Over a year has passed since Super Storm Sandy and many of the damaged homes have sat vacnt in disrepair. One such property , 29 Mapleton avenue, has made news on the Island after Councilman Steven Matteo brought its state to attention.

According to The Staten Island Advance, the building was subject to a demolition order, but the roof had recently detatched, presenting a danger to neighborhood children who played in the empty structure. Concilman Matteo said "Protecting our children is always public safety priority number one." He added, "I intend to be particularly vigilant in Sandy-affected neighborhoods because of the unique quality of life challenges they have."

Once Matteo's office contacred the city Department of Housing Preservation and…

1825 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

OK, what is the box and why should we think out of it, you may ask?  

Many years ago, the expression in every corporate training program was, "THINK OUT OF THE BOX". How do we make our business grow?  How do we improve our methods of performing our tasks?  How do we clean our homes more proficiently? (The Roomba vacuum, maybe!)  If one method worked for so many years, it was inevitable that a better method awaited our stagnant brains to keep us on top of the game.  

Recently, I read of a new business on Staten Island that caused me to raise an eyebrow.  There are hundreds, if not thousands, of bars, restaurants, clubs on the Island.  How so many can make a profit is of interest to me.  Each establishment has a gimmick or a clique, as a hangout for…

2310 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

With the development boom on the north shore, St. George is on track to becoming the place to be on Staten Island. Luckily, for the "Forgotton Borough", those developemts have opened up the rest of New York's City's eyes to the opportunities here. The most recent entity to take notice is the New York Water Taxi, which may soon be making a stop in St. George. 

NYWT is looking to capitalize on the boost in tourism from the Empire Outlets and the New York Wheel projects. The Wheel will accommodate up to 1,440 people per ride, welcoming as many as 30,000 visitors per day and an anticipated  4+ million visitors per year. An additonal ferry service would take the tourism stress off the Staten Island Ferry which many Islanders use for daily commutes. 

…

3192 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

A recent SILive.com poll was taken to discover whether Staten Islanders are willing to pay more for products manufactured in the United States.  Over 80% of the respondents agreed they would pay more for American-made products while over 19% said they could not afford the extra costs.  

Last year, I was in need of car mats.  A set at Walmart, sporting a little American flag on the tag, cost a bit over $20.  After I purchased the mats, in small print on the back of the tag was marked "Made in China"--bait and switch!  Within six months, there were rips on the mat on the driver's side.  Why was the rubber breaking down?  On a local radio channel and in the AAA magazine, the owner of an American-made manufacturer of car mats advertises; he is extremely…

2271 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Over the past two years, the number of condo sales on Staten Island has increased. In 2012, 285 condos sold. That number increased to 370 in the following year. In just the first two months of the year, numbers increased from 33 condos sold in 2012, to 59 in 2013. 

A resurgance in condo sales has come about due to a resurgance in urban living. Condos are usually more centrally located and within close proximity to shops and restaurants. Another great perk found in some condos is the use of resort-like amenities like a fitness center and pool. Condos can be a great choice for those who are always on the move, there's less upkeep and maintainence involved. 

If trends continue, 2014 will be an even more productive year for Condo Sales. Can you believe…

1241 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

A welcome addition to the neighborhood has opened its doors in the Grasmere section of Staten Island.

A brand new 6,000 Sq. foot C-Town supermarket is joining the family of over 300 C-Town stores spread acrross the east coast. This location has taken over space formerly occupied by Dolphin Gym in a shopping plaza just off Clove Road.The store is conveniently located next to the Grasmere station of the SIRR which would allow for easy grocery shopping for residents without a car. 

One of the food aisles in the new C-Town Supermarket in Grasmere. (Staten Island Advance/ Irving Silverstein)

This C-Town location is owned and operated independently by the Hamdan Family, who own two other locations in Brooklyn. The Hamdan family's goal in opening the…

10475 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post