Mayor Davis signs purchase and sale agreement:  Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis signs purchase and sale agreement for buying back a parcel of land from the Port Authority for a ferry terminal.  Pictured left to right: Joseph Skillender, Jr., Bayonne Director of Planning, Zoning and Development, and Mayor Jimmy Davis.

          Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis has signed the purchase and sale agreement to repurchase a parcel of land from the Port Authority for a ferry terminal.  Mayor Davis said, “I am very happy that we are one step closer to completing this real estate transaction, which will help us achieve our goal of ferry service for the people of Bayonne.”

For a purchase price of $4.4 million, the City of Bayonne has obtained 2.3 acres at the former Military Ocean Terminal Bayonne (MOTBY), which juts out two miles into Upper New York Bay from Bayonne’s eastern waterfront.  Of that parcel, 1.6 acres will provide space for the ferry terminal and parking.  The remaining 0.7 acre will continue the Hudson Riverfront Walkway along the southern shore of the former MOTBY.   An adjoining private property owner, Lincoln Equities, is contributing an acre of additional land for the ferry project in return for building the UPS Facility.  The terminal will be located about halfway out the former MOTBY, approximately one mile east of the Bayonne mainland.

Plans for the ferry terminal are in the final design phase.  The parking lot for the ferry passengers is expected to be 1.4 acres in size, with approximately 130 parking spaces.  The number of parking spaces will depend on design, layout, drainage requirements, and other factors.   The City of Bayonne has issued a request for proposals/request for qualifications (RFP/RFQ) for constructing the ferry building and operating the terminal. 

In a previous attempt at establishing a ferry service, the City of Bayonne selected Seastreak as the operator.  However, the time for that selection expired, so the City of Bayonne has gone out to bid again for a ferry operator.  The municipality’s goal is to select a ferry company by March or April 2025. 

Mayor Davis concluded, “I am very happy that we have the contract with Port Authority to buy this land so that Bayonne will have our own terminal and control our own destiny.  This purchase will make it easier for us to achieve our goal of ferry service for our great community.”

The post Mayor Davis Signs Purchase and Sale Agreement for Bayonne Ferry Terminal first appeared on River View Observer.

Caption: Members of the Hudson County Community College-Hudson County Economic Development Corp. Internship Program Team, from left: (front row) Rosennies Feliz, HCEDC Marketing, Communications and Program Coordinator; Lori Margolin, HCCC Associate Vice President for Continuing Education and Workforce Development; Haya Almahdy, HCCC Student Intern; Alejandro Fuenmayor, Owner, Cavany Foods; Alka Kustagi, AIA, Owner, CHB Interiors;
Dr. Christopher Reber, HCCC President; Michelle Richardson, HCEDC Executive Director; (back row) Elise White, SRL Enterprises President and Managing Member; Natalie Brown, HCCC Internship Coordinator; Mina Abdelmaseeh, HCCC Student Intern; and Destiny Knowles, HCCC Student Intern.

  Hudson County Community College (HCCC), in collaboration with Hudson County Economic Development Corporation (HCEDC), announced a new internship program that matches Hudson County businesses with HCCC students. The HCEDC – HCCC Internship Program is supported by a grant to HCEDC by the Citizens Philanthropic Foundation that funds stipends for participating students.

The post Hudson County Community College Partners with Hudson County Economic Development Corporation and Citizens Philanthropic Foundation to Announce New Small Business Internship Program first appeared on River View Observer.

Director of Public Relations. In this position, Buscio will be responsible for executing Providentâ€s public relations strategy, expanding and enhancing the Bankâ€s image in the marketplace, and managing its reputation to ensure it is consistent with the organization’s brand promise of commitment.

“We are excited to add Keith to our team. His many years of experience in financial services, extensive knowledge of the marketplace, and strong background in marketing and communications will greatly enhance our public relations efforts,” said Rob Capozzoli, First Vice President, Director of Marketing, Provident Bank.

Prior to joining Provident Bank, Buscio was Vice President, Marketing and Communications with Santander Bank. Buscio, a resident of the Bayville section of Berkeley Township, holds a masterâ€s degree from Georgian Court University and bachelorâ€s degree from Monmouth University.

“I am delighted to be part of an organization that is firmly committed to supporting the communities it serves. Provident has a long history of helping consumers and businesses,” said Buscio.

About Provident Bank

Provident Bank, (www.provident.bank) a community-oriented bank offering “Commitment you can count on” since 1839, is the wholly owned subsidiary of Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS), which reported assets of $9.50 billion as of December 31, 2016. With $6.55 billion in deposits, Provident Bank provides a comprehensive suite of financial products and services through its network of branches throughout northern and central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. The Bank also provides fiduciary and wealth management services through its wholly owned subsidiary, Beacon Trust Company.

The post Keith Buscio Joins Provident Bank As Assistant Vice President, Director Of Public Relations first appeared on River View Observer.

Hudson Countyâ€s own Liberty Savings Federal Credit Union is proud to take part in the initiative. Unlike many banks, Liberty Savings isnâ€t in business to make a profit. Credit unions all over the world are a united front focused on you, the members, with an unwavering belief in the “people helping people” philosophy upon which they were built.

In the U.S., they’re  known as credit unions, but across the world, they go by many names…co-operative societies, cooperativas, and caisses populaires to name a few.

This year, the cooperative spirit is coming to the Falkland Islands. Currently, one bank branch operates there, but the 2,300 workers find access to credit limited. Through the World Council of Credit Unions, staff from a U.S. credit union are assisting in the development of a credit union that can help the business that were refused bank financing.

Sometimes, starting a credit union isnâ€t enough. In Kenya, more than a million children have lost parents to the AIDS. Many U.S. credit unions are supporting an orphanage in the town of Busia. The program provides food and security to these orphans, as well as financial access to the surrounding community.

Off the southern coast of India, women rice farmers in Sri Lanka are recovering from devastating floods in 2011 and growing their businesses with the help of both farming and financial training through a joint agribusiness and credit union program. Profits are up and so are savings thanks to a new infrastructure to safeguard deposits. Now, small branches collect savings through childrenâ€s clubs and school programs. In one district, volunteer members hike daily to the local market to collect deposits.

Here too, in the U.S., credit unions are looking after their members.

One small credit union, made up only of descendants of Manley and Lucy Williams is helping members buy new cars, raise families, and pay for college. Credit unions often think of their members as family, and in this case they literally are.

Whether on a small or large scale, doing good is something credit unions take very seriously. Some large credit unions are able to pull together funding from millions of members to improve housing, healthcare, and education in local communities and the world. Be it in the form of scholarships or interest-free loans, itâ€s still people helping people.

At Liberty Savings  they take their obligation to the community of Hudson County seriously. Itâ€s their  responsibility to support local charities and organizations in their fundraising efforts. LSFCU is also committed to be there as a pillar of support when the community is in need of specialized loans and financial products. And if youâ€re thinking about any aspect of your finances for today or tomorrow, they can help you individually through free financial literacy classes, specialty low interest loan products and savings tools.

The credit union movement is a united force based on camaraderie, cooperation, and collaboration. Thatâ€s why, at a credit union, you are never a number — you are a member, and the credit union is there to  serve you.

To find out more about how Liberty Savings  can help you, please visit with us online at www.LSFCU.org or call 201.659.3900 Ext. 5.

Copyright 2013 Credit Union National Association Inc. Information subject to change without notice. For use with members of a single credit union. All other rights reserve

The post Celebrate ICU Day alongside Liberty Savings Federal Credit Union first appeared on River View Observer.

By Sally Deering     Photo by Sally Deering 

When  you walk into Bayonne Family Dental – one of five dentist offices in Hudson under the umbrella Dental Groups of New Jersey – donâ€t be surprised to see smiling kids looking forward to seeing their dentist. Thatâ€s right. Kids who want to see the dentist are not a rare sighting at Bayonne Family Dental. Thatâ€s because Dr. Peter Fuentes and Dr. Salvatore Pavone, the two partners overseeing the dental practice, aim to keep their offices a no cry zone. They want children – and adults – to feel as comfortable as possible in their spacious offices.

The expansive Bayonne office on the corner of 55^th Street and Kennedy Boulevard features 10 treatment rooms and offices for seven dentists on rotating schedules. The multi-specialty dental practice provides orthodontics (braces) sedation dentistry, implant dentistry, cosmetic dentistry and its specialty – pediatric dentistry.  Dr. Fuentes and Dr. Pavone previously practiced in Bayonne on 43^rd Street and Avenue “B” when they took over for Dr. Morton Berenbaum, who retired after 35 years of specializing in pediatric dentistry.

“After Dr. Berenbaum, weâ€ve pretty much become the go–to provider for children in Jersey City and Bayonne,” Dr. Fuentes says. “Word-of-mouth travels fast; thatâ€s what weâ€ve learned.  Weâ€ve seen 200 new patients a month since weâ€ve been here.”

On a recent Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Fuentes was treating Angelina Moore, 8, of Bayonne who was there with her mom Dianna, who had brought her youngest daughter  in the week before.

“Iâ€d heard they were very good with children,” Dianna Moore says. “And they are. My other daughter was here last week and didnâ€t feel any pain. And sheâ€s 6.”

“Our main goal since we built this place is that we wanted to build something in this community that was different,” Dr. Fuentes says. “We treat mother, father grandfather and kids. Itâ€s a comfortable place you can bring your whole family. We have flat screen TVs in all the treatment rooms and although weâ€re kid-friendly, we do cater to adults. Our vision is to make Dental Groups of New Jersey the authority in dentistry in Hudson County.”

Dr. Fuentes started out studying neuroscience at John Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, he says, and then “fell in love” with dentistry. He says: “Itâ€s the only job Iâ€ve ever wanted to do. The difference  between medicine and dentistry is that when youâ€re sick, you go to the doctor and he diagnoses you, but he doesnâ€t fix anything. In dentistry, if your tooth hurts, Iâ€ll take it out. If youâ€re teeth are crooked, Iâ€ll put you in braces. Weâ€re problem-solvers. If you have a toothache, youâ€re leaving here without a toothache.”

And although the doctors and their staff of 75 treat adults, kids rule at Bayonne Family Dental. In the waiting room, there are toys for the kids to play with and a game of chance where for 50 cents you can win a really cool toothbrush. There are posters on the walls of animals with big toothy grins and when Dr. Fuentes or a member of his staff greets a patient, ‘high-fives†are exchanged along with some big smiles.

“When youâ€re treating kids, they have to be comfortable,” Dr. Fuentes says. “When children feel comfortable they feel less scared. We make it comfortable here; thatâ€s what we do better than anybody else. Thatâ€s why people want to bring their kids here and their friends here. We try to keep it a place thatâ€s not intimidating to children – or adults. We have adults who are just as scared as children.”

Having a staff that works well with children is important to a successful practice. It helps that the staff is young, Dr. Fuentes says, who are in their 20s and 30s and very energetic.

“I think our youthfulness and the fact that we use the latest technology, thatâ€s been very important to our success,” Dr. Fuentes says. “We donâ€t do reminder cards, we do text messages and emails. When youâ€re due for your six month check-up, you donâ€t get a postcard you get an email.”

Dr. Fuentes and Dr. Pavone recommend parents bring their children in for their first check-up starting at 18 months-old. He says that the Hudson community has a lot of teenage parents who donâ€t know their kids should be seeing a dentist at that young age. And when parents bring their kids to Bayonne Family Dental, Dr. Fuentes says itâ€s imperative they learn about good nutrition and the ‘perils†of giving children sugary and acidic drinks like apple juice.

“Drinks like apple juice are possibly the worst thing you can give a child because of the sugar and acid,” Dr. Fuentes says. “You might give your kid five or six glasses of apple juice a day and not realize youâ€re hurting your kid. Diet is our big community outreach here.”

On Fri, Aug. 23^rd, Dr. Fuentes and Dr. Pavone will be doing another form of community service when they treat a group of underprivileged children from Denville.

“That day theyâ€re going to be the only group in the office,” Dr. Fuentes says. “Weâ€ll let them talk to the doctors and the assistants and weâ€ll give them check-ups and cleanings.”

And if they need additional dental work, Dr. Fuentes and Dr. Pavone will take care of everything.

“Weâ€re very down-to-earth people,” Dr. Fuentes says. “My partner Dr. Pavone and I have done a good job over the years. Weâ€ve won a lot of awards and honors, but all thatâ€s secondary. The best award I have is getting new patients in the office every day. New patients who say Iâ€ve heard great things about you.”

For more info:

Dental Groups of New Jersey

Bayonne Family Dental

1216 Kennedy Blvd. (55^th St)

Bayonne

201-858-3800

www.dentalgroupsofnj.com

Bayonne hours:  M-F, 9 am-6 pm; Sat, 9 am-1 pm

 

The post No Cry Zone: Kids (and Adults) are All Smiles at Bayonne Family Dental first appeared on River View Observer.

 By Sally Deering

 If youâ€re in Hoboken and an ice cream truck pulls up, donâ€t be surprised if a furry canine tries to cut in line for a Peanut Butter Puppsicle. Thatâ€s just one of the items sold at the Frosty Pooch ice cream truck where owners Angela and Raymond Meyers bring ice cream to the dogs.

Itâ€s easy to spot the Frosty Pooch truck. It has a big dog face painted on the back and a line of pups wagging their tails while waiting their turns. When an owner makes a transaction, their dog can usually be seen with its front paws propped up on the counter waiting impatiently for their Frosty Pooch ice cream.

And what dog wouldnâ€t love Frosty Poochâ€s menu of ice cream flavors like Bacon and Peanut Butter? Thereâ€s also Bacon Peanut Butter, Banana Peanut Butter and Apple Pumpkin, which happens to be good for doggie digestion. Angela makes her home-made doggie ice cream free of additives and uses only pure ingredients and lactose-free milk.

“Ice cream has lactose which is a problem for dogs,” Angela says. “If they have lactose, theyâ€re gonna have the ‘runsâ€.

Frosty Pooch ice cream comes in two-ounce cups for $2 a serving. The Peanut Butter Puppsicles shaped like a dog bone sell for $2.50 and the “Woofle Bowl” which features the Frosty Pooch ice cream topped with a biscuit sells for $6.

The Meyers dreamed up Frosty Pooch while at the Jersey Shore with their German Shepherds Nikita and Cabo. When they treated themselves to ice cream and saw the longing looks in their dogs†eyes, a bell went off and Angela got the idea for doggie ice cream.

“I love dogs and I wanted to do something with dogs,” Angela says “I thought how cool an ice cream truck for dogs would be. And my husband said, ‘you know, I think it could workâ€.”

Angela went on ebay and found a 1976 Good Humor box truck for sale in Pennsylvania. She and Raymond bought it and brought it to a mechanic who repaired the engine. Then they had the truck sandblasted, painted white and lettered with the Frosty Pooch logo – the letters “FP” inside a paw-print.

Although itâ€s just a weekend business – the Meyers each have a day job – Angela says sales are booming. If you canâ€t get to the Frosty Pooch truck, they have a “pupular” website where you can order the treats in bulk and have them shipped to your home. (www.frostypooch.com)

The Meyers also bring their Frosty Pooch truck to special events like dog walks for the ASPCA and Barkapalooza. And when the truckâ€s in Hoboken, Angela says all her regulars come by for a visit and a Frosty Pooch treat. Some dogs even hop inside the truck a pat on the head from the Meyers who are true animal lovers.

“Itâ€s a lot of fun,” Angela says. “I enjoy it and the dogs already know me. They jump up to the window and ‘place their orderâ€. I have a dog in Hoboken whose name is Norman. He can only eat the Apple Pumpkin ice cream and as soon as his owner comes over, Norman hops up to the window.”

If a customer isnâ€t sure what flavor to choose, Angela offers the sniff test.

“A lot of dog-owners arenâ€t sure what their dog will like,” Angela says, “So we do a sniff test. Whatever the dog licks first is what they get.”

Visit the Frosty Pooch ice cream truck in Hoboken:

Sundays: 10 am til 8 pm

Shipyard Ball Park, Pier 13

(betw.12^th & 14^th Sts.)

www.frostypooch.com

www.facebook.com/frostypooch

The post Business Views: Puppy Popsicles – Frosty Pooch Ice Cream Truck Goes to the Dogs first appeared on River View Observer.

JERSEY CITY, NJ (April 8, 2013) –Coming this May, a new barbershop will bring back the nostalgia of a time long since passed. Vâ€s Barbershop will be opening at 389 Washington Boulevard, its second location in Hudson County and 21st in the country. At Vâ€s Barbershop, a haircut is a ritual, a nostalgic experience harkening back to a simpler day when men gathered at the corner barbershop to discuss everything from business, to sports and current events. Vâ€s barbers provide both traditional, short haircuts, as well as contemporary and trendy styles. Every haircut will include a hot lather neck shave and will always end with a relaxing shoulder massage. As you get your hair cut, sit back in one of the authentic refurbished 1950â€s-era Koken barber chairs while enjoying your favorite game on your own flat screen TV.

Owners Dan Vassallo and Frank Ferlito, both old friends, fraternity brothers and Jersey City residents, hope the shop will serve as a gathering place for regulars and neighbors to talk sports and other things, and also a place where fathers can bond with their sons. Dan and Frank are proud to open their classic barbershop in the redevelopment zone of the Waterfront District across the street from the 105-year-old Powerhouse. Vâ€s Barbershop is committed to providing the Historic Downtown Jersey City community with an environment where getting a great haircut or a traditional hot-lather shave also means building great memories for men and their sons. “We are excited to become an integral part of the community where men will be able to enjoy the traditional father-son barbershop experience at an affordable price,” explains Jim Valenzuela, founder and CEO of the chain. “We plan on being here for a long time.”

Vâ€s Barbershop offers specialty packages such as The Works and The Whole Deal offering a combination of multiple services. Getting married? Let Vâ€s Barbershop give you and your groomsmen a specialty package that includes haircuts, straight razor shaves, shoe shines and cigars.

About Vâ€s Barbershop

Since 1999, Vâ€s Barbershop has captured the timeless, authentic barbershop experience by combining a rich mix of modern amenities and classic style. Headquartered in Phoenix, the company was named to Entrepreneur Magazineâ€s list of leading franchise categories poised for growth in 2010, and has since been named in the top 500 franchises in 2012. Vâ€s Barbershop has locations across the country in Arizona, California, Texas, Indiana, Washington, Missouri, New Jersey and Georgia. The company has been a repeat winner of various awards and accolades. Vâ€s is accepting applications for franchising opportunities from qualified candidates who understand the opportunity and can appreciate the authentic, traditional barbershop experience. Vâ€s is committed to providing its patrons with an environment where getting a great haircut or a traditional hot-lather shave also means building great memories for men and their sons. Vâ€s full-service, authentic barbershops offer a variety of menu options including high-quality haircuts, straight razor shaves, menâ€s facials, face massages, moustache and beard trims and shoe shines.

For more information about Vâ€s Barbershop or its franchise opportunities, please visit the company website at http://www.vbarbershop.com or call 866-696-8521.

Follow us on:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vbarbershop

Twitter: http://twitter.com/vbarbershop

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The post JERSEY CITY -A BIT OF NOSTALGIA COMES TO THE NEW WATERFRONT DISTRICT WITH NEW V’s BARBERSHOP first appeared on River View Observer.

 Mayor Mark A. Smith announced that Moodyâ€s Investors Service has upgraded the City of Bayonneâ€s bond rating from Baa1 with negative outlook to Baa1 with stable outlook.  Smith said, “This upgrade is very good news.  It shows that Bayonne has made significant financial progress during my Administration.  Moodyâ€s has raised Bayonneâ€s rating for the first time in more than five years. Our hard work and fiscal discipline are paying off. We have turned a corner and are moving in the right direction.”

            Moodyâ€s cited several factors in its decision to improve Bayonneâ€s rating: 1) The agency recognized that the Bayonne Municipal Utilities Authorityâ€s (MUA) joint venture with United Water and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) removed $120 million from the local debt burden. The transaction paid off all the MUAâ€s debt and a portion of the debt of the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Agency. 2) Moodyâ€s noted that the City no longer has any deferred charges.  All charges deferred in the past have been paid off. 3) The City of Bayonne has a declining reliance on tax anticipation notes (TANS) to cover its cashflow needs.  4) Bayonne has a large tax base.  5) Bayonne has declining debt.  6) Bayonne has new revenues from payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTS) coming from newly developed properties.

            While the Smith Administration has made significant inroads to reducing debt, Moodyâ€s noted that Bayonne still has an above-average debt burden, which dates back to the previous century.  The ratings company also observed that Bayonne has relied on various one-time sources of revenue, although that practice has declined under Mayor Smithâ€s leadership.

            John Moody (1868-1958), the founder of Moodyâ€s Investors Services, lived in Bayonne in his youth in the 19^th century. According to author Kate Middletonâ€s Bayonne historical research, the Moody family lived at several different locations around Bayonne, including 33rd St., 36th St., 41st St., 45th St., Avenue C, and Avenue E. Mr. Moody wrote for The Bayonne Herald, a newspaper of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.  Mr. Moody also attempted unsuccessfully to launch a few local publications of his own.  In 1900, he began publishing statistical manuals that were the ancestors of todayâ€s Moodyâ€s publications.   

 

 

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The post River View Observer Financial Views-Declining Debt, New Tax Revenues Lead to Moody’s Upgrade of Bayonne’s Bond Rating first appeared on River View Observer.