramer. Property location:
Pocono Township. Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount:
$300,000.
Roslyn and Wayman Jones Sr. Property location:
Stroud Township. Lender: PNC Bank NA. Amount:
$450,169.
Maurizio and Lindy Cibischino. Property location: Hamilton Township. Lender: PNC Bank NA.
Amount: $360,000.
Wilfredo and Maria Mercado. Property location:
Pocono Township. Lender: Citizens Mortgage
Alyssa and Francis Hager Jr. Property location:
Stroud Township. Lender: Nazareth National
Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $3,700,000.
Joseph and Dorothy Blaney. Property location:
Barrett Township. Lender: Chase Manhattan
Dilcia Phillips and Valerie Gowie. Property location: Hamilton Township. Lender: Primary
Residential Mortgage Inc. Amount: $425,000.
David and Lavelle Bigatel. Property location:
Ronald Batson. Property location: Pocono
Township. Lender: Independent Mortgage Co.
Amount: $256,500.
Robert Mrofka. Property location: Chestnuthill
Assn. Amount: $287,500.
Herb and Denise Grainer. Property location:
Smithfield Township. Lender: Countrywide Home
Loans Inc. Amount: $271,200 and $33,900.
Cornerstone Propane LP. Property location:
East Stroudsburg. Lender: Bank of New York
Trust Co. of Florida NA. Amount: $300,000,000.
Stroudstor LP. Property location: Smithfield
Township. Lender: Mercantile-Safe Deposit &
Trust Co. Amount: $1,060,000.
Dennis Noonan. Property location: Mount
Pocono. Lender: First National Bank of Arizona.
Amount: $360,000.
Richard Fly. Property location: Stroudsburg.
Lender: First National Bank of Palmerton.
Amount: $250,000.
Ramis and Tatiana Gimadeyev. Property location: Hamilton Township. Lender: Countrywide
Home Loans Inc. Amount: $539,950.
Raymond Alvarez and Evelyn Figueroa-Alvarez.
Property location: Middle Smithfield Township.
Lender: Countrywide Home Loans Inc. Amount:
$277,900
Kenbar Investment Group, Kenneth Schuchman
and Barth Rubin (gen. part.). Property location:
Savings Assn. Amount: $396,000 and
$472,000.
Catherine Roman and Luis Ruperto. Property
location: Smithfield Township. Lender:
Countrywide Home Loans Inc. Amount:
$264,000.
Suzette Goffney. Property location: Ross
Township. Lender: Patriot Bank. Amount:
Continues on page 63
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
& BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
FOR
SALE
WILKES-BARRE AREA
EXETER
WONDERFUL bus opportunity - Restaurant w/
catering hall clambake grove & liq lic in place - Est’d
rest seats 60, dining halls accomodate up to 475 - On &
off site catering. Price incl’s equip, pkg lots &
residence.
MLS #2LF1659
$999,000 Margy 696-0891
MOD, brick, well maintained 5000 SF office bldg
in premier location in high traffic area w/pkg for
32 cars. Presently used as a medical office - many
other uses. Excellent prop with great potential!
MLS#3LF0131
$585,000 Rae 714-9234
WILKES-BARRE
WILKES-BARRE
OFFICE BUILDING currently. Could be retail. In
great location. 1 sty approx. 17,000 SF w/
abundance of pkg. on 3.5 acres, w/ability to
expand.
MLS #3LF0053
$1,200,000 Judy R. 714-9230
Scott St/W-B Blvd, prime location. Approx 20,000
SF brick bldg on approx 2 acres. Multi use, high
traffic, high visibility. Wet sprinkler, ample pkg.
MLS #3LF1795
$750,000 Margy 696-0897
WILKES-BARRE
WILKES-BARRE
EXCEPTIONAL architecturally designed office
space for the discriminating professional. Beautiful
professional landscaping, wonderful design & finish
thru-out. Centrally located in W-B Business District
MLS#2LF4257
$579,000 Mike J. 970-1100
OFFICE complex on approx. 9.6 acres. Main bldg. approx. 160,000
SF office space including raised floor & fully wired computer room.
Add’l bldgs. approx. 15,000 SF of office & warehouse. Convenient
location w/access to interstate. MLS #3LF1781
EXETER
SHAVERTOWN
MULTI-TENANT, 1 sty bldg in excellent condition.
Ideal for owner user or investor. Adequate pkg,
newly renovated, good location. Call for private
showing.
MLS #3LF0143
$385,000 Judy R. 714-9230
HIGHWAY EXPOSURE! This multi-tenant
commercial bldg. has possibility galore! One unit
rented, one vacant & potential for a third.
MLS #3LF0156
$179,000 Judy R. 714-9230
PITTSTON
BERWICK BRIAR CREEK TWP
$2,495,000 Don 696-0872
Mike 970-1100
LEWITH & FREEMAN
REAL ESTATE INC.
570-288-9371
Kingston
570-696-3801
Shavertown
570-788-1999
Drums
570-474-9801
Mountaintop
is a special selection of the
Northeast
Pennsylvania
Business
Journal
For more information
or to reserve
your space in
next month’s issue,
call the Journal
570-207-9001
or
877-584-3561
WELL MAINTAINED 35,000 SF 1 sty manf/
warehouse on 4.8 level acres w/pub utils, sprinkler
& security sys. Central mfg area, offices, cafeteria,
mechanical rms, 3 loading docks.
MLS #1LF2450
$549,000 Terry D 715-9317
9000 SF MASONRY bldg. Shown by appt. only. No
sign owner’s request.
MLS #3LF4308
$250,000 Mike J./Joe T. 822-1160
COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY
LISTING
Deadline:
9/15/03
149 Penn Avenue
Scranton, PA 18503
Fax: 570-207-3448
570-822-1160
Wilkes-Barre
$298,341.25.
George and Lisa Manatakis. Property location:
Barrett Township. Lender: Countrywide Home
Loans Inc. Amount: $288,902.
Gary and Elizabeth Lewis. Property location:
Stroud Township. Lender: ABN Amro Mortgage
Group Inc. Amount: $267,500.
Brenda Leonard. Property location: Ross
Township. Lender: America’s Wholesale Lender.
Amount: $260,900.
Anthony and Maria Barilla. Property location:
Pocono Township. Lender: America’s Residential
Larry and Andrea Lynch. Property location:
Smithfield Township. Lender: Wells Fargo Home
Mortgage Inc. Amount: $268,000.
Scott Kemp and Jorge Blondett. Property location: Jackson Township. Lender: Interbay Funding
LLC. Amount: $330,000.
Craig and Lynette Ott. Property location: Stroud
Township. Lender: Citizens Bank of PA. Amount:
$263,000.
Greg and Jennifer McDermott. Property location:
Coolbaugh Township. Lender: Windsor Financial
Edward and Elaine Stys. Property location:
Jackson Township. Lender: First Financial
Equities Inc. Amount: $295,000.
John and Nancy Okula. Property location:
Smithfield Township. Lender: H&R Block
Clearview Builders Inc. Property location:
Chestnuthill Township. Lender: Interstate Net
Kerri and Stephen Argen. Property location:
Paradise Township. Lender: First Horizon Home
Loan Corp. Amount: $251,000 and $127,000.
Bruce and Marianne Brandli. Property location:
Middle Smithfield Township. Lender: Wachovia
Bank NA. Amount: $400,000.
Fred and Janice Fantuzzi. Property location:
Chestnuthill Township. Lender: Countrywide
Home Loans Inc. Amount: $255,900.
Jonathan Offerman. Property location: Stroud
Township. Lender: First Horizon Home Loan Corp.
Amount: $281,250.
Ernest and William Sims. Property location:
Barrett Township. Lender: Trident Mortgage Co.
LP. Amount: $506,250.
940 Commercial Inc. n/b/n/c Hill Farm
Estates Inc. Property location: Ross Township.
Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount: $350,000.
Christy Mara. Property location: Jackson
Township. Lender: Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Inc. Amount: $355,500.
Derek and Susan Arneaud. Property location:
Patrick Haftl and Randy Bachman. Property
location: Eldred Township. Lender: Countrywide
Home Loans Inc. Amount: $252,000 and
$46,800.
Hillcrest Retirement Community Ltd.
Partnership. Property location: Jackson Township.
Lender: First National Bank of Palmerton.
Amount: $250,000.
William and Carole Grant. Property location:
Chestnuthill Township. Lender: First National
Bank of Palmerton. Amount: $300,000.
David O’Brien. Property location: Stroud
Township. Lender: Washington Mutual Bank FA.
Amount: $320,000.
Michael and Susan Basso. Property location:
Stroud Township. Lender: Wells Fargo Home
Mortgage Inc. Amount: $316,000.
Christine Hurley. Property location: Stroud
Amount: $258,400.
Kasimierz Debski. Property location:
Chestnuthill Township. Lender: Mortgage
$278,910.
Scott Rosen. Property location: Hamilton
Amount: $271,500 and $56,350.
Pearce Enterprises LLC. Property location:
Chestnuthill Township. Lender: Manufacturers
and Traders Trust Co. Amount: $350,000.
Ronald Baumann. Property location:
Chestnuthill Township. Lender: Mid Atlantic Farm
Credit ACA. Amount: $525,000.
James Ertle. Property location: Stroud
Township. Lender: Marvin Papillon. Amount:
$400,000.
Schuylkill County
Robert Allen. Property location: Orwigsburg.
Lender: Cendant Mobility Financial Corp.
Amount: $245,000.
Providence Place of Pottsville. Property location: Pottsville. Lender: Sovereign Bank. Amount:
$9,000,000.
Medical Plaza Partners. Property location:
Pottsville. Lender: Wachovia National Bank.
Amount: $598,200.
Sonric Associates. Property location: Pottsville.
Lender: Union Bank. Amount: $900,000.
Yaworsky Family Limited Partnership. Property
location: St. Clair. Lender: Community Bank.
Amount: $570,000.
Wayne County
Kristin Murphy. Property location: Lake. Lender:
Wachovia Bank. Amount: $203,668.
Keith Heilner. Property location: Lehigh. Lender:
Washington Mutual Bank. Amount: $200,000.
Keith Robinson. Property location: Canaan.
Lender: The Dime Bank. Amount: $268,000.
Philip Kellerman. Property location: Hawley.
Lender: Wells Fargo Financial Bank. Amount:
$200,000.
Ronald Sidovar. Property location: Salem.
Lender: Wachovia Bank. Amount: $288,000.
Danuta Piwinska. Property location: Paupack.
Lender: MERS. Amount: $220,500.
Anne Seyfarth. Property location: Salem.
Waymart Area Authority. Property location:
Canaan. Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount:
$1,700,000.
Waymart Area Authority. Property location:
Canaan. Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount:
$347,050.
Joseph Ghartey. Property location: Damascus.
Randal Williams. Property location: Mount
Pleasant. Lender: Ameriquest Mortgage Co.
Amount: $200,700.
Salvatore Scarfalloto. Property location:
Prompton. Lender: The Dime Bank. Amount:
$208,500.
Miles Scott Krieger. Property location: Preston.
Lender: Honesdale National Bank. Amount:
$221,600.
Douglas Pryor. Property location: South Canaan.
Donald Miller. Property location: Dyberry.
Lender: Harleysville National Bank and Trust.
Amount: $200,000.
Francis Henofer, Jr. Property location: Paupack.
Daniel Gould. Property location: Preston.
Lender: The Dime Bank. Amount: $590,000.
Thomas Richard Grozalis. Property location:
Paupack. Lender: Mortgageline.com. Amount:
$322,700.
Vincent Tarantola. Property location: Salem.
Lender: Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Amount:
$269,000.
Rudy Schemitz. Property location: Berlin.
Joseph Hyer. Property location: Lake. Lender:
MERS. Amount: $276,000.
Frank Mina. Property location: Lake. Lender:
Wells Farog Home Mortgage Inc. Amount:
$246,400.
Melvin Freilich. Property location: Buckingham.
Lender: Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Inc.
Amount: $218,400.
Sirpa Defex. Property location: Paupack.
Lender: Washington Mutual Bank. Amount:
$204,000.
Eileen Salak. Property location: Preston.
Lender: Community Bank and Trust Co. Amount:
$300,000.
Wyoming County
David Ritz. Property location: Windham
Township. Lender: Grange National Bank.
Amount: $219,600.
John Whytashek. Property location: Lemon
Township. Lender: Grange National Bank.
Amount: $219,600.
Thomas Dellaglio. Property location: Nicholson
Township. Lender: Agchoice Farm Credit.
Amount: $427,500.
Jeffrey Kintner. Property location: Washington
Township. Lender: MERS. Amount: $216,500.
SBA Properties Inc. Property location: Noxen
Township. Lender: General Electric Capital Corp.
Amount: $220,128,160.
Robert Hafford. Property location: Eaton
Eric Campagna. Property location: Nicholson
Township. Lender: First National Community
Skyline Holdings Inc. Property location:
Nicholson Township. Lender: Penn Security Bank
and Trust Co. Amount: $240,000.
Michael Stoko III. Property location: Overfield
Amount: $322,700.
Charles Pompey. Property location: Falls
Township. Lender: First Federal Bank. Amount:
$218,500.
Lavere Stiles. Property location: Eaton
Scholarships
The Williamsport-Lycoming Foundation joined with
donors, scholarship recipients and parents to celebrate the 66 new scholarships provided from the 40
scholarship funds managed by the WilliamsportLycoming Foundation. Many donors were able to converse and interact with their scholarship recipients
during the reception. Many students receiving scholarships from funds managed by the WilliamsportLycoming Foundation are eligible for consideration
from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
Agency (PHEAA) PATH (Partnerships for Access to
Higher Education) program to receive match grant
funds. The PATH program provides match grant
awards to full-time undergraduate students who are
enrolled in Pennsylvania postsecondary institutions
and meet other guidelines, thereby doubling the
efforts of the donors. Most scholarship recipients
and donors met for the first time at this reception.
The Williamsport-Lycoming Foundation’s mission is
to maximize the power of people and their donated
assets to build vibrant communities within northcentral Pennsylvania now and in the future. The foundation administers funds on behalf of donors and charities within Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland,
Bradford, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties. More
information about the Williamsport-Lycoming
Foundation is available at its Web site, www.wlfoundation.org, or call (570) 321-1500.
Stocks
The following information on insider trading activity
was provided by James J. Blazejewski, senior vice
president, Prudential Securities Inc., 32 Scranton
Office Park, Scranton, Pa. 18507. Many of the
stocks mentioned are not followed by Prudential
Securities’ research department,
which has no opinion on their
investment merit. Current performance of reported stock
issues is no guarantee of future
returns.
Insider trading as of Aug. 12,
2003
(APD - 46.09) - Air Products
and Chemicals Inc.
On Aug. 4, 2003, Robert E.
Blazejewski
Gadomski, executive vice president, Air Products and Chemicals Inc., sold 1,000
shares at $45.85 per share. On July 30, he acquired
48,500 shares via exercise of options at $40 per
share and on the same date, he sold those shares
at $45.92 per share. On the same date, he disposed of 3,153 shares (non-open market) at $46.06
per share. His direct holdings total 40,800 shares
and his indirect holdings total 143 shares. On
August 1, Andrew E. Cummings, officer, acquired
9,000 shares via exercise of options at $23.12 per
share; and on the same date, he sold those shares
at $46.29 per share. His direct holdings total
17,498 shares and his indirect holdings total
12,598 shares. On July 30, Arthur T. Katsaros, officer, acquired 18,800 shares via exercise of options
at $40 per share; and on the same date, he sold
those shares at $45.90 per share. His direct holdings total 17,007 shares and his indirect holdings
total 11,488 shares. On July 30, Paul E. Huck, vice
president, acquired 18,380 shares via exercise of
options at $19.56-$40 per share; and on the same
date, he sold those shares at $46.02 per share.
His direct holdings total 17,863 shares and his indirect holdings total 5,674 shares.
(CSS - 25.49) CSS Industries Inc.
On Aug. 5, 2003, John J. Nucero, vice president,
CSS Industries Inc., acquired 5,775 shares via exercise of options at $17.25 - $18.25 per share. His
direct holdings total 11,143 shares. On August 5,
Leonard Grossman, director, sold 26,200 shares at
$25.4655 per share. On August 4, Mr. Grossman
sold 4,500 shares at $25.4036 per share. On
August 1, Grossman sold 5,700 shares at
$25.4007 per share. On July 31, Grossman sold
3,300 shares at $25.49 per share. On July 30,
Grossman sold 300 shares at $25.63 per share.
His direct holdings total 249,173 shares and his
indirect holdings total 3,700 shares. On July 28th,
the Faber Foundation, filed its intent to sell 30,000
shares of restricted stock.
(CZNC - 26.05) Citizens & Northern Corp.
On July 24, 2003, Karl W. Kroeck, director, Citizens
& Northern Corp., sold 1,665 shares at $25.924
per share. His direct holdings total 908 shares.
(FBF - 30.04) Fleetboston Financial Corp.
On July 23, 2003, Gary A. Spiess, executive vice
president, Fleetboston Financial Corp., sold 1,700
shares at $30.43 per share. His direct holdings
total 113,193 shares. On July 22, Terrence J.
Murray, director, declared his intent to sell 200,000
shares. On July 22, Ann M. Funicane, executive vice
president, sold 3,200 shares at $30.34 per share.
Her direct holdings total 33,332 shares.
(FULT - 20.07) Fulton Financial Corp.
On July 23, 2003, Joseph J. Mowad, director,
Fulton Financial Corp., purchased 160 shares at
$20.67 per share. His direct holdings total 3,962
shares and his indirect holdings total 37,054
shares. On July 23, Samuel H. Jones, Jr., director,
purchased 237 shares at $20.6709 per share. His
direct holdings total 1,499,354 shares and his indirect holdings total 7640 shares. On July 23, Eugene
H. Gardner, purchased 232 shares at $20.6709 per
share. His direct holdings total 35,973 shares and
his indirect holdings total 32,998 shares. On July
23, Donald M. Bowman, Jr., purchased 160 shares
at $20.67 per share. His direct holdings total
330,723 shares and his indirect holdings total
86,722 shares.
(HNBC - 26.79) Harleysville National Corp.
On Aug. 7, 2003, Leeann B. Bergey, director,
Harleysville National Corp., acquired 2,700 shares
via exercise of options at $14.82 per share.
(MTB - 85.80) M&T Bank Corp.
On Aug. 1, 2003, Kevin J. Pearson, executive vice
president, M&T Bank Corp., acquired 3,600 shares
via exercise of options at $42 per share and on the
same date, sold those shares at $86.60 - $86.83
per share. On July 31, he acquired 7,000 shares via
exercise of options at $29 - $49.50 per share and
on the same date, he disposed of 3,195 shares
(non-open market trade) at $88.57 per share. His
direct holdings total 8,500 shares. On July 24,
Adam C. Kugler, treasurer, acquired 27,480 shares
via exercise of options at $42 - 49.50 per share and
on the same date, he sold those shares for $89.75
per share. On July 23, he acquired 15,000 shares
via exercise of options at $42 per share and on the
same date, he sold those shares at $89.50 per
share. On July 22 Steven M. Coen, executive vice
president, declared his intent to sell 18,345 shares.
On July 22, Derek C. Hathaway, director, purchased
1,000 shares at $89.29 per share. His direct holdings total 1,000 shares. On July 22 Atwood Collins,
III, executive vice president, acquired 30,000 shares
via exercise of options at $13.95 per share and on
the same date, he sold 22,840 shares at $89 $89.43 per share. His direct holdings total 78,150
shares. On July 22, Steven M. Coen, executive vice
options at $29 - $75.80 per share and on the same
date, he sold 18,345 shares at $89 - $89.44 per
share. His direct holdings total 7,951 shares. On
July 22, Robert E. Sadler, executive vice president,
acquired 30,000 shares via exercise of option at
$21.10 per share and on the same date he disposed (non-open market) of 14,835 shares at
shares.
(MEL - 31.02) Mellon Financial Corp.
On Aug. 4, 2003, Michael A. Bryson, chief financial
officer, Mellon Financial Corp., sold 2,000 shares at
shares and his indirect holdings total 400 shares.
On July 25, Ira Gumberg, director, sold 10,000
shares at $30.12 per share. His direct holdings
total 166,379 shares. On July 18, Michael K.
Hughey, controller, sold 2,656 shares at $29.44 per
share. His direct holdings total 7527 shares. On
July 18, Steven G. Elliott, officer, acquired 52,442
shares via exercise of options At $12.4375$15.7188 per share and on the same date, he sold
those shares at $29.16 per share. His direct holdings total 1,071,661 shares.
(NWFL - 29.10) Norwood Financial Corp.
On Aug. 7, 2003, Gary P. Rickard, director,
Norwood Financial Corp. sold 500 shares at $29.10
per share. His direct holdings total 14,825 shares
and his indirect holdings total 1,023 shares. On
Aug. 6, Joseph Kneller, senior vice president,
acquired 3,750 shares via exercise of options at
$16 per share and on the same date, sold those
shares at $29 per share. His direct holdings total
1518 shares. On July 7, Edward Kasper, senior vice
options at $10.95 - $11.08 per share. His direct
holdings total 11,377 shares and his indirect holdings total 4,617 shares.
(PPL - 39.17) PPP Corp.
On Aug. 1, 2003, Joseph J. McCabe, controller,
PPP Corp. sold 1,500 shares at $39.168 per share.
His direct holdings total 4,470 shares and his indirect holdings total 1,659 shares. On Aug. 1st,
Robert J. Grey, senior vice president, acquired
52,933 shares via exercise of options at $22.65 per
share and on the same date, he sold 46,933 shares
at $39.55 - $39.60 per share. His direct holdings
total 24,130 shares. On Aug. 1, Roger I. Petersen,
officer, acquired 14,240 shares via exercise of
options at $26.84 per share, and on the same date,
he sold 11,100 shares at $39.55 - $39.64 per
share. His direct holdings total 40,244 shares. On
July 31, James E. Abel, treasurer, acquired 16,614
shares via exercise of options at $22.6525 - 33.49
per share and on the same date, he sold 17,709
shares at $39.648 - $39.95 per share. His direct
holdings total 4390 shares.
(SUBI - 19.37) Sun Bancorp Inc.
On July 29, 2003, Robert J. McCormack, CEO, Sun
Bancorp Inc.purchased 341 shares at $19.36 per
share. On July 21, he purchased 450 shares at
share.
(VZ - 35.20) Verizon Communications
On Aug. 1, 2003, David H. Benson, controller,
Verizon Communications, sold 9,719 shares at $35
per share. His indirect holdings total 16,501 shares.
(WB - 43.35) Wachovia Corp.
On Aug. 1, 2003, Donald K. Truslow, senior vice
president, Wachovia Corp. acquired 8,000 shares via
exercise of options at $17.31 per share. His direct
holdings total 168,748 shares. On July 24, Thomas
J. Wurtz, treasurer, sold 3,800 shares at $44.24 per
share. His direct holdings total 15,330 shares and
his indirect holdings total 3181 shares. On July 21,
Joseph Neubauer, director, sold 3,336 shares at
$42.61 - $42.62 per share. His direct holdings total
8,328 shares.
Prices as of close on Aug. 12, 2003
Information in “For The Record” was compiled by Jamie Callen and Patti Knoepfel.
For inclusion in this section, e-mail press
releases to cfanning@timesshamrock.com.
An occupational
medical
center
that understands
the needs
of industry.
immediate care of acute injuries
on premises comprehensive diagnostic testing
independent medical evaluations
complete physical therapy department
occupational/hand therapy work reconditioning program
drug & alcohol testing
dot and pre-placement physicals
Keystone Industrial Park
Dunmore, PA 18512
570.341.7777
Highland Business Park
268 Highland Park Boulevard, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
570.822.8831

- Scranton Times

Transcription

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