New Model Now Open At Award-Winning Tapestry At Montgomery
The decorators have been hard at work, the finishing touches have been put in place, and the newest model home is now open and ready for touring at Tapestry at Montgomery. The distinguished 55+ neighborhood in Montgomery Township has already impressed buyers and visitors with its first two model homes - and the new third model is bound to do the same, according to Bobbe Britton, Community Manager for Tapestry at Montgomery. In fact, Tapestry just won awards from the New Jersey Builders Association for Best Interior Merchandising (Decorating) and Best Home (2010 SAM Awards).
"Our visitors are so impressed when they see our model homes," said Britton. "The models are beautifully decorated and fully furnished. They really give an authentic picture of how versatile our homes are. This new model is a Cavallo design, which offers over 2,700 square feet of living space, with three bedrooms, three baths, a library, loft and two-car garage. The model is two stories, but the Cavallo can be built as a one-story home, too. Come see it - we'd love to walk you through and show you around!"
Tapestry at Montgomery is uniquely designed for active-adult buyers who are seeking something out of the ordinary, from location to home designs. Set among the gently rolling hills of picturesque Montgomery Township, just minutes from Princeton, Tapestry offers a sophisticated lifestyle with quality-built homes and a variety of floorplans. The Cavallo is priced from the mid-$500s, but buyers can purchase at Tapestry for as low as $399,000.
Right now, the community is offering outstanding incentives on a limited number of early delivery homes, available within 60 days of contract signing. The early delivery homes are "coach" models, which are nearly complete. The Jacquard homes, listed at $399,000, feature approximately 2,437 square feet with a first-floor master suite, living room, dining room, two-story family room, kitchen, breakfast nook, den (or 3rd bedroom) and loft. The Renaissance coach home, listed at $439,000, features approximately 2,358 square feet, with a living room, dining room, family room, spacious kitchen with island, breakfast nook, loft, plus basement and elevator.
Included in any home you choose at Tapestry are granite kitchen countertops, maple cabinets and bath vanities, hardwood flooring in the foyer and kitchen, an oak tread staircase, and two-car garages. Most homes offer a second floor with loft, as well as additional bedrooms. Some homes even feature private elevators for that extra measure of convenience. Homes are ideally planned for entertaining and relaxing, with plenty of room to gather with friends, or to enjoy a visit with the grandkids.
To enhance your home even more, Tapestry offers a host of unique personalizing options, from an array of beautiful granite and exotic hardwoods, to professional-grade appliances, high-end cabinetry and more elegant choices. Some homeowners are also choosing to finish their full basements with wet bars and media rooms, to create an out-of-the-ordinary retreat.
Just two miles away, the town of Princeton is at your call, with its mix of eclectic shopping, fine dining and cultural opportunities. The quaint towns of Lambertville and New Hope are also nearby, offering waterfront dining, antique shops and so much more. And while homeowners at Tapestry at Montgomery are not far from the excitement of Philadelphia and Manhattan, the rural landscape of Montgomery Township provides a daily oasis of tranquility and comfort, as you relax and unwind in your new home.
Visit Tapestry at Montgomery, take a tour of the brand-new model home and see the selection of early delivery homes available for a limited time. You'll discover a rare opportunity to buy into a new sophisticated way of life, with pricing and incentives that have never been better.
Directions: From the Princeton area: take Rt. 206 North and make a left onto Rt. 518. Make a right onto Vreeland Drive and a left onto Acadia Lane. Follow signs to sales center and models. From Pennsylvania: take Rt. 202 North to Rt. 31 South. Turn left onto Rt. 518 and then make a left onto Vreeland Drive and a left onto Acadia Lane. Follow signs to sales center and models. From the North: take Rt. 287 South. Take Exit 17 to Rt. 206 South. Continue for approx. 13 miles to traffic light at Rt. 518. Make a right onto Rt. 518. Make a right onto Vreeland Drive and a left onto Acadia Lane. Follow signs to sales center and models.
For more information on Tapestry at Montgomery, please call (609) 688-6833; or visit www.sharbell.com. The Tapestry at Montgomery Sales Center is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except Wednesdays and Thursdays.
About Sharbell Development Corporation:
For 25 years, Sharbell Development Corp. has built a reputation for innovation and integrity in residential, commercial and mixed-use development. The award-winning developer has built over 3,000 homes in Central New Jersey, from million dollar custom estates to multi-family condominiums. The company also successfully develops and manages complete retail, office and mixed-use projects throughout the state. Sharbell has garnered numerous national and local honors and awards, including Home Buyers Warranty's coveted "Diamond Home Builder" designation, and New Jersey Future's 2008 Smart Growth Award for Plainsboro Village Center. The developer maintains an ongoing commitment to serving the needs of its homeowners, as well as serving the public good through meticulous planning, a special sensitivity to land use and the environment, and a constant effort to improve the communities in which it builds, creating a shared sense of pride and place for both existing and new residents and tenants.
IRS Seeks New Jersey Volunteers for Taxpayer Advocacy Panel
NJ-2010-40, April 22, 2010
MOUNTAINSIDE — The Internal Revenue Service seeks civic-minded volunteers to serve on the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP), a federal advisory committee that listens to taxpayers, identifies key issues and makes recommendations for improving IRS service.
“The feedback and suggestions that the TAP provides us from the taxpayer’s point of view are important to sound tax administration,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.
The TAP provides a forum for taxpayers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to raise concerns about IRS service and offer suggestions for improvement. The TAP reports annually to the Secretary of the Treasury, the IRS Commissioner and the National Taxpayer Advocate. The Office of the Taxpayer Advocate, an independent organization within the IRS, provides oversight and funding for the TAP.
“In trying to comply with an increasingly complex tax system, taxpayers may find they need different services from the IRS,” said Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate. “The TAP is vital because it provides the IRS with the taxpayer’s perspective and recommendations for improvements that will help the IRS to deliver the best possible service to assist taxpayers in meeting their tax obligations.”
To be a member of the TAP you must be a U.S. citizen, current with your federal tax obligations, able to commit 300 to 500 hours during the year, and able to pass an FBI criminal background check. New TAP members will serve a three-year term starting in December 2010. Anyone chosen as an alternate member will be considered to fill any vacancies that open in their area during the next two years.
The TAP is seeking members in the following locations: California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Washington.
Applications for TAP will be accepted through April 30, 2010. Applications are available online at www.improveirs.org. For additional information about the TAP or the application process, please call toll-free 1-888-912-1227.
Tax-Free Employer-Provided Health Coverage Now Available for Children under Age 27
WASHINGTON — As a result of changes made by the recently enacted Affordable Care Act, health coverage provided for an employee's children under 27 years of age is now generally tax-free to the employee, effective March 30, 2010.
The Internal Revenue Service announced today that these changes immediately allow employers with cafeteria plans –– plans that allow employees to choose from a menu of tax-free benefit options and cash or taxable benefits –– to permit employees to begin making pre-tax contributions to pay for this expanded benefit.
IRS Notice 2010-38, posted today on the IRS Web site, IRS.gov, explains these changes and provides further guidance to employers, employees, health insurers and other interested taxpayers.
“These changes give employers a unique opportunity to offer a worthwhile benefit to their employees,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said. “We want to make it as easy as possible for employers to quickly implement this change and extend health coverage on a tax-favored basis to older children of their employees.”
This expanded health care tax benefit applies to various workplace and retiree health plans. It also applies to self-employed individuals who qualify for the self-employed health insurance deduction on their federal income tax return.
Employees who have children who will not have reached age 27 by the end of the year are eligible for the new tax benefit from March 30, 2010, forward, if the children are already covered under the employer’s plan or are added to the employer’s plan at any time. For this purpose, a child includes a son, daughter, stepchild, adopted child or eligible foster child. This new age 27 standard replaces the lower age limits that applied under prior tax law, as well as the requirement that a child generally qualify as a dependent for tax purposes.
The notice says that employers with cafeteria plans may permit employees to immediately make pre-tax salary reduction contributions to provide coverage for children under age 27, even if the cafeteria plan has not yet been amended to cover these individuals. Plan sponsors then have until the end of 2010 to amend their cafeteria plan language to incorporate this change.
In addition to changing the tax rules as described above, the Affordable Care Act also requires plans that provide dependent coverage of children to continue to make the coverage available for an adult child until the child turns age 26. The extended coverage must be provided not later than plan years beginning on or after Sept. 23, 2010. The favorable tax treatment described in the notice applies to that extended coverage.
Further information on this and other health care provisions can be found on IRS.gov.
IRS Announces 2010 Standard Mileage Rates
IR-2009-111, Dec. 3, 2009
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2010 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2010, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:
50 cents per mile for business miles driven
16.5 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations
The new rates for business, medical and moving purposes are slightly lower than last year’s. The mileage rates for 2010 reflect generally lower transportation costs compared to a year ago.
The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs as determined by the same study. Independent contractor Runzheimer International conducted the study.
A taxpayer may not use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) or after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle. In addition, the business standard mileage rate cannot be used for any vehicle used for hire or for more than four vehicles used simultaneously.
Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.
Revenue Procedure 2009-54 contains additional details regarding the standard mileage rates.
GLORIA NILSON REALTORS IN PRINCETON ACHIEVES 100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RATING FOR 2009
Princeton, NJ, February 10, 2010 – Gloria Nilson Realtors announced today that their Princeton office achieved a 100% customer satisfaction rating in 2009, as measured by an independent research company. In the real estate industry, which is driven by repeat business and referrals, customer service is priority #1.The seasoned sales professionals in this office consistently provide superior Premier Service® to home buyers and sellers in their market area.
Through the Premier Service® program, buyers and sellers are asked to complete a survey evaluating the service they received. Once completed, the surveys are tabulated by an independent research firm and the results provide an overall ranking for the office.
“I am proud of everyone in our Princeton office and very grateful for their continued excellence in service” said Pat Bell, president of Gloria Nilson Realtors. “Achieving 100% in customer satisfaction is a tremendous accomplishment, and it takes ever sales associate in the office to make this happen. Especially given the challenging year our market experienced in 2009, this achievement speaks volumes about how we service our clients,” Bell continued.
For an office to qualify for a 100% customer service rating, every agent in the office has to receive a 100% rating on every customer survey returned.
Premier Service is one of the most comprehensive and effective customer-service programs in the real estate industry. Through the program, GMAC Real Estate’s sales associates put in writing, up front, the services they will perform. Following the transaction, customers are asked to honestly rate their agent’s performance through a written survey.
Gloria Nilson Realtors specializes in providing leading real estate services in Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, Somerset and Ocean Counties. The award winning Princeton office is located at 33 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ. For additional information, contact the office at 609-921-2600 or visit their website at www.glorianilson.com.
About Gloria Nilson GMAC Real Estate
Gloria Nilson GMAC Real Estate has 16 offices and more than 600 sales associates throughout New Jersey. Owned by SCS Realty Investment Group, LLC, led by Dick Schlott, the company is a franchise of GMAC Home Services, which is owned by Brookfield RPS, a division of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. BRPS has one of the largest relocation companies in the world and its Realtor® network is nearly 30,000 strong, based out of 1,500 locations across North America.
Starting a Home Business in Montgomery
By Lea Florentine
In these tough economic times, people are seeking creative ways to generate income. For some, a home business may be the answer. Possibilities include telemarketer, author, therapist, small mail order business owner, craft maker, tutor, music teacher, travel agent, real estate agent, appraiser, or contractor. What are Montgomery Township's regulations regarding such ventures? When is a zoning permit or site plan required? What are the constraints on the amount of space a home business can use?
Following are regulations for all home businesses, whether big or small. They are allowed in single family detached houses in residential neighborhoods. They can operate from 7 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday and 8 am and 4 pm Saturday, but not on Sundays. The owner of business must also be the owner of the house. Only one other nonresident employee at any given time is permitted to come to the site to work. Additionally, no more than two client or customer vehicles can be parked at the home at any time, and only during daylight hours. These vehicles must be passenger, not commercial, vehicles.
Traffic, noise, fumes, dust, glare and odors are considered potential nuisances by the Planning Board, and must be controlled and minimized by home businesses. The residential appearance and character of the neighborhood must be maintained. Any equipment used cannot interfere with radio or television reception in neighboring residences. If you want to get your name out there, a sign for a home business can consist of an unlighted nameplate two square feet or less in area attached to a postal box, but no business-related exterior lighting can be added.
So when do you need a zoning permit or site plan?
With the simplest home business, where a member of the household is the only employee; no part of the home or accessory buildings are used solely for the business; no business-related deliveries are made to or from the site (except in the resident employee's own vehicle); and no clients or customers come to the site, a zoning permit or site plan is not required.
If no more than two members of the household are employed by the business, 200 square feet or less of net habitable floor area within the house - and none of the accessory buildings - are used strictly for the business, and business-related deliveries to or from the site (except in the resident employees' own vehicle) are made by vehicles with no more than four wheels and two axles, then a zoning permit must be obtained from the Township's Zoning Department.
Businesses larger or more complex than the above two scenarios require that a minor site plan be submitted to and approved by the Planning Board. If a vehicle/equipment permit is applied for with the site plan submission, and then granted by the Planning Board, up to two commercial vehicles (with a capacity of one ton or less each) and/or pieces of equipment (weighing four tons or less each) are allowed at a home business. These should be garaged when not in use.
So what are the square footage limitations for home businesses?
No more than 25% of the home's net habitable floor area or 1,000 square feet - whichever is less - can be used for the business. Also, no more than 1,000 square feet of gross floor area can be used, including any accessory buildings or structures on the property. Lastly, the total gross square footage used by the business (including accessory buildings or structures) must not exceed 50% of the gross floor area of the home itself.
If you are considering erecting a new accessory building or structure for use by a business, you must submit a minor site plan to the Planning Board for approval. Any business-related structure or building must not cover more than 1,000 square feet of the lot and must be no more than 25 feet tall, with garage door openings twelve feet or less in height. The usual lot coverage limits (from 10 to 25%, depending on how the lot is zoned) and setback requirements apply. In some cases, additional screening may be needed for accessory buildings or parking areas, or if there is not sufficient setback.
For information on the regulations, see the Home Occupations section of Montgomery Township's zoning code via the Montgomery Township website (www.montgomery.nj.us). Select 'Code, Municipal & Health' from the list on the left margin; then 'Montgomery Township Code and Board of Health'. From the list on the left margin, select 'Revised General Ordinances'; then Chapter XVI - Land Development; then section 6.7 - Home Occupations.
To apply for a zoning permit or submit a minor site plan, contact Joe Palmer, Montgomery Township's Zoning Officer in the Zoning Department at the Municipal Building.
Job Seekers Meets on Tuesdays
JobSeekers is an instruction, networking and support group that meets every Tuesday evening from 7:30 to 9:30 pm in the George Thomas Room of the Trinity Episcopal Church Parish Hall at 33 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ 08540. It is open to everyone and and is free and non-denominational. The format alternates between workshops led by experts and open discussion of topics raised by participants. The group is run by volunteers. Please try to arrive by 7:30. For more information see http://www.trinityprinceton.org/jobseekers.cfm
and http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/NJJOBSEEKERS
CEO OF PSEG TO ADDRESS SOMERSET COUNTY BUSINESS LEADERS
RALPH IZZO, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT & CEO OF PSEG
TO ADDRESS SOMERSET COUNTY BUSINESS LEADERS
Fifth Friday Friars Public Policy Luncheon
Friday, July 30, 2010 – Open to the Public
BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The Somerset County Business Partnership has announced that Ralph Izzo, Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO of Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. (PSEG) will be the keynote speaker at the Fifth Friday Friars Public Policy Luncheon on Friday, July 30, 2010. Fifth Friday Friars takes place at Fiddlers Elbow Country Club, 811 Rattlesnake Bridge Road in Bedminster, NJ. The business social begins at 12:00 Noon with the luncheon beginning at 12:30 P.M.
Mr. Izzo will discuss his views on national energy policy, energy generation and consumption trends, the role of utilities in environmental sustainability, and the industry’s effort to meet social and economic goals.
Ralph Izzo has been chairman, president and chief executive officer of PSEG since April,2007. He joined PSE&G in 1992, serving in the areas of utility operations, appliance service, corporate planning, finance and information services, and electric ventures.
Mr. Izzo is a well-known leader within both the utility industry and the wider community. He was recently elected to a none-year term as chair of the Board of Governors of Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey. His public policy experience includes service as an American Physical Society Congressional Science Fellow in the office of U.S. Senator Bill Bradley. He also served four years as a senior policy advisor in the Office of New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean, specializing in energy, science and technology.
He also serves on the board of directors for the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the New Jersey Utilities Association, the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the Center for Energy Workforce Development, and Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey.
“Ralph Izzo is easily the most knowledgeable individual in the energy arena today,” stated Business Partnership Vice President for Economic Development John Maddocks. “His insight and perspective have been and continues to be respected by government, industry, and education leaders.”
Reservations for the luncheon may be made online at www.scbped.org, by calling 908-218-4300, faxing to 908-722-7823, or mailing a check payable to the Business Partnership to P.O. Box 833, Somerville, NJ 08876. Fee is $75.00 per person in advance and $125 at the door.
First-Time Homebuyer Credit Closing Deadline Extended to September 30, 2010
The deadline for the completion of qualifying First-Time Homebuyer Credit purchases has been extended. Taxpayers who entered into a binding contract before the end of April now have until September 30, 2010 to close on the home.
The Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010, enacted on July 2, 2010, extended the closing deadline from June 30 to Sept. 30 for eligible homebuyers who entered into a binding purchase contract on or before April 30 to close on the purchase of the home on or before June 30, 2010.
Here are five facts from the IRS about the First-Time Homebuyer Credit and how to claim it.
If you entered into a binding contract on or before April 30, 2010 to buy a principal residence located in the United States you must close on the home on or before September 30, 2010.
2. To be considered a first-time homebuyer, you and your spouse – if you are married – must not have jointly or separately owned another principal residence during the three years prior to the date of purchase.
3. To be considered a long-time resident homebuyer, your settlement date must be after November 6, 2009 and you and your spouse – if you are married – must have lived in the same principal residence for any consecutive five-year period during the eight-year period that ended on the date the new home is purchased.
4. The maximum credit for a first-time homebuyer is $8,000. The maximum credit for a long-time resident homebuyer is $6,500.
5. To claim the credit you must file a paper return and attach Form 5405, First Time Homebuyer Credit, along with all required documentation, including a copy of the binding contract. New homebuyers must attach a copy of the properly executed settlement statement used to complete the purchase. Long-time residents are encouraged to attach documentation covering the five-consecutive-year period such as Form 1098, Mortgage Interest Statements, property tax records or homeowner’s insurance records.
For more information about the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit and the documentation requirements, visit IRS.gov/recovery.
Summertime Child Care Expenses May Qualify for a Tax Credit
IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2010-01
Did you know that your summer day care expenses may qualify for an income tax credit? Many parents who work or are looking for work must arrange for care of their children under 13 years of age during the school vacation. Those expenses may help you get a credit on next year’s tax return.
Here are five facts the IRS wants you to know about a tax credit available for child care expenses. The Child and Dependent Care Credit is available for expenses incurred during the lazy hazy days of summer and throughout the rest of the year.
1. The cost of day camp may count as an expense towards the child and dependent care credit.
2. Expenses for overnight camps do not qualify.
3. If your childcare provider is a sitter at your home or a daycare facility outside the home, you'll get some tax benefit if you qualify for the credit.
4. The actual credit can be up to 35 percent of your qualifying expenses, depending upon your income.
5. You may use up to $3,000 of the unreimbursed expenses paid in a year for one qualifying individual or $6,000 for two or more qualifying individuals to figure the credit.
For more information check out IRS Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses. This publication is available on the IRS Web site, IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
Five Tax Scams to Avoid this Summer - IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2010-08
The Internal Revenue Service issues a list of the top 12 tax scams each year – known as the Dirty Dozen. The scams are illegal and can lead to problems for taxpayers including significant penalties, interest and possible criminal prosecution. These scams don’t just happen during the tax filing season, they can happen anytime during the year. Here are five scams from the 2010 Dirty Dozen list every taxpayer should be aware of this summer.
1. Phishing: Phishing is a tactic used by scam artists to trick unsuspecting victims into revealing personal or financial information in an electronic communication. Scams can take the form of e-mails, tweets or phony websites and they try to mislead consumers by telling them they are entitled to a tax refund from the IRS and they must reveal personal information to claim it. Regardless of how official this e-mail may look and sound, the IRS never initiates unsolicited e-mail contact with taxpayers about their tax issues. Phishers use the personal information obtained to steal the victim’s identity, access bank accounts, run up credit card charges or apply for loans in the victim’s name. If you receive an e-mail that you suspect is a phishing attempt or directs you to an imitation IRS website, please forward it to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. You can also visit IRS.gov and enter the keyword phishing for additional information.
2. Return Preparer Fraud: Dishonest tax return preparers can cause trouble for taxpayers who fall victim to their ploys. Such preparers are skimming a portion of their clients’ refunds, charging inflated fees for tax preparation or are attracting new clients by promising refunds that are too good to be true. To increase confidence in the tax system, the IRS is requiring all paid return preparers to register with the IRS, pass competency tests and attend continuing education.
3. Hiding Income Offshore: Taxpayers have tried to avoid or evade U.S. income tax by hiding income in offshore banks and brokerage accounts. IRS agents continue to develop their investigations of these offshore tax avoidance transactions using information gained from more than 14,700 voluntary disclosures received last year. Taxpayers also evade taxes by using offshore debit cards, credit cards, wire transfers, foreign trusts, employee-leasing schemes, private annuities or life insurance plans.
4. Abuse of Charitable Organizations and Deductions: The IRS continues to observe the misuse of tax-exempt organizations. This includes arrangements to improperly shield income or assets from taxation and attempts by donors to maintain control over donated assets. The IRS also continues to investigate various schemes where donations are highly overvalued or the organization receiving the donation promises that the donor can purchase the items back at a later date at a price the donor sets.
5. Frivolous Arguments: Promoters of frivolous schemes encourage people to make unreasonable and outlandish claims to avoid paying the taxes they owe. If a scheme seems too good to be true, it probably is. The IRS has a list of frivolous legal positions that taxpayers should avoid on IRS.gov. These arguments are false and have been thrown out of court.
For the full list of 2010 Dirty Dozen tax scams or to find out how to report suspected tax fraud, visit IRS.gov.
THE STATE OF REFORM IN NEW JERSEY
There are grounds to be optimistic about New Jersey’s future.
Last year at this time serious reform proposals to make New Jersey more affordable were not on the table. Our state’s economy was reeling from the national recession. Even more alarming was the growing realization that due to the high cost of doing business in our state, New Jersey was no longer being considered by many companies as a good place to invest. Our tax structure and regulatory environment were driving businesses and a great number of our most successful citizens out of New Jersey into the willing embrace of Pennsylvania and other more business friendly states. New Jersey was facing many issues that made it difficult for our businesses to compete, such as our high property taxes, housing costs, and tax structure, to just name a few. Consequently, there was no guarantee that New Jersey, or Somerset County in particular, would be on the front lines of a national recovery effort.
Something had to be done.
The Somerset County Business Partnership is Somerset County’s regional Chamber of Commerce and is the only county-based business advocacy organization with an active legislative affairs committee. It was important for our organization to do its part to address New Jersey’s affordability crisis, even if other business organizations were hesitant to speak out. We partnered with the Courier News to hold a public policy forum on October 2, 2009, at Raritan Valley Community College to address this issue.
With the momentum generated by this forum, the Board of Directors of the Business Partnership had the foresight to realize that 2010 was going to be a crucial year in the planning and implementation of long-term reform legislation that would advance our goal of making New Jersey more affordable.
We identified four key reforms that would re-establish New Jersey as a premier place to live and do business:
Reform the public employees’ pension system to make it affordable and sustainable.
Reform tax structure to keep businesses and residents in New Jersey.
Reform the public sector bargaining system to reflect the public's ability to pay.
Reform New Jersey's dependence on local property taxes.
The “Make NJ Affordable Campaign” proceeded to bring into Somerset County an unprecedented number of the state’s political leaders in order to facilitate an open dialogue about the demands of the business community. Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno addressed the recent Fifth Friday Friars Luncheon. Business leaders and residents attended a number of Partnership committees and forums featuring speakers including Rich Bagger, Chief of Staff to Governor Christie; Senate President Steve Sweeney; Congressman Leonard Lance; Congressman Rush Holt; Senate Minority Whip Tom Kean; Senator Kip Bateman; Assembly Majority Leader Joe Cryan; Assembly Budget Chair Lou Greenwald; Assemblyman Jon Bramnick; Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula; Assemblyman Peter Biondi; Assemblywoman Denise Coyle; and Policy Advisor on Economic Development for Gov. Christie, Jim Leonard. The Business Partnership has also shared the “Reform Agenda for An Affordable New Jersey” with residents and leaders across the state and has testified before the state legislature in support of business-friendly legislation.
Here is the bottom line: unlike a year ago, there is now a bi-partisan, statewide consensus that business as usual in not sustainable in New Jersey, and that “something must be done”. That is a major accomplishment.
The next few weeks and months will be critical. We have an opportunity to realize our goal to achieve legislative outcomes that will put New Jersey back on the path to long-term economic vitality. Governor Christie has proposed a 33-point plan that contains goals aligned with the Business Partnership’s affordability campaign. The legislature is considering calling a special legislative session to address the Governor’s reform agenda. In order to prepare for this historic event, the Business Partnership is working with other regional Chambers of Commerce and the New Jersey Legislature to present a united voice in support of our reform agenda.
The progress we have made to date gives us reason to be optimistic about our future. New Jersey has everything necessary to be the economic engine that runs the economy of the northeast – our educated workforce, our ports and airports, our proximity to the world’s financial centers, our balance between industry and open space, and most importantly, our people. As we continue to work together as a community to support the reform movement, New Jersey will again be the country’s best place to live, to work, and to own a business.
Mike Kerwin
President/CEO
Somerset County Business Partnership
Harlingen Veterinary Clinic – Business Profile
It sits just off Rte. 206 at the corner of Sunset Road, looking very much like a one-room schoolhouse. But metal animal sculptures nestled among the flowers, a statue of St. Francis of Assisi (the patron Saint of animals) at the edge of a small courtyard and whimsical cat and dog weathervanes reveal the structure’s real purpose and are a testament to the Harlingen Veterinary Clinic’s commitment to its clients and their pets.
Harlingen Veterinary Clinic started in a nearby strip mall as a satellite clinic for the Hillsborough Animal Hospital. In 1991, Dr. Christine Newman bought the clinic, where she had worked since high school, and had the current structure built in 2000.
The inside of the building reflects the family atmosphere and love of animals just as much as the outside. Two old wooden church benches flank a fireplace with animal photos lined up on the mantle. A patchwork quilt hangs high on one the wall. But it is the bulletin board of the Harlingen Veterinary Clinic “family” that catches the eye; it is filled with pictures of the doctors and staff with their own cats and dogs.
“We have a great staff of very compassionate people,” says Dr Newman. “We are a family and we treat our clients like family.”
Many of the staff have been there a long time. Dr. Newman says it’s comforting for clients to see a familiar face when they walk in the door and are recognized. She is proud of the way clients keep coming back.
“We’ve seen people come in as children with their parents and family pets,” she says, “and then later as adults with their own pets. We’ve watched pets grow from puppy hood to old dogs.”
The list of services available is lengthy and ranges from routine to advanced care: checkups, vaccinations, surgery, radiology, ultrasounds, micro chipping, grooming, dental procedures, laser surgery and even acupuncture. There is an on-site lab and in-house pharmacy. They work closely and have a good relationship with area specialists so they can guide clients to further care, if necessary.
“Acupuncture can help animals with a variety of problems from arthritis to skin issues to pancreatitis,” explains Dr. Newman. She has been working with a dog that before acupuncture was paralyzed and now is starting to be able to use its legs.
Harlingen Veterinary Clinic is proud of its association with a number of rescue groups and often has cats and dogs available for adoption. Dr. Newman lives in the area and has conducted tours of the facility for the local Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and will do so for anyone else who asks, she says.
“We think of everyone as family,” says Dr. Newman. “Every member of our staff will go out of his or her way to help you in any way that we can. We make house calls, we help with special needs of your pet, we’ve helped when people go away and need someone to watch their pets.”
Harlingen Veterinary Clinic, 10 Sunset Road, Belle Mead. For more information or hours of operation, call 908-359-2000 or visit www.harlingenvet.com.
TUSCAN HILLS SELECTED BY ITALIAN INSTUTUTE FOR FOREIGN TRADE
JUNE 1st - 15th
Tuscan Hills recently was selected by the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade to serve as a host site for their "Made In Italy" program launch. From June 1st to June 15th, Tuscan Hills will present the works of 10 artisan companies to include Bizzirri, Conaz, Laboratorio Pesaro, Ramat, Dea, and Tuttoattacato. The product lines include Ceramics, Linens, Cutlery, Bedding, carrara marble accessories, lighting, and olive oil.
Visit Tuscan Hills between June 1st and 15th to see the newest collections exclusively from Italy.
PRINCETON HEALTHCARE SYSTEM COMPLETES FINANCING FOR NEW HOSPITAL
Princeton HealthCare System (PHCS) has successfully completed the financing of its new 237-bed hospital on Route 1 in Plainsboro. On May 13, 2010, and in cooperation with the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, PHCS closed on $355 million in financing, including $180 million of tax exempt, variable rate demand bonds supported by letters of credit from TD Bank and Bank of America. The balance of the financing, or $175 million, was in the form of direct bank loans from Wells Fargo / Wachovia Bank and JP Morgan Chase. PHCS was able to complete the transaction at favorable interest rates of less than 3 percent annually. The new hospital, University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro, which is expected to open in early 2012, is on schedule and on budget. "We are pleased to take another important step in our journey to build a new regional medical center for the residents of central New Jersey," says Barry S. Rabner, President and CEO of Princeton HealthCare System. "The four banks involved in this process and the Financing Authority have expressed confidence in the vision and solid planning of the new hospital. We appreciate their role in this project and are very grateful for the tremendous support we continue to receive from the community. We look forward to welcoming our patients and the entire community to our new health care campus."
UMCPP’s 50 acres will be located within a 171-acre health care campus between Scudders Mill Road and the Millstone River in Plainsboro Township. The campus will include a broad range of health and wellness care services, including acute care hospital, medical office, education and training, skilled nursing, long term acute care, fitness, senior independent residential, assisted living, and comprehensive pediatric services.
The real estate investment company that was to purchase the current hospital site in Princeton has decided not to move forward with its plans for redevelopment of the site, so PHCS has resumed its search for a developer. The 5.6-acre site has been rezoned as Mixed Residential, Retail, Office (MRRO) zone that will accommodate up to 280 residential units with a modest density bonus for age-restricted units. Non-residential uses would include a restaurant, medical services, personal services, professional offices and neighborhood service retail. The houses along Harris Road remain as residential and the existing parking structure can remain to serve the new development. The plan calls for a net gain of 100,000 square feet of public access open space. Barry Rabner expressed optimism about the hospital's options. This change of plans has no impact on financing of the hospital relocation project
Sharbell Development Honored For Two Communities
May 17, 2010: For nearly three decades, Sharbell Development Corp. has built a reputation for innovation and integrity in residential, commercial and mixed-use development. The award-winning developer has built over 3,000 homes in central New Jersey, from million dollar custom estates to multi-family condominiums. Over the years, Sharbell has garnered numerous national and local honors and awards, including Home Buyers Warranty's coveted "Diamond Home Builder" designation, and New Jersey Future's 2008 Smart Growth Award for Plainsboro Village Center. Now, the developer has been honored yet again with two distinguished awards.
On April 13, the New Jersey Builders Association presented its 23rd Annual Sales and Marketing (SAM) Awards gala at Atlantic City's Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. The NJBA SAM Awards are the most coveted honors within New Jersey recognizing creative achievement in new home sales and marketing. Sharbell's Tapestry at Montgomery, a distinguished 55+ community in Montgomery Township, won SAM Awards for Best Interior Merchandising (Decorating) and Best Home.
Tapestry recently opened a third new model home; a Cavallo design, which offers over 2,700 square feet of living space, with three bedrooms, three baths, a library, loft and two-car garage. The community is uniquely designed for active-adult buyers who are seeking something out of the ordinary, from location to home designs. Set among the gently rolling hills of picturesque Montgomery Township, just minutes from Princeton, Tapestry offers a sophisticated lifestyle with quality-built homes and a variety of floorplans, with pricing from as low as $399,000.
Sharbell Development was also recently cited, along with Robbinsville Township, for its role in promoting responsible land use in the development of Town Center, a mixed-use community in Robbinsville. Town Center is one of six projects that will receive 2010 Smart Growth Awards on June 2 at the Newark Club in Newark, by New Jersey Future, a leading research and policy organization that promotes sustainable growth concepts. Town Center was the first mixed-use community to receive the State Planning Commission's "center" designation.
Winning projects were evaluated based on a number of criteria, including protection or enhancement of open space, farmland, parks and critical environmental areas; respect of community character, design and historic features; and more.
It was ten years ago that Sharbell opened its sales center at Town Center, at the corner of Route 33 and 526, on a corner now occupied by The Lofts and specialty retail stores and shops. Sharbell Senior Vice President Tom Troy commented, "Sharbell Development has been working closely with the current and prior administration and staff of Robbinsville Township for the past 15 years to forge a new model of suburban 'smart growth.' We are proud to be recognized by New Jersey Future for our work on this project."
The Lofts at Washington Town Center is an upscale condominium community presenting a unique opportunity for buyers to have a stylish, sophisticated home and a convenient urban lifestyle in central Jersey, ideally set above great shopping, dining and services. The Lofts also features professionally decorated buildings, gated parking and a private residents' lounge and fitness center. And with special incentive pricing from just $199,000 on limited units, it's hard to beat the value.
Currently, The Lofts is offering special incentives on two new buildings. Buyers who purchase in the new Building D, which features two-story homes, will receive $6,000 towards closing costs or options. The homes in this building are town home-style units, ranging in size from approximately 1,700 to over 2,000 square feet., with either two or three bedrooms. Buyers who purchase in Building E, which features one-story homes, will receive $3,000 toward closing costs or options. This new building features twelve of the extremely popular one-bedroom condominium homes. Also available will be one-story, two-bedroom condominium homes, ranging in size to just over 1,400 square feet. Buyers receiving either of these special incentives must go to contract within 60 days of deposit.
For more information on Tapestry at Montgomery, please call (609) 688-6833. For The Lofts at Washington Town Center, please call (866) 434-LOFTS.
Sunitha Nair and Suki Featherson, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Business Profile
Sunitha Nair and Suki Featherson, of Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., want people to know it’s a really great time to buy a home. But for these real estate professionals, it isn’t just about buying and/or selling a home. It’s about establishing a long-term relationship with their clients that goes beyond the actual transaction.
“We don’t push,” says Nair. “We’ve got the knowledge and experience, and we develop trust with our clients. We lay out the options, so they can make an informed decision.”
“We go above and beyond,” explains Featherson. “We develop close relationships with our clients that last for a long time after the transaction.”
The two women have known each other for eight years and decided this January to team up and offer their customers the benefit of their combined 30 years worth of real estate experience. In addition, the Nair and Featherson team offers an added bonus. Featherson is bi-lingual in English and Korean. And by being bi-lingual, she believes she offers more than her real estate acumen to clients.
“It’s not just about buying a home or moving to a new town,” she explains. “I’m there for them in many ways.” She finds she becomes more of a friend, helping them with everything from learning about the schools, church, social security, jobs. She helps with their English and explains the culture.
According to the two women, it’s a great time to be buying a home. There is a lot of inventory out there and there are more buyers than sellers. They also point out that prices are negotiable and interest rates are low. In other words, it’s a buyer’s market.
Buying a home is an emotional experience, say the two. “There are many different reasons for buying and selling. We specialize in first time buyers, who tend to need more contact than other buyers.”
“It’s emotional and personal,” says Featherson. “It’s a huge investment, the biggest of their lives, and you have to be there every day. And that’s what we do.”
“We are part time psychologists,” says Nair. “We stay in contact on a daily basis and we follow up after the sale.”
For Nair, the most important thing is customer satisfaction. “When I sell someone a house, I want to do a good job. I want them to know I am there for them and they can call me any time, day or night.”
“It’s not about listing and selling for me,” says Featherson. “My goal is helping people.”
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., 33 Princeton-Hightstown Road, Princeton Junction.
Sunitha Nair, Broker Associate, 732-397-3845 (cell) and Suki Featherson, Sales Associate,732-718-4714 (cell)
FEMA DENIAL LETTER: NOT THE LAST WORD
SOMERSET, N.J. -- If you received a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) saying that you are ineligible for disaster assistance, don't give up.
A denial letter does not necessarily mean that an applicant is not eligible for assistance. It may mean that FEMA does not have all the information needed to approve an application for assistance. For example, an applicant might need to:
Provide information to prove occupancy or ownership of the damaged property
Provide proof of identity
Provide documentation to prove disaster damage
Complete and return the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan application. Completing and returning an SBA application is an essential part of the recovery process
If a letter says an applicant is denied assistance because you are "INS-insured" (a code designating an insurance issue), the applicant should call the FEMA helpline to update insurance information when it is available.
An applicant may be denied assistance for various reasons, including insufficient storm-related damage or adequate insurance coverage. Federal disaster assistance is designed to help with uninsured or under-insured losses caused by the disaster. The disaster assistance gives many a starting place or "hand up" to begin the recovery process.
Individuals who receive denial letters have the right to ask for a review. Guidelines on how to do this can be found in the Applicant's Handbook sent to everyone who registers with FEMA.
At any time, you may call the FEMA helpline, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY 1-800-462-7585) with questions about your application.
Receive up to the minute New Jersey disaster recovery information by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion2.
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