Cupola laid atop First Hope Bank's Blairstown office

by The Warren Reporter

Saturday November 29, 2008, 7:51 AM

Construction workers and bank associates took a break from the renovation and expansion work that has become routine at the site of First Hope's Blairstown office, to witness the spectacle of a 72-inch wide cupola being laid atop the bank office by a crane.

Since August 2007, work has been ongoing on the construction of a two-story, 11,000-square-foot Operations Center, as well as the reconfiguring of the bank's 4,000-square-foot Blairstown office.

"While First Hope Bank prides itself on the effective deployment of modern technology, the facilities housing that technology had become strained beyond capacity, necessitating construction of a new building," explained Norman E. Beatty, First Hope's chairman, president, and chief executive officer. "We're building the Operations Center and reconfiguring the branch with an eye toward ensuring their viability 20 years from now.

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Goin' Postal comes to Washington

by Warren Reporter

Friday November 28, 2008, 7:15 PM

WASHINGTON -- Goin' Postal, a low cost franchise alternative to the UPS Store, has leased the 60 East Washington Ave. space in the Midtown at Washington building in the downtown Washington area.

Goin' Postal offers a variety of services including UPS, FedEx, USPS, faxing, color copying, laminating, packaging, mailbox rental and more. At Goin' Postal, stamps, shipping and office supplies, greeting cards and other items also may be purchased.

Launched in 2002 with a single store until 2004, Goin' Postal is now a chain of more than 350 retail shipping and receiving stores that has its corporate headquarters in Zephyrhills, Fl. The company's philosophy is based on a foundation of great customer service, fair rates and attention to detail within its extended business family

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First Hope Bank announces Hope Christmas Craft Fair plans

by The Warren Reporter

Friday November 28, 2008, 6:28 PM

HOPE TWP. -- During the first day of the Hope Christmas Craft Market on Saturday, Dec. 6, First Hope Bank's Hope office is offering extended hours, an art display, free tours of its historic building, a visit from Santa Claus, a fun craft for children, and holiday tunes played by local musician Clare Fox on the bank's piano. T

he bank will again provide crafters and attendees with longer banking hours by remaining open until 2 p.m. on Saturday.

"All of us at First Hope look forward to the annual Christmas Craft Market," said First Hope's President Norman E. Beatty. "It is an opportunity to display the artwork created by Hope Elementary School K-8 students and to show off the magnificence of our historic Moravian building. It is a high point in our service to the community. Parents are most welcome to stop by to view the art show."

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Multi Financial has new office in Downtown Washington

by The Warren Reporter

Wednesday November 26, 2008, 8:52 AM

WASHINGTON - Multi Financial, an independent full service financial planning and investment advisory that has serving clients in the Washington area for the past 21 years, recently moved its Washington Borough office to the brand new Midtown Limited building on E. Washington Avenue (Route 57), in the center of the downtown.

"Our new location is highly visible and very convenient for new clients as well as our longtime clients," said longtime Washington resident Ed Winters, Jr., RFC, Principal of the Multi Financial office. "It's an exciting change for us and we are really looking forward to being a part of the new downtown."

Multi Financial is located at 58 E. Washington Avenue, near the midtown crosswalk.

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Blimpie founder speaks at Centenary College

by The Warren Reporter

Sunday November 23, 2008, 10:41 AM

Mansfield's Book Loft: More than the average bookstore

by Keith Elphick/Correspondent

Tuesday November 18, 2008, 10:59 AM

MANSFIELD -- The most important thing for Daryl Zinn, owner of Book Loft on Route 57 in Mansfield Township, is for his customers to feel the difference between his book store and large book store conglomerates. In Zinn's perspective, "service makes all the difference," and keeps bringing customers back.

Zinn moved Book Loft to Mansfield approximately three years ago from Stanhope. He was attracted to Book Loft's present location in Mansfield because of the surrounding small town communities, its visibility from Route 57, and the accompanying stores along the strip mall.

Now three years later, Daryl and Anne Zinn, have put all their efforts into attaining, as Daryl puts it, the "family feeling in a bookstore" that encourages literacy among parents and children.
In order for Daryl and Anne to have a bookstore that guarantees quality service, they hired a small number of employees who know books and can provide suggestions, insight, and assistance to all Book Loft's customers, something Daryl takes very seriously.

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Chicken feet are very important!

by Duane Copley/Farmers Forum

Tuesday November 18, 2008, 10:44 AM

I had the occasion this week to head south, and knew you would all be interested to hear the cotton is in harvest in the Carolinas. That old saying about "walking in tall cotton" could never be more outdated, as all the cotton I've seen is planted for machine harvesting and is very short.

The saying dates back to an era when cotton was harvested by hand and it was considered a good day when you had a chance to pick the cotton in a field where the cotton was very tall and you didn't have to stoop or bend over to do the picking. I see quite a few beans still trying to mature.

I saw a surprising amount of grain corn that I doubt will ever be harvested, looking pretty stunted and having very few ears. I think I figured out why we had that freak snow event. There are so many Canadians heading south for the winter that the added weight in Florida has caused the earth to tilt prematurely and New Jersey thought it was already winter.

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Oxford cruise planners get insight on trends during annual convention

by Warren Reporter

Sunday November 16, 2008, 11:11 PM

Cruising is one of the fastest growing methods of travel.

Michael and Susan Tietjen got a firsthand look at the latest trends in the industry at the annual convention of Cruise Planners, held in Florida in October. The couple operate a Cruise Planners franchise in Oxford.

Hearing from representatives of all the major cruise lines, the Tietjens joined over 300 other Cruise Planners agents for four days of intensive training and cruise-specific orientation. They also heard expert advice from the tour industry, travel insurance and American Express Vacations.

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Franklin Township, Warren County builder active in 'green' building efforts

by Kevin Lechiski/Warren Reporter

Sunday November 16, 2008, 3:45 PM

FRANKLIN TWP. -- Designing an eco-friendly building is not only good for the environment, but can also be good for business.

In an effort to highlight that point, and other similar ones, a local chapter of the Delaware Valley Green Council (DVGBC) was introduced to dozens of professionals at the area's first "Green-by-Design" conference and workshop held Oct. 21 at The Four Points by Sheraton in Allentown, Pa. "Green-by-Design" conferences have been held at various locations in New Jersey over the past two years.

The conference, presented by Hance Construction of Warren County, along with Milton Terry Associates Commercial Interiors and GBW Insurance, was open to those who wanted to learn about the benefits of designing and building "green." Among the attendees were architects, engineers, business owners, designers, property managers, city officials, general contractors and builders, as well as the general public

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Deadline approaches for federal Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program

by Warren Reporter

Saturday November 15, 2008, 3:23 PM

The application deadline for 2009 coverage on fall seeded crops under the federal Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program is Dec. 1.

"In order to be eligible for disaster assistance programs, like Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program or SURE, producers are required to timely purchase, at a minimum, catastrophic coverage for all insurable crops and/or NAP coverage for all non-insurable crops on their entire farm," according to Kenneth Bingham, executive director of the Farm Service Agency service center in Independence Township.

According to Bingham, NAP was designed to reduce financial losses that occur when natural disasters cause a catastrophic loss of production or prevented planting an eligible crop by providing coverage equivalent to catastrophic insurance. Federal law limits NAP to each commercial crop or agricultural commodity, except livestock, for which catastrophic insurance is not available.

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Washington Borough Business Improvement District seats up for grabs

by Kevin Lechiski/Warren Reporter

Saturday November 15, 2008, 2:21 PM

WASHINGTON -- Ten different business and community people are vying for three spots on the 2009 Washington Business Improvement District's Board of Directors. Three other categories are uncontested.

Over the next few weeks, WBID members will receive ballots in the mail and then vote for candidates in six different categories, although only three slots are contested.

The winners will be announced at the organization's regular December Board of Directors meeting at the WBID office, 21 Belvidere Ave., on Dec. 4. All ballots are due back by that day.

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Mansfield engineer goes 'green'

by Warren Reporter

Friday November 14, 2008, 5:28 PM

HACKETTSTOWN -- Drew M. Di Sessa, a licensed professional engineer with Criterium-Di Sessa Engineers of Hackettstown, recently became a LEED Accredited Professional.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is the U.S. Green Building Council's nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

"I have always had a passion for thinking 'green' when it comes to buildings," said DiSessa, who lives in Mansfield Township. "In this day and age it is important for people who want to do the right thing environmentally to have what is needed to help them make the right decisions. LEED building certification gives them that opportunity."

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Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg honors employees, physicians during 26th annual Service Awards ceremony

by Warren Reporter

Friday November 14, 2008, 4:12 PM

Warren Hospital has held its 26th annual Service Awards ceremony honoring employees and physicians.

President-CEO Jeffrey Goodwin, Chairman Robert Rumfield and human resources Director William Durett presented the awards Nov. 5 at Flynn's on the Hill, Phillipsburg.

Honored for their years of service:
40 years -- Anita Homoki and Hannelore Kolb.
35 years -- Diane Kerr, Elizabeth Pierson and Jean Sampson.
30 years -- Mary Alice Blake, Dr. Alberto Estrada, Dr. Charles Grubb, Dr. Patrick Inverso, Dr. Irwin Lewis, Richard Markle and Patricia Searles.

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Warren County ShopRites show how much they care

by Warren Reporter

Friday November 14, 2008, 10:30 AM

Wakefern Food Corporation has announced the results of the 2008 ShopRite Partners in Caring Cheerios Contest and six ShopRite supermarkets owned and operated by RoNetco Supermarkets were included: Succasunna, Mansfield, Newton, Byram, Franklin and Netcong.

With 57 ShopRite supermarkets competing, RoNetco stores were named to the top 30 based upon outstanding results in fund raising events, best displays and overall commitment to the hunger-fighting initiative of being Partners in Caring for our neighbors' families, homes and communities.
"We are delighted to have such dedicated customers and associates who showed their big hearts in supporting our efforts to fight hunger in our communities" said Dominick J. Romano, vice president and chief operating officer of RoNetco Supermarkets, Inc.

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Winter Festival in Blairstown highlights businesses

by Jacqueline Lindsay/Staff Writer

Thursday November 13, 2008, 7:58 PM

Blairstown Business Association is holding its annual Winter Festival 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 15 at the North Warren Regional High School gymnasium on Lambert Road in Blairstown.

Blairstown Business Association is a council of the Warren County Regional Chamber of Commerce. Robert Goltz, Chamber of Commerce president, said organizers are expecting upwards of 50 businesses to participate in this year's festival. The event is free and open to the public.

"We'll have business vendors from around the county showing off their wares before the holiday season," Goltz said. "Business expos let people know what businesses and services are available to their community."

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