Sibt 0912

SEPTEMBER 2012
BITS & BYTES

MacBook Pro Retina - ready for business?
PAGE 6
COACHS CORNER
Youre gonna LOVE this.
PAGE 9
HEALTH-CARE TRENDS
Slow the pace of your rat race.
PAGE 22
www.sibiztrends.com
FLINT GENNARI/Special to Business Trends
LiGrecis Staaten was the setting for the distribution of this years Staten Island Rotary Foundation scholar-
ships. Pictured, from left, are Rotary Club of Staten Island President Michael Behar, Nancy Vomero of the Sea-
mens Society for Children and Families, Staten Island Rotary Foundation Chair John Amodio, scholarship re-
cipient Simone Faybyshev, Myra Garcia of Wagner College, Therese Cantarella of St. Johns University and
Staten Island Rotary Secretary Neal Segal.
Rotary Foundation scholarship awardees
Staten Island in photos
There has been a lot going on
in Staten Island lately. Have a look.
PAGE 26
By TIM RONALDSON
Business Trends
Businesses in the West
Brighton community have long
needed a unifying force to bring
them together. Because of the di-
verse mix of businesses in the
area, there has always been a
keen interest in Castleton Avenue
in particular.
Now, that interest has turned
into a full-fledged marketing ef-
fort known as the Castleton Com-
mercial Corridor.
Aimed at promoting business-
es along Castleton Avenue from
Bard Avenue to Jewett Avenue,
the Corridor is an effort to inspire
locals to shop and stroll, eat and
meet.
I think its important that the
area gets unified in some re-
spects, said Keith Christensen,
assistant vice president and re-
gional business banker at Rich-
mond County Savings Bank, and
a board member of the West
Brighton Local Development Cor-
poration. It gives the area some
identity, and perhaps it could lead
The creation
of the Castleton
Commercial
Corridor hopes to
market, unify the
areas businesses
Castleton
comes
together
please see CORRIDOR, page 18
A special delivery
By TIM RONALDSON
Business Trends
Alphonso David and his team of business
advocates are coming to a neighborhood near
you.
In an effort to remove the barriers to suc-
cess and educate small business owners on
the free programs and incentives the state
provides, Alphonso has been and will contin-
ue to host in-person workshops throughout
the state for small business owners and en-
trepreneurs who he said are likely unaware
of the help that is available to them.
Were bringing that forum to them, said
Alphonso, a deputy secretary in Gov.
Cuomos office. We wanted to make sure
those small businesses were aware of all the
resources that the state has, free of charge.
We want to support them.
please see SUPPORT, page 12
2 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2012
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JANET DUGO/Business Trends
National restaurant chain Bonefish Grill has opened a site on Marsh Avenue, near the Staten Island Mall.
Pictured here during its grand opening week are restaurant managers Marcus Andriotti, Floyd Crisp and
Tom Sukmanowski, along with Managing Partner Ashleigh Collins.
Bonefish Grill opens on Marsh Avenue
We teach your home and business how to act -- whether you're there or not -- by installing
a Control4, one-touch automation system.
These are just some of the money-saving, convenient, safety-related actions that will happen automatically:
LIFE MADE EASY
With APB S.E.L.E.C.T. Automation
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L ighting Controls
E ntertainment (Home Theaters)
Computer Networks
T echnology of Tomorrow
Visit our showroom
(by appointment only)
APB Security Systems, Inc.
2047 Victory Boulevard
Staten Island, NY 10314
718-698-8244
SECURITY & SAVINGS
Upon leaving your home, thermostats are pre-programmed to
save heating and air conditioning costs. Lights will alternate at
night to simulate occupancy. All lights will go on if an alarm trig-
gers and a recorded message is blasted to a burglar. Upon re-
turning, selected lights will automatically light your home.
CONVENIENCE & SAVINGS
One button puts your home in vacation mode
(HVAC, Lighting, Power-Consumer Electronic De-
vices, etc. are programmed to save money). One
button activates all holiday lighting, and you may
heat your pool from your phone.
ENTERTAINMENT
One remote controls all audio and
video throughout your home from
a few televisions to a complete
home theater room.
ENERGY MONITORING &
MANAGEMENT
We let you monitor every circuit in
your home or business to help isolate
the waste and begin saving on elec-
tricity consumption.
NYS Dept of State Lic #12000034292
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Fire/Flood Restorations
Call Bob or David
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The Staten Island Chapter of the American Cancer Society kicked off its upcoming Making Strides
fundraising campaign with a breakfast at the Excelsior Grand that featured inspiring stories from cancer
survivors. Pictured, from left, are Santo Santiago of Big Apple RX, ACS SI Regional Vice President Jean-
nine Marotta, Marion Smith of Richmond University Medical Center, and Paul Casali and Linda Mason of
Big Apple RX.
Making Strides
in our opinion
66 Willow Avenue
347-682-4867
JANET WARREN DUGO
Publisher
TIM RONALDSON
Executive Editor
STEVE COPPOLA
Director
RICHARD GRADO
Director
ROBERT CUTRONA
Director
LAWRENCE RAMPULLA
Director
DAN McDONOUGH, JR.
Chairman
Business Trends is mailed each month to the
business and community leaders of Staten
Island. To be added to the mailing list, e-
mail janet@sibiztrends.com. To submit a
news release, email news@sibiztrends.com.
For advertising info, call 347-682-4867 or
email janet@sibiztrends.com.
I
f you purchased your house before
2007, youve probably endured
about five years of misery. Your
home probably isnt worth as much as
it was back then. The housing market
has been kicked around, the news al-
ways seemed to be bad and getting
worse, and people had to wonder if the
downward spiral would ever end.
Well, maybe it has.
Zillow reported last month that the
second quarter was a good one for
home prices. They actually went up
year over year. Not a lot, but up is bet-
ter than down.
And, considering the economy has-
nt exactly been on fire, the news is es-
pecially promising.
If the trend continues, its great
news for the economy.
From a purely practical standpoint,
rising values can free up equity (al-
though it might take awhile to get peo-
ple right side up on their home val-
ues).
Then, homeowners can begin to tap
that equity to make repairs, pay off
other bills, etc. And when people spend
money, jobs are created.
It also would be a boost to the nation-
al psyche. A homes worth long has
been a kind of security blanket for
families. Over the years, there had
been ups and downs in the market, but,
again, over time, home values steadily
increased. There was a confidence that
you could always rely on your biggest
investment: your home.
That, of course, all changed about
five years ago.
Thats not to say that all will be well
by next Tuesday. The glut of foreclosed
homes, the negative equity many
homeowners still have and the like will
continue to weigh on the market. Were
not seeing a dramatic, sudden turn of
fortune. But the kind of sustained
growth Zillow reported definitely beats
the alternative.
At the least, maybe homeowners
have seen the worst of the housing
storm. Maybe they begin to regain a
little confidence in the future of their
home. Maybe they can relax. A little.
Out of the basement?
After years of declining prices, housing market looks to be headed up
By BILL DUBOVSKY
Situation
Being an early adopter is fraught with
peril. One can tell digital pioneers be-
cause they have the arrows in them as the
first of a new series of anything always
has some rough edges and a learning
curve. While I consider myself more of a
second wave guy, I decided to be a pioneer
over the summer while I had more time to
learn and experiment.
What is it?
The MacBook Pro has arguably been the
gold standard of notebook computers since
they first appeared. I have been a MBP user
since 2007, and with minor exceptions, it
has served me well. Running both Mac
OSX and Windows XP applications, its re-
liable, versatile, fast, and travels well, so
what could be better? An updated model!
Here are some of my first impressions of
the new MacBook Pro Retina.
Pros
Its lighter and much faster; the solid
state drive boots up in less than 15 seconds!
Excellent screen very clear; has a built-in
HDMI port so you can plug in directly to a
Flat Screen TV or other device with a
HDMI port for one cable viewing for pre-
sentations and watching Internet TV (very
cool). You can purchase a one-year One-
on-One training contract for $99 at the
time of purchase only, to give you unlimit-
ed training at the Apple store for Mac,
iPhone and iPad training (an excellent op-
tion), but you may want to skip the extend-
ed warranty. Apple was able to transfer my
old Mac applications and files over for free
(you should be able to do it yourself but
my transfers didnt work) which is a very
big help as opposed to loading everything
over again. I now run Parallels with Win-
dows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010 and in-
stead of having to reboot to Bootcamp
when I need to use a Windows application
(and after much effort to install and get to
work properly) it now runs seamlessly.
When I click on a file, the MBP knows if I
want to use a Windows or a Mac applica-
tion and opens the appropriate resources
and can even share files between the two
operating systems (awesome the best of
both worlds.). There is also better connec-
tivity with Apple TV.
Cons
There is no external modem option so if
you need to send and receive faxes on your
notebook you will have to change to an In-
MacBook Pro Retina - ready for business?
BITS & BYTES
please see BITS, page 7
Tech Tip of the Month
Trim the fat off your mobile phone bill. Check all services youre paying for that are
beyond your voice and data plans. Are you paying for mobile insurance, GPS service,
roadside assistance, visual voicemail, offshore roaming, and dont use them? Eliminating
unnecessary add-ons could save you from $7.97 to $26.97 each month on an AT&T bill.
(Liane Cassavoy, PC World)
SEPTEMBER 2012 BUSINESS TRENDS 7
ternet fax service and if you need
to use a modem for dial up, you
need to do a work-around; no user
serviceable battery you have to
take it to Apple to replace, which
may be expensive. You need to
purchase extra adapters to use an
Ethernet port (for direct connec-
tion to Ethernet or for direct file
transfers from other computers),
another for a vga port (for use
with most video projectors), it
doesnt support Firewire (high
speed connections to external
disk drives) but does use USB 3
which seems as fast. This could
make some of your external
drives obsolete. You will also have
to purchase (about $75) an exter-
nal optical drive to read, run, or
burn CD/DVDs.
Bottom-line
If you are a Mac fan or new to
Apple devices and can afford it
(its pricey), no problem - go for it.
If you are looking to replace your
current Windows business note-
book computer and not a Mac
user, I would go slowly, using
them in parallel until youre com-
fortable, but dont wait until your
notebook dies. I can see why the
new MacBook Pro Retina will be
the new platinum standard for
universal notebook computing.
Bill Dubovsky - Comtel Information
Services, has a proven track record
of business success spanning over
30 years in helping hundreds of or-
ganizations improve their profitabili-
ty. He is the principal technology
specialist with Comtel Information
Services, a New York based telecom-
munications consulting firm, and an
adjunct lecturer in business at the
College of Staten Island, C.U.N.Y.
Contact him at
billdubovsky@gmail.com.
MacBook Pro Retina
BITS
Continued from page 6
That's what we're all about
718-720-1600
1190 Hylan Boulevard
Staten Island, NY 10305-1920
www.heroldinc.com
Bernard Herold & Co., Inc. - A Name You Can Trust
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Explore new career options this fall at Wagner College with quality lifelong
learning experiences. Get the knowledge and skills you need for the job
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Human Resource Management
Building a Home Inspection Business
Accounting Assistant
Executive Administrative Assistant
Microsoft Office Suite
Wedding & Event Planning Certification
Paralegal
Notary Public
Healthcare, Fitness & Safety
Clinical Medical Assistant
Medical Billing & Coding
EKG Technician
Pharmacy Technician
Infection Control Licensure Renewal
OSHA General Industry Outreach Training
Personal Fitness Trainer Certification
Fitness Workshops
Certificate and Career Training Programs
Adult Continuing Education
On Campus. Online. Ongoing.
Personal Enrichment
Parent Leadership
Life Coach Workshops
Acting
Film Editing
How to Make it in Voice-Overs
Digital Photography
Pottery, Ceramics
Open Studio-Figure Sculpture
Sampling of our Online Career Training
AutoCAD 2011
Certified Auto Glass Technician
Comp TIAA+ Certification
HVAC Technician
Professional Bookkeeping with Quickbooks
Project Management
Six Sigma Black Belt
Travel Agent
Test Preparation
Examkrackers LSAT Test Prep
Kaplan Test Prep
For more information on these and other programs or to
register, call 718-390-3221 or visit
www.wagner.edu/external
Facebook: Wagnerextpro and Twitter: WagnerExternal
RANDOM ACCESS
Did you know thatthere are a growing number of great sites for free
Internet TV? Snagfilms.com has some outstanding and quirky docu-
mentaries available for computers with a subset of programs that run
on their free tablet and smart phone App. Google Internet TV for a
list of others.
How do Idownload a clip from a video-sharing site like YouTube or
Break.com? An outstanding tool, keepvid.com, not only downloads the
clip for you but can also convert it into a MP4 file that will run on most
video players. My personal favorite.
Beware! An old phone scam is back. Area codes 284, 809, 876 are for
the British Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic and Jamaica. If you call
one of these areas with the promise of a prize, job, investment opportu-
nity, or in response to a message left for you, they will try to keep you
on line as long as possible at about $1.50 to $4.00 per minute. Dont
return unknown phone calls if its important, theyll call back!
Useful Web sites: Coned.com. Not using your old, second refrigerator
or freezer in the basement or garage? If it works and is of a certain
size, Con Ed will not only pick it up at your home, but send you $50 by
mail. Check their website or call 800 430 9505 for details and program
expiration.
App Update: Useful apps you should consider for your tablet/smart
phone. A quick sampling: TWC (The Weather Channel free, very useful
when traveling), AP Mobile (quick news free), Calculator (free),
Currency (know what those euros and other currency are really costing
you free), AroundMe (amazing free app finds your location and then
tells you whats available around you. Dont leave home without this
one!).
SPECIALTY SERVICES:
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Dental Implants
New Teeth In A Day

Minor Cosmetic Procedures: Botox and Juvederm
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FREE DENTAL IMPLANT SEMINARS AT 6:00PM
Thursday September 27th, 2012
Thursday October 25th, 2012
Thursday November 29th, 2012
201 Edward Curry Avenue, Suite 101

(Off of South Ave, near the Hilton Hotel and the Teleport)
347.354.2228
www.paramountoralsurgery.com
Call us
for a
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consultation!
Limited seating
CALL NOW!
SI RUSSIAN FALL FEST
SUNDAY, SEPT. 9
Time: 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
Location: Midland Beach Parking
Lot
For information, call 718-6339-0003
NYCID: ACE PROGRAM
OPEN HOUSE
MONDAY, SEPT. 10
Time: 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
Location: NYCID Office, 26 Bay St.,
3rd Fl.
WBCLDC: APPLYING
FOR FINANCING
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12
Time: 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.
Location: 705 Forest Ave., 2nd Fl.
NYS WOMEN, INC.
(RICHMOND CNTY.)
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Bella Vita Cafe
HOME IMPROVEMENT
CONTRACTORS
MONTHLY MTG.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: LiGrecis Staaten, 697
Forest Ave.
RICHMOND CNTY.
BANKERS ASSOC.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12
Location: Mikes Place, 4677 Hylan
Blvd.
INDEP. ASSOC. OF
ACCOUNTANTS OF SI
THURSDAY, SEPT. 13
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Bocelli, 1250 Hylan Blvd.
CHAMBER: MICROSOFT
FOCUS ON YOUR
BUSINESS
Business Calendar
please see EVENTS, page 21
By BILLY SPARKLE
How would you like to learn a
simple technique that will greatly
increase your effectiveness when
communicating with others? Well
Im glad to hear that because
youre gonna love this one
The simple technique Im refer-
ring to is called pre-framing. In
fact, I just applied it. Did you no-
tice?
Pre-framing is when you say
something in advance of the rest
of what youre going to say that
sets your audience up to listen to
you in a very specific way.
So when I just said youre
gonna love this you were al-
ready listening to what came af-
terward as if it were something
you were going to love.
Weve all had experiences with
people telling a joke where they
started out by saying, Im not
very good at telling jokes, or Al-
right, I hope I dont screw this
up
These are examples of ineffec-
tive pre-frames. They set up the
listener in a way that actually
works against the teller of the
joke. When speaking, you want to
set your listeners up in ways that
work for you.
Really effective pre-frames in-
duce the inner states of being
that you want the person(s) listen-
ing to you to experience. For in-
stance, I bet when you hear what
Im about to say, youre going to
start feeling really good inside
Or, I have something to tell you
thats going to excite you so much
youre not even going to be able to
sit still because youll be wanting
to go do it
Now the person who heard that
pre-frame is already half-way out
of their seat waiting to go do
whatever it is Im about to tell
them.
Im sure you can think of some
fun and effective ways to pre-
frame your conversations when
speaking with others. Think of it
like this: The pre-frame is the ac-
tual frame inside of which the
rest of your conversation be-
comes the picture. If you want
people to feel a certain way, tell
them that what youre going to
say is going to make them feel
that way. If you want people to ac-
tually hear you from a particular
point of view, tell them that thats
the point of view you want them
to listen to you from.
For instance, I want to share
something with you and Id like
you to listen to it in an open-
minded fashion. Allow yourself
to suspend all judgment as you
listen unemotionally to what Im
about to share with you
Im sure you can see the advan-
tages of this kind of speaking - es-
pecially for potentially heated
subjects.
Thats it for now. I bet youre
going to enjoy applying this tech-
nique to your conversations this
month. See that? I just did it
again in a slightly varied way.
There are many ways to do this;
in fact, most of us are already pre-
framing in many of our conversa-
tions. My intention in writing
this article is to make you aware
of this technique, notice that
youre already doing it, and be-
come conscious of how you can
actually set up your conversa-
tions to work for you from now
on.
Dont be like the poor joke
teller who is always screwing
these things up. Instead, be the
effective communicator you
know yourself to be and com-
mand your audience to listen to
you in a particular way by pre-
framing the things youre about
to say. If you do, I promise youre
going to love the way you sound.
Coach Billy works with highly com-
mitted men & women to produce un-
precedented results in their busi-
nesses and their lives. Learn more at
www.billysparkle.com or contact
Billy directly via e-mail at
billy@billysparkle.com.
Youre gonna LOVE this
COACHS CORNER
Drop us a line
Email: news@sibiztrends.com
MONDAY
Bus. Outreach Ctr of SI/WBCLDC
Small Bus. Counseling
MWBE/BOC Capital: WBCLDC, 705
Forest Ave., 2nd Fl. By appointment
only. For info, call 718-816-4775.
Kiwanis Club of Richmond Co.:
LaFontana Restaurant, 2879 Amboy
Rd. 7 p.m. For info, call 718-420-
1966.
College of S.I., Small Bus. Dev. Ctr.
Business Counseling: CSI, 2800
Victory Blvd. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No
charge. For info, call the SBDC at
718-982-2560.
TUESDAY
Direct120.com, Ultimate Think
Tank: Lorenzos, 1100 South Ave. For
info, visit www.direct120.com.
Kiwanis Club of South Shore:
LaFontana, 2879 Amboy Rd. 7:30
p.m. For info, call 718-370-2770.
SCORE Business Counseling: S.I.
Bank & Trust, 1550 Richmond Rd. 9
a.m. to noon. No appointment nec-
essary. No charge. For info, call 718-
727-1221.
Business Guild I of the S.I. Cham-
ber of Commerce: Hilton Garden
Inn, 1100 South Ave. 7:45 a.m. Mem-
bers and invited guests only. For
info, call Christina Fiorenza at 347-
581-5022.
Business Network Intl. (BNI) Net-
work Alliance Chapter: Z-One
Lounge, 1821 Richmond Ave. 7 to
8:30 a.m. For info, call Timothy
Houston at 718-981-8600.
Rotary Club Staten Island: LiGre-
cis Staten, 697 Forest Ave. 12:30 to
1:30 p.m. Members and guests wel-
come. For info, call 718-370-3140.
Business Counseling: Chamber of
Commerce, 130 Bay St. 9 a.m. No
718-982-2560.
Victory Blvd. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No
718-982-2560.
WEDNESDAY
Staten Island Business Council:
Lorenzos at Hilton Garden Inn, 1100
South Ave. 7 a.m. Members and
invited guests only. For info, call 347-
855-4488 or send an e-mail to
info@sibizcouncil.com.
Bucks Business Network: Hamp-
ton Inn, 1120 South Ave. 7:45 a.m.
For info, call 718-351-2557 or visit
www.sibucks.com.
Kiwanis Club of Brighton: Jodys
Club Forest, 372 Forest Ave. 7:30
p.m. For info, call 718-348-0505.
WEEKLY MEETINGS
please see MEETINGS, page 11
Kiwanis Club of North Central:
LiGrecis Staten, 697 Forest Ave.
7:30 p.m. For info, call Len Bosso at
347-592-1937.
Rotary Club of Gateway: The Lake
Club, 1150 Clove Rd. 7:15 p.m. For
info, call 718-447-1509.
SCORE Business Counseling:
Chamber of Commerce, 130 Bay St.
9 to 11:30 a.m. Appointment neces-
sary. No charge. For info, call 718-
727-1221.
E.L.I.T.E. (Executive, Leadership,
Interactive, Team, Effort) Net-
working Group: 1110 South Ave. 8
a.m. New members welcome. For
info, call 347-273-1375.
Victory Blvd. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For
info, call 718-982-2560.
THURSDAY
Kiwanis Club of Staten Island:
LiGrecis Staten, 697 Forest Ave.
7:30 p.m. For info, call 718-967-4345
or go to
kiwanisclubofstatenisland.com.
Rotary Club of South Shore: Mari-
na Grand, 141 Mansion Ave. 12:15 p.m.
For info, call 718-987-2061 or visit
southshorerotary.org.
Rotary Club Mid-Island: New Dako-
ta Diner, 921 Richmond Ave. 7:30 to
9:00 a.m. For info, call 718-981-
0700.
SCORE Business Counseling: SI
Bank & Trust, 1550 Richmond Rd. 9
a.m. to noon. No appointment nec-
essary. No charge. For info, call 718-
727-1221.
Rotary Club of North Shore: LiGre-
cis Staten, 697 Forest Ave. 7 p.m.
For info, call Chris Williams at 718-
442-9047.
Business Network Intl. (BNI) High
Achievers Chapter: Perkins Restau-
rant, 4370 Amboy Rd. 7:30 to 8:30
a.m. For info, call Timothy Houston
at 718-981-8600.
Business Network Intl. (BNI) High
Achievers Chapter: Perkins, 4370
Amboy Road. 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. For
info, call Timothy Houston at 718-
981-8600.
Business Guild II of the S.I. Cham-
Inn, 1100 South Ave. 7:45 to 8:45
a.m. Members and invited guests
only. For info, call Bob Williams at
718-356-1952.
Business Guild III of the SI Cham-
Inn, 1100 South Ave. 7:30 a.m. New
members welcome. Call Melody
Minkoff at 718-370-0040.
Victory Blvd. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For
info, call 718-982-2560.
Community Emergency Response
Team (CERT): 7 p.m. For info. and
locations, call John Tidona at 718-
448-7160 or e-mail
portrichcert@yahoo.com.
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SCORE Business Counseling: St.
George Library, 5 Central Ave. 10
a.m. to noon. Appointment neces-
sary. No charge. For info, call 718-
442-8560.
SCORE Business Counseling: Rich-
mondtown Library, 200 Clarke Ave.
10 to 11:30 a.m. Appointment neces-
sary. For info, call 718-668-0413.
Weekly Meetings
MEETINGS
Drop us a line
Mail: Business Trends, 66 Willow Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305
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Cable, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and local
businesses like Jealan Fireplaces and The Pool
Therapist. To learn more, visit the Offer Board
at www.DomeGroup.com/dscOffers.
Back in March, Cuomo an-
nounced this series of workshops
that would be held in 10 regions
throughout the state, designed to
help small business owners start
and grow their business. Its vital
that these people have a compre-
hensive overview of the states
rules, regulations and processes,
Alphonso said, especially consid-
ering that 97 percent of compa-
nies in New York are categorized
as small businesses.
A former small business owner
himself, Alphonso can relate with
small business owners whose pri-
mary obstacle to success is often
working with limited resources.
Sometimes, these owners have
never run a business before, and
they all put in a lot of hours, so
they dont have extra time to dedi-
cate to learning the ins and outs
of state procedures. As such, the
states free resources are invalu-
able.
There is a need for this infor-
mation, Alphonso said. It has
been heartening to know that
were providing information that
is needed. Its been an illuminat-
ing process for us.
Alphonso and his team work
with local Small Business Devel-
opment Centers, EPA centers, col-
leges and universities to ensure
the information they provide is
funneled through, and supported
by, the local channels. While some
business owners theyve met with
were aware of some of the finan-
cial assistance available through
state programs, most were un-
aware of the free technical assis-
tance programs that cover how
to create a business plan, how to
identify employees, how to create
an industry-specific plan and how
to expand to other parts of the
state.
There is more than $100 mil-
lion in state financial assistance
available for small business own-
ers in a variety of areas, with
many new programs that were
put in place over the last year.
Among these new programs are
the Capital Access Program, pro-
viding $18.4 million in matching
funds to increase small business
lending; the Revolving Loan fund,
$50 million targeted to minority
and women business owners who
have difficulty accessing credit;
the Surety Bond assistance pro-
gram, providing credit assistance
and technical support to small
business owners interested in ob-
taining government contracts in
the construction field; and the In-
novate NY fund, a $25 million eq-
uity fund to support high-growth
local businesses in emerging
markets and technology.
The states ongoing focus is to
remove all the barriers to eco-
nomic growth, Alphonso said.
Part of that process is the work-
shops and speaking to small busi-
ness owners about their issues
and concerns.
But the states leadership
group knows that one-time work-
shops and reminders wont be
enough.
I see it more as a beginning of
a process, Alphonso said. We
understand that we may have to
do this multiple times, because
we are trying to reach people who
are very busy and have limited re-
sources.
Additional workshops and a
business summit are possibilities
for the future. In July, the gover-
nor announced the launch of a
new website, www.thenewny.com,
which will work hand-in-hand
with www.nyfirst.ny.gov to provide
small business owners with infor-
mation they need to grow and
prosper on their own, or show
them where to find personalized
help if they need it.
The focus of these initiatives is
to create a sustainable infrastruc-
ture in New York, where people
create businesses here, grow here
and remain here.
Our ultimate goal is to gener-
ate support for economic growth
in this state, Alphonso said. We
want to make sure that we create
an infrastructure where it is easi-
er to conduct business in the
state.
If businesses grow, then the
economy grows as well. If they
hire individuals to work in their
businesses, then we are incen-
tivizing growth in the state.
A special delivery
SUPPORT
By MICHAEL ANICITO
It is a general assumption that
the cost of sending a child to a
private or state college will go in
only one direction in the next
twenty years; that direction is ex-
pensive. Thankfully, there are ef-
fective ways to start saving.
Specifically, I want to highlight
the benefits of a 529 College Sav-
ings Plan.
The main attraction of a 529
College Savings Plan is that the
growth in earnings grow federal-
ly tax-free when used for costs of
higher education. Unlike a tax-
able account, the compounding of
tax-free earnings growth pro-
vides a greater potential over the
long-term.
There are no deductions for
making a contribution. Higher
education costs are deemed to be:
tuition, fees, room and board
(with limitations), books, sup-
plies, and equipment for enroll-
ment or attendance. If with-
drawals are taken without satisfy-
ing one of these costs, the earn-
ings become taxable at federal,
state, and local income tax levels
and are penalized by a federal tax
penalty of 10 percent.
If you are a New York resident,
you may be eligible to receive a
tax incentive for making a contri-
bution to the 529 Plan. A resident
can receive a state tax deduction
of up to $5,000 (up to $10,000 for
couples married filing jointly).
There are no income limitations
on making a contribution to the
plan. A person can contribute up
to $375,000 to a childs 529 Plan. In
New York, if there is more than
one plan for the same beneficiary,
the total asset level cannot exceed
$375,000.
Even though the assets inside a
529 College Savings Plan are con-
sidered gifts for federal gift, gen-
eration skipping, and estate tax
purposes, the beneficiary who is
not the account owner has no con-
trol over the assets inside the ac-
count. You can gift up to $65,000 (5
times the normal gift tax exclu-
sion of $13,000 per year) in a sin-
gle year for each beneficiary
without incurring a federal gift
tax (providing no other gifts are
given). Married couples filing
jointly can gift up to $130,000 per
beneficiary.
In the event that the benefici-
ary does not go to college, the
owners of the account can trans-
fer the registration to another
child or family member. The
owner can even transfer to them-
selves in the event they want to
take college courses.
Michael Anicito is a financial advis-
er at Inspire Investment Solutions.
He may be reached at (646) 606-2111
Agent Funding & Abstract, LLC dba Mortgage Tech Home Finance Registered Mortgage Broker - NYS Banking Department
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The best first step to saving money by reducing energy costs
is the free NYSERDA energy efficiency study. t provides a
comprehensive evaluation to identify cost-effective methods
to reduce energy use and cost, and to identify economically
viable improvements that will yield substantial energy savings.
The study (valued at $1,500) is available whether your
business or not-for-profit owns or leases your facility and is
free if your average electric demand is less than 100kW
(approximately $75,000 in annual electricity expense).
The SBDC makes it easy by filling out the state's online
Consolidated Funding Application for you. We can also help
you obtain generous financial incentives to implement the
recommended energy-efficiency measures. n addition, there's
low-cost financing available for energy upgrades.
CONTACT U8 TO GET YOUR
8
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T
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FREE
NY8ERDA ENERGY
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Call us and meet with one of our Business Advisors TODAY!
718-982-2560
(BrookIyn) 718-619-5603
Dean L. BaIsamini, Director
College planning options
Apply for the Chambers
Building Awards Program
Applications are being accept-
ed for The Staten Island Chamber
of Commerces Annual Building
Awards Program. Open to the en-
tire Staten Island community, the
Building Awards program cele-
brates the best in construction
and design for commercial and
residential properties on Staten
Island. Homeowners with new
construction or renovations, con-
tractors, engineers, architects, in-
terior designers, landscapers, and
craftsman are all encouraged to
submit entries that show off qual-
ity and beautiful work. New resi-
dential and commercial struc-
tures, as well as renovation proj-
ects are eligible.
Applications are due by Sept.
14. Judging will be held on Oct. 12,
and the 51st Building Awards
Luncheon will be held on Friday,
Dec. 7 beginning at 11:30 a.m.,
where entries will be awarded.
Chairing this years program
are Claire Bisignano Chesnoff of
Claire Properties and Alfred V.
Saulo of Alfred V. Saulo Archi-
tects, P.C. The Building Awards
Program is sponsored by Nation-
al Grid.
To obtain an application or for
more information, call (718) 727-
1900 or email Jennifer McGurk at
jmcgurk@sichamber.com.
MARK J. NOTO
Investors Bank
Investors Bank has named Stat-
en Island resident Mark J. Noto to
the position of
senior vice presi-
dent of business
lending.
Noto will man-
age Investors
team of business
lenders who are
serving middle
market compa-
nies in the New YorkNew Jersey
metropolitan area.
He will be based in the banks
downtown Brooklyn office and re-
port to Investors Chief Lending
Officer Richard Spengler.
Noto brings 28 years of bank-
ing and finance experience to his
new position. Prior to joining In-
vestors, he served as senior vice
president at Banco Popular North
America in New York City, where
he was responsible for business
banking and commercial real es-
tate.
Noto also served as the vice
president/group head of middle
market lending at European
American Bank and as senior
vice president/area manager at
Fleet Bank Small Business Serv-
ices. Noto began his banking ca-
reer with National Westminster
Bank USA, where he rose to be-
come vice president, corporate
banking.
He currently serves as a Loan
Committee member of the New
York State Economic Develop-
ment Council.
In addition to his banking ca-
reer, Noto has served the commu-
nity as a board member for
Neighborhood Housing of New
York City, New York Industries
for the Blind and The Staten Is-
land Zoological Society.
Noto earned his Bachelors de-
gree in economics at Fordham
University.
Investors Bank, headquartered
in Short Hills, N.J., is a full-serv-
ice community bank that has
been serving customers since
1926.
JOANN LIBRETTI
Empire State Bank
Empire State Bank announced
that it has appointed JoAnn Li-
bretti as a busi-
ness relationship
manager for its
Staten Island loca-
tion.
Libretti, a resi-
dent of Staten Is-
land, has owned
and operated busi-
nesses for over fif-
teen years. She also has a broad
background in tax preparation.
She is active in many business
network groups, such as SIBP,
Network Plus USA and the SI
Chamber of Commerce, and in
community fundraisers.
Empire State Bank is a state-
chartered commercial bank that
was founded in 2004.
DENNIS DELLA VALLE
First Allied Securities
First Allied Securities an-
nounced the appointment of Den-
nis Della Valle as office manager.
Della Valle is a graduate of Xaver-
ian High School and studied busi-
ness at the College of Staten Is-
land.
He is a 20-year veteran of the
New York City Police Department
and has worked as an office assis-
tant with Transmed Medical
Transcription Services of Staten
Island.
He resides in Huguenot with
his wife, Maria, and son,
Matthew.
JOHN CALABRESE
John Calabrese Financial
John Calabrese of Staten Is-
land has been named Man of the
Year for 2012 by the National Fed-
eration of Italian-American Soci-
eties, Inc.
The award will be presented at
the organizations annual Awards
and Scholarships Presentation
Gala in October.
On that same evening, Cal-
abrese will be inducted into the
Knights and Dames Committee of
the NFIAS.
Calabrese, who is a financial
services representative and finan-
cial advisor at John Calabrese Fi-
nancial, an office of MetLife, lo-
cated in Brooklyn and Staten Is-
land, earned the honor by virtue
of his contributions to his com-
munities through his business
and charitable endeavors. As a
member of the Board of Direc-
tors of The Joseph Anthony
Verdino, Jr. Foundation, Cal-
abrese is instrumental in the con-
struction of a new state-of-the-art
Little League stadium at South
Shore Little League.
Calabrese is an ambassador for
Staten Island Economic Develop-
ment Corporation and sits on the
Board of Directors for The South
Shore Merchant Program. He has
also sponsored autistic children
for summer camp.
In 2007, Calabrese became the
youngest member in history to be
inducted into the MetLife Hall of
Fame. He consistently ranks
among the companys elite per-
formers.
The National Federation of
Italian-American Societies, Inc.,
is a Brooklyn-based organization
whose mission is to assist fami-
lies and individuals in need.
1140 Victory Blvd.
Tel: 718.370.3464
Fax: 718.370.3462
www.paulofinancialadvisors.com
Money Management
Retirement
Financial Consulting
Estate Planning
Members are fully licensed and insured.
When you hire a NARI-HIC member, you can be sure they have undergone
a rigorous screening process that confirms their stability and record
of providing the absolute best in service.
To choose a contractor with confidence, visit
www.hicofsi.org
or call (718) 356-2323
ATTENTION:
Contractors and Affiliated Businesses --
Enhance Your Reputation
Join NARI-HIC of Staten Island
PLUS -
Meet monthly for networking,
benefit from group advertising,
and more
JOIN
NARI-
HIC!
NARI-HIC of Staten Island is a non-profit Trade Association that promotes
- professionalism
- quality workmanship
- customer satisfaction
in the Home Improvement/Remodeling Industry
S T A T E N I S L A N D
C H A P T E R
on the job
Noto
Libretti
Here's a revenue-boosting
opportunity that may be flying
under the radar of your business
or professional networking circle.
Decades-old Dome Property Man-
agement, one of the largest and
most respected companies of its
kind in the New York metropoli-
tan area, is offering an unprece-
dented opportunity for a limited
number of vendors and mer-
chants to share in their success.
The newly introduced Dome
Savings Club gives businesses the
opportunity to expand their cus-
tomer bases for free. Theres
absolutely no catch: You simply
agree to provide an attractive dis-
count to club participants on the
Dome Savings Clubs Offer
Board. That's it. Nothing more. A
nominal one-time set-up fee,
which includes a place on the
clubs online Offer Board, is the
only cost. This is a winning situ-
ation for everyone involved, said
Michael Motelson, president of
Dome Property Management.
ALL PARTIES BENEFIT
Here's why:
(1) The businesses in the Dome
Savings Club may incorporate
marketing incentives that work
best for them, such as dollars-off
or percentage-savings discounts,
free gifts or services, or other
strategies that have successfully
worked for them in the past. They
will enjoy a huge audience com-
prised of well over 10,000 potential
customers at over 100 Dome-man-
aged communities, and are
included in the clubs online mar-
keting efforts.
(2) Homeowners and communities
under Domes management bene-
fit from the dollars they save on
top-quality products and services.
(3) Dome Property Management,
notably Staten Islands premier
property management company,
benefits from directly interacting
with the business community and
providing a greatly appreciated
advantage to the many condo com-
munities it services.
Founded in 1987, Dome Proper-
ty Management manages over 100
condominium and homeowners
association communities, mostly
on Staten Island, and is the
biggest such operation in the bor-
ough. Dome provides comprehen-
sive property management servic-
es to many types of properties and
complexes, from under 10 to more
than 500 units, and includes many
building types and individually
owned homes. For now, the Dome
Savings Club is being marketed
solely to its Staten Island condo
communities.
DISTINGUISHED
MEMBERS
Time Warner Cable was the first
to participate in the club, with an
offer to supply participating
condo residents a savings of more
than $60 per month with bulk-rate
pricing. Additional members
include national companies, such
as Wells Fargo Home Mortgage,
and reputable local merchants,
such as Jealan Fireplaces. Even
Dome itself has joined in by offer-
ing preferred pricing and
enhanced services to the residents
of participating communities.
Now that the word is out, it is
likely representatives of the auto-
motive, banking, medical, finan-
cial and restaurant industries will
soon come on board. Dome should
also expect to hear from numer-
ous home-services businesses,
such as landscaping, contracting,
plumbing, electrical, woodwork-
ing, painting, multi-service and
product suppliers, and others.
Given the assortment of com-
munities and properties we man-
age, and the many goods and serv-
ices they and their residents con-
sume, businesses offering a wide
array of products and services
can benefit from participating,
said Enid Motelson, senior vice
president of Dome Property Man-
agement.
SOLID REPUTATION
IS A MUST
If you are interested in participat-
ing in the Dome Savings Club as a
merchant or vendor, be aware that
not every business will qualify.
Only businesses with a stellar
reputation for product, customer-
service and integrity will be con-
sidered, Michael Motelson said.
By simply providing a discount to
Domes customers in these tough
economic times, quality mer-
chants, service providers and ven-
dors can strengthen the loyalty of
their existing customers and
attract and build relationships
with new prospects.
For additional information,
Dome Property
Management may be reached at
718-605-2500,
e-mail at DomeProp@
DomeGroup.com, and
visited online
at www.DomeGroup.com. The
Dome Savings Clubs Offer
Board can be found at
www.DomeGroup.com/dscOffers.
The company is headquartered at
109 Winant Place,
Staten Island, NY 10309.
Current Participants:
Dome Savings Club connects businesses
to thousands of potential customers for free
Advertisement
The Tides at Charleston, the first active-adult community of its kind in metropolitan New York, is one of over 100 condominium and home-
owners association communities benefitting from the extensive services provided by Dome Property Management.
Dome Property Management provides com-
prehensive property management services
to many types of properties and complexes,
from under 10 to more than 500 units, and
includes many building types and individual-
ly owned homes.
to other things. Staten Island has
some catching up to do as far as
getting our businesses unified so
that, not only do they have a pret-
tier street and holiday lights, but
they also have a voice when it
comes to the City of New York.
Goals of the initiative are to
keep businesses in the area, have
the community patronize those
businesses, have those businesses
grow and attract new businesses
to the area, Christensen said.
Local residents often travel out of
the neighborhood to go to other
areas of the Island instead of
staying local to do their shopping,
he said, and thats something the
Corridor hopes to change.
As part of the initiative, new
business directories are available
at participating businesses, in-
cluding a listing of the services
and shops available along the
commercial strip.
In addition, a website,
www.CastletonCorridor.com, was
launched to not only list the busi-
nesses but profile business own-
ers and offer promotions for con-
sumers. The Castleton Commer-
cial Corridor is split into three
distinct areas East, Center and
West to highlight the unique
commercial offering and neigh-
borhood character.
West Brighton is a wonderful
neighborhood and great place to
shop. The Forest Avenue Busi-
ness Improvement District is bet-
ter known for shopping, but
Castleton Commercial Corridor
offers an eclectic mix of retail
and service oriented businesses
along the corridor, said Angela
DAiuto, executive director of the
WBCLDC. I am confident that
with the support of local resi-
dents and merchants, the new
website, print directories and pro-
motions will go a long way to
serve the community and estab-
lish Castleton Corridor as a great
place to eat and meet, shop and
stroll.
In conjunction with the WB-
CLDC, the Corridor will promote
a sustainable community by of-
fering free reusable shopping
bags at select places of business
on the second and fourth Thurs-
day of September.
The NYC Small Business Serv-
ices, Community Development
Block Grant program will pro-
vide funding for the Corridor for
FY12 and FY13, DAiuto said.
After FY13, funding will focus
primarily on business attraction,
with particular emphasis on
Parisi Rampulla & Lenza, P.C.
78 Martin Avenue | Staten Island, NY, 10314
(718) 761-3333
Short Sales, Mortgage Modification,
Foreclosure Defense
"05 Jensv o; fnsng ;os ous fommunIy "05 Jensv o; fnsng ;os ous fommunIy "05 Jensv o; fnsng ;os ous fommunIy "05 Jensv o; fnsng ;os ous fommunIy
Visiting Nurse Association of Staten sland
400 Lake Ave., Staten sland, NY 10303
Patient ntake: 718-816-3500
Website: vnasi.org
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7
Castleton comes together
CORRIDOR
please see CORRIDOR, page 20
St. George - 29,730 sq. ft. 5-story commercial office build-
ing with 38 off-street parking spaces. Across from new
court house. Banks Welcome!! Only Drive-Thru opportuni-
ty in St. George. Call Robert for details. Asking $6,475,000
- 7 % Cap Rate.
West Brighton - 4,000 sq. ft. Commercial building with off-
street parking on Forest Avenue. Sit back and collect rent on
this fully renovated property consisting of a restaurant & retail
store. $100k net income. Asking $1,185,000. Call Robert for
details at Ext. 17.
Contact our Commercial Division for
more information about:
Sales & Leasing Investment Property
Multi-dwellings Industrial/Manufacturing
Retail Space Raw Land
Warehouses 1031 Exchanges
Office Buildings
Your gateway to better business and better living on Staten Island
285 St. Mark's Place Staten Island, NY 10301
718-273-3800
www.gatewayarmsrealty.com
Our Knowledge, Experience, Teamwork + Integrity =
Results for You
Now Available
Now leasing 1,800 square feet of prime retail space and brand new 1,000-
5,000 square foot office spaces in professional elevator office building.
Located on Hyatt Street with excellent exposure to all municipal buildings,
new court house and St. George Theatre. Call Robert for more info.
Four Story, 16,000+ square foot development opportunity. Excellent site
for condominium, community facility or investment property. Building to
be built into hillside with proposed views of the harbor and underground
parking garage. Minutes to S.I. Ferry Terminal, shopping and transporta-
tion. Asking $799,000. Call Robert for details at Ext. 17.
INVESTM
ENT
ST. G
EO
RG
E
INVESTM
ENT
LO
W
ER W
ARD
H
ILL
Drop us a line
Castleton Center.
The Corridors board hopes to
attract business types that do not
exist currently, and outreach will
be conducted to both residents
and the commercial real estate
community.
For now, the entire Corridor
will continue to be marketed with
the help of involved merchants,
interns and volunteers from
NYCID and S.I. Court Innovation.
Special fund-raising and other
events are being planned for the
fall as well, DAiuto said.
Individual business owners
can get involved with the Corri-
dor now by volunteering their
time with marketing efforts and
supporting the local community
themselves by spending their
money there, Christensen said. In
a years time, he said the goal is to
have a definitive, expansive calen-
dar of events within the Corridor.
And after that, hed personally
love to see the Corridor evolve
into a Business Improvement Dis-
trict, a project that would take a
few years to develop.
In the meantime, merchants in
the corridor have to get the word
out to residents so that they, too,
can feel a part of the effort that
will ultimately improve the com-
munity for everyone, not just
business owners.
We have to help businesses for
business sake for our communi-
ty sake. We have to keep the busi-
nesses thriving, Christensen
said.
If we keep a vibrant commu-
nityand those businesses that
are doing well spread that enthu-
siasm to those businesses that are
new, I think that it could be conta-
gious. That will pass onto the con-
sumer.
Biz
come
together
CORRIDOR
Drop us a line
TUESDAY, SEPT. 18
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: 2 Corporate Commons Dr.
SCORE: PAY PER CLICK
TUESDAY, SEPT. 18
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: 1550 Richmond Road
NYS WOMEN, INC.
(STATEN ISLAND)
TUESDAY, SEPT. 18
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: LiGrecis Staaten, 697
Forest Ave.
BUSINESS LEADERS
TOASTMASTERS
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 19
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: 43 Ramona Ave.
For information, call Arlene Trunzo
at 718-317-0949
NETPRENEURS:
COPYRIGHT BASICS
FOR WEB
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 19
Time: 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
CHAMBER: BUSINESS
AFTER HOURS
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 19
Location: Ruby Falls Caf, 45 Page
Ave.
NETWORKING PLUS
THURSDAY, SEPT. 20
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Location: Golden Dove, 3281 Rich-
mond Ave.
WBCLDC: POWER
OF EMAIL MARKETING
THURSDAY, SEPT. 20
Time: 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.
SI BOARD
OF REALTORS
GOLF OUTING
THURSDAY, SEPT. 20
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Park Manor Country Club
(former S. Shore CC)
SI MUSEUM CONCERT:
INGRID MICHAELSON
SATURDAY, SEPT. 22
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: St. George Theatre, 35
Hyatt St.
GREENBELT
CONSERVANCY GALA
SUNDAY, SEPT. 23
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Richmond County Coun-
try Club
Ext. 310 or 309
Calendar
EVENTS
please see EVENTS, page 23
By DR. THEODORE STRANGE
Lets face it: Driving to work
can be rough. Increased traffic
and congestion, long commutes,
people talking on hands-free de-
vices, drivers switching lanes try-
ing to pass each other it can be
very overwhelming. Its especial-
ly difficult for people with a
newly diagnosed medical condi-
tion or the aged. There comes a
time when we need to ask our-
selves: is it time for me to turn in
the keys?
Before making any decision, it
is important to honestly evaluate
your driving ability. Have your
driving skills diminished over
time?
Have you been recently diag-
nosed with a medical condition,
such as impaired vision, demen-
tia, seizure disorder, diabetes,
sleep disorders, or traumatic
brain injury?
Or have you started a new med-
ication that can affect your driv-
ing ability? These factors all come
into play.
Also, be aware of other warn-
ing signs that can be cause for
alarm: two or more traffic tick-
ets/violations in two years or
less, or two or more collisions
with other vehicles or objects
(during driving or while parking)
in two years or less.
As we age, our vision, hearing,
range of motion and reaction
time may decrease making mobil-
ity specifically driving in-
creasingly difficult, said Renee
Cohen, an occupational therapist
at SI University Hospital. This
may mean reducing your driving,
or seeking alternative methods of
transportation: carpooling, mass-
transit, taxi, etc. Aging does not
mean you dont have somewhere
you need to be.
There are many self-rating ma-
terials available locally or on
the Internet that can provide in-
formation in recognizing and cor-
recting potentially dangerous or
unsafe situations on the road.
There are a number of ways
that one can improve their driv-
ing ability, said Cohen. Courses
are available online or in the
classroom to help aging individu-
als learn to adjust to slowing re-
flexes, stay current regarding
new driving technology, and pro-
vide information on available
adaptations for their vehicles.
By using these resources, you
may be eligible for discounts from
your insurance provider.
If you dont fit into the above
category, there are still some
things you can do to protect your-
self and others commuting to
work. Check the exterior of the
car for any potential hazards;
check your tire pressure, and look
for leaking fluids and broken
head lights or turn signals. And
while were at it, use your turn
signals.
One thing we can all agree on:
no one looks forward to commut-
ing to work, so lets make it safe
for everyone!
Theodore Strange is Staten Island
University Hospital associate chair-
man of medicine and vice president
of medical operations/South Site. He
may be reached at (718) 356-6500.

s
t
a
tena
r
t
s
Staten Arts Photography
www.statenartsphotography.com
Steve White
6 Genesee Avenue
Phone: 718.317.5025
Cell: 917.446.4029
Email: statenarts@aol.com
Weddings
Sweet 16s
Anniversaries
Birthday Parties
Much much more!
..................................
Slow down your pace
HEALTH-CARE TRENDS
Carinci signs foreign
rights contract for book
Embassy Book Distributors, lo-
cated in Mumbai, India, have just
signed a foreign rights contract to
translate and publish local busi-
nessman John Paul Carincis
tome An All-Consuming Desire
to Succeed in the Indian Sub-
continent, Malaysia, and Singa-
pore.
Embassy will have exclusive
rights in those regions. Carinci is
an accomplished author, song-
writer, and movie producer, in ad-
dition to his role as president of
Carinci Insurance Agency here
on Staten Island.
24-7
NETWORKING SALES
MONDAY, SEPT. 24
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Z-One Restaurant, Rich-
mond Ave.
WORLD OF WOMEN
MONTHLY MEETING
MONDAY, SEPT. 24
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Marina Grand, Mansion
Ave.
SBA & CSI FORUM:
ACCESS TO SMALL
BUSINESS CAPITAL
TUESDAY, SEPT. 25
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: College of SI, Bldg. 1P
SCORE WORKSHOP:
FACEBOOK
TUESDAY, SEPT. 25
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: 1550 Richmond Rd.
WBCLDC: BECOMING A
CERTIFIED MWBE
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26
Time: 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.
PORT AUTH. FORUM:
SMALL BUS.
OPPORTUNITIES
THURSDAY, SEPT. 27
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: LiGrecis Staaten, 697 For-
est Ave.
NEW DAY
TOASTMASTERS
THURSDAY, SEPT. 27
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: SI Univ. Hosp., Seaview
Ave.
Calendar
EVENTS
Wagner ranked again
Wagner College is listed in the
Princeton Reviews Best 377 Col-
leges guide for the ninth year in
a row. The college appeared on
the list in several of the special-
ized Top 20 categories, including
Best College Theater, where it
is ranked at No. 4, and Class Dis-
cussions are Encouraged. Only
about 15 percent of Americas
2,500 four-year colleges and three
colleges outside the U.S.A. are
profiled in the book. It includes
detailed profiles of the colleges
with rating scores for all schools
in eight categories, based on the
Princeton Reviews surveys of
students attending the colleges.
The Princeton Review does not
rank the colleges in the book aca-
demically or from 1 to 377 in any
category. Instead, it reports in the
book 62 ranking lists of Top 20
colleges in various categories.
The lists are entirely based on a
survey of 122,000 students (about
324 per campus, on average) at-
tending the colleges in the book,
and not on the Princeton Re-
views opinion of the schools.
By ROBERT CUTRONA
Through my teens, my father
would frequently say to me you
are going to have it better than
me. Unfortunately, I cannot say
the same to my daughters. Yes,
my wife and I are committed to
giving them a good education, the
lessons of self-reliance, a sense of
achievement, a disciplined work
ethic and the philosophy that we
are limited only by the triviality
of our visions. We are also teach-
ing them that hard work, effort
and sacrifice are the keys to suc-
cess. Even with all this, however, I
firmly believe that the political,
social and cultural environment
that they will be immersed in will
counter much of these disci-
plines. The basis for my belief is
that this country is going down
the road of bigger and more in-
trusive government. Individual
freedoms, entrepreneurial spirit
and aspirational thinking are all
under attack in the name of
equality. Individual successes are
being branded communal and col-
lectivist. There will ultimately be
little incentive to compete, to
excel. Whether you produce 15
widgets per day or 100, the recog-
nition and compensation will be
the same. Moreover, with the
growing involvement of govern-
ment in our everyday lives, future
generations will become more
and more dependent on govern-
ment assistance further stifling
self-reliance and personal respon-
sibility. Paternalism at its worst!
Remember Obamas statement
saying if you have a successful
business, you did not build it by
yourself. And the more recent re-
sponse by Obamas supporters
after Romney pointed out that the
country is trending toward indi-
vidual achievements being cast as
collective (Romney amplified
his point by saying left-leaning
thinkers feel that a child who
makes the honor roll didnt
achieve that success by himself.
They feel that it was a communal
effort and even the school bus
driver should share in the
achievement). Obamas support-
ers unanimously and quickly
agreed that most, if not all,
achievements are collective. This
kind of warped thinking is mov-
ing human aspirational thinking
in the wrong direction. Sadly, our
children and grandchildren will
not have the opportunities that
we had. Since our best chances
for individual growth, social mo-
bility, global competitiveness and
the countrys future success re-
side with our young people, col-
lectivist thinking does not bode
well for our next generation and
ultimately our nation. For the
good of our country, productive
Americans want the government
to simply leave us alone and allow
us to grow and flourish.
Robert Cutrona, president of
Project One Services, is a director of
Business Trends
Fidelity Payment Services is a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank, NA, Walnut Creek, CA - Member FDIC and US Bank Minneapolis, MN.
ADVANCED PAYMENT PROCESSING.
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IN YOUR OPINION
around the island
Lois and Richard Nicotra (pictured, foreground) took a minute to pose with some of the Nicotra Group
staff who turned out to enjoy their 4th Annual Employee Appreciation BBQ held on the grounds of the
Hilton Garden Inn. Food, rides, games and music ensured a good time for all.
Special to Business Trends
Richmond University Medical Center, with a large graduate medical education program, hosted gradua-
tion of their academic finest. To be sure each graduate leaves with a special remembrance of Staten Is-
land, the graduation was hosted at one of Staten Islands landmark sites, the St. George Theatre. Gradu-
ates of Residency Programs in OB/Gyn, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry and Radiology along
with Fellows from programs in Nephrology and Hematology/Oncology were among the 46 to complete
their residency. Pictured, from left, are: Teresa Lemma, M.D.; Graduate Revathy Thangaratnavel, M.D.;
Anne Biletto, M.D.; Rehan Malik, M.D.; and David Gutman, M.D.
The Board of Directors of the SI Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Board Social at the Marina
Grand to thank those Chamber members who have served on committees throughout the year. Pictured,
from left, are: Chad Reyes of Wealth & Legacy Group; Sal Sottile of Sottile Security; SICC Board Chair
Solomon Chemo of Richmond Group Wealth Advisors; Harold Kaplan of Abco Refrigeration; Mike Assenza
of StatLand Security; and Murray Berman of Heritage Hills.
STATEN ISLAND MUSEUM/Special to Business Trends
Con Edison donated $4,000 to the Staten Island Museum to support
a documentary film being made about how the museum is going
green at its Snug Harbor location by installing a geothermal heating
and cooling system. The video will be used for the museums school
programs starting in the fall and at other community events to pro-
mote green building projects. Pictured, from left, are SI Museum
President Elizabeth Egbert, Mark Irving of Con Edison and filmmaker
Mickey Burns of Quest Media Entertainment.
U.S. Senator for NY Kirsten Gillibrand came to Staten Island to an-
nounce new legislation she is proposing to assist small business op-
erators. She made the announcement at Total Electric on South Av-
enue. Pictured at the announcement, from left, are Gillibrand, Total
Electric owner Lenore Schwartz and state Sen. Diane Savino.
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packages and accommodations for serious and casual hunters alike. All of our packages include a
full hunting excursion, licensed guide, field dressing, as well as all meals and accommodations at
our newly remodeled lodge - Stuyvesant Manor; the former estate of Hollywood Icon Sidney Poitier -
which is also licensed as a bed and breakfast.
Whether you're looking for a short getaway, a corporate retreat, a camping weekend or even a seminar
with guest speakers and instructors, Stuyvesant Outdoor Adventures is a perfect spot.
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The staff of National Grid, along with guests from Neighborhood Housing Services, enjoyed a night out to
see the SI Yankees play the Brooklyn Cyclones at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.
National Grid at the Brooklyn Cyclones
Eden II participant Billy Irvine joins Joanne Gerenser, Diane Sener-
chia, and Susan Lamberti in celebrating Northfield Bank Founda-
tions $25,000 grant to the Capital Campaign for Eden IIs new
Beach Street building.
Northfield Foundation grants $25K
The new 121 Precinct, under construction in Travis, was visited by
members of the Staten Island Chapter of the American Institute of
Architects. Pictured, from left, are Fred Wilmers, James Oliva, Frank
Mattarella, Markus Marino, Timothy Boyland, George Turner, Ansel-
mo Genovese, Robert Engler, Mark Lipton, Ciro Asperti, Elena Asper-
ti, and David Businelli.
121 Precinct

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SEPTEMBER 2012

BITS & BYTES

New Teeth In A Day

Staten Island, NY 10314

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