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…

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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. 

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Gov. Cuomo's plan to discount the toll on the Verrazano Bridge was approved Monday by the MTA's Bridges and Tunnels and Finance Committees.  It will be voted on by the full board on Wednesday and is expected to be approved.     Staten Islanders with a New York issued EZ Pass will pay $5.50 per trip regardless of the amount of times they cross the Bridge each month.  Commercial vehicles will get a 20% toll discount.  Currently Islanders pay $6.36 per toll for one or two trips in a month and $6.00 for three or more in a month.  The cash toll is $15.    Random  

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You may have heard on the news that inventory of homes for sale is tight and wondered if that is the case for Staten Island.  To give it to you in a nut shell...it most certainly is.  Currently on Staten Island, it is starting to look like a seller's market.  That being said, sellers should not be fooled into thinking that the glory days of run away price appreciation of homes is back.  The fact that interest rates are still holding at historic lows is keeping the buyers active and willing to buy.  Rest assured however, that the buyers are drawn to reasonably priced homes.  Overpriced homes are still sitting on the market with minimal showing requests and without getting offers to purchase.  The take away of this market is that although it is very active,…

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In an article in the Staten Island Advance, it was noted that the Economic Development Corp. released a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for the purchase and redevelopment of the Department of Sanitation Garage in New Brighton.  This garage has been a thorn in the side of the neighborhood for over fifty years.  Elected officials and neighborhood activists have long considered the garage an environmental blight on the community and stumbling block to any plans to revitalize the Jersey Street corridor. In the winter, the Sanitation trucks idle for hours in the neighborhood awaiting the starting pistol to "move the plows" when the snow hits the pavement.  Pedestrians are forced to walk on the street as trucks block walk-ways.  In the summer, the…

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By now, many of you may have heard about the tragic carbon monoxide poisoning that led to the death of a restaurant manager on Long Island. Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. Because this gas is undetectable, it is of paramount importance to install a carbon monoxide detector in your home.

Carbon monoxide is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas ranges and heating systems. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. People and animals in these spaces can be poisoned by breathing it. Below are some precautions you can take to prevent CO leaks in the home.

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With economic development happening on Staten Island's West Shore, many are wondering how well the infastructure can hold up. It's no secret that mass transit to the area is lacking. Luckily, officials are taking the necessary steps for a solution. The Staten Island Economic Developement Corp. plans to push for funding on two studies that could make the planned light-rail a reality.

According to the Staten Island Advance, the idea is to build a 13.1-mile public transit system with stops from Richmond Valley to Elm Park. It would carry Island commuters to the Bayonne Bridge and connect with New Jersey Transit's Hudson Bergen Light Rail Line, which leads to PATH trains into Manhattan. Robert Moore, chairman of the SIEDC, describes the plan as a "signature…

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