Julie Staradumsky CREN

The state of New Jersey is revising its plan to build a new office in Hammonton, New Jersey. The state Economic Development Authority reworked the conceptual plans for the project and presented them to the state Treasury Department for its review.

A timetable for how long the Treasury Department review will take, as well as details about the extent of the changes to the project were not available. The first proposed building would be approximately 72,000 square feet located at 11TH St. and S. Egg Harbor Rd.

State officials estimated the building would have some 250 employees and would allow the state to close smaller offices that are located in Folson, Bellmawr, Egg Harbor Township, and Northfield. The town and state have yet to have further discussions on the acquisition and replacement costs for the town's highway garage, which is situated within the site plan for the state building.

Qualifying for a mortgage is certainly not as easy as it used to be. The turmoil that has gripped the housing and the credit markets has led to lenders tightening their approval standards. But while it is more difficult to qualify, it is not impossible.



Check your Credit score.
The three main reporting agencies are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You'll want to make sure that all the information on these reports is correct. If you find some information that is incorrect, you should report the discrepancy immediately to all three reporting agencies. Anything negative on your credit report can hurt you, even if it's not right.

Boost your FICO score.
Most mortgage lenders use the FICO score to determine if a borrower will default. Because the score measures your ability to repay a loan, there are steps you can take to improve it. Pay down your debt, pay all your credit accounts on time and keep open accounts with a $0 balance.

Put money aside for a down payment.
Sock enough away for a 5% to 10% down payment. This will show that you are serious about becoming a homeowner. Most lenders feel more comfortable granting a mortgage with a larger down payment. No-down-payment mortgages, a staple of the housing boom, have virtually disappeared. To qualify for a government-insured Federal Housing Administration loan, you'll need to put at least 3% down.

Get realistic about your budget.
Your mortgage payment should be about 25% of your monthly household income. Choose a price range that fits this. If you make $4,000 a month, don't take a mortgage out for much more than $1,000 a month. This will ensure that you have adequate reserves to make your payments

1) Postpone applying for credit cards or auto loan

2) Get the right rate and caps for your ARM mortgage

3) Get at least 3 bids on your homeowners insurance

4) Decide what you are going to spend on your new home before you start looking

5) Refinance before you retire

6) Determine a home value and walk ability before you buy

7) Count your child support & alimony as income

8) Expect the unexpected expenses (repairs, medical)

9) Get your approval for your mortgage

10) Keep up with the everyday selling prices and values home in your area of interest

11) Save your deal if you mortgage lender may go under

10/27/2008

ATLANTIC CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO OVERTURN FULL SMOKING BAN

Casino patrons will take their last breath of completely smoke free air on the casino gaming floors November 16, 2008. A 5 to 4 vote overturned council's unanimous decision in April to ban smoking at all 11 Atlantic City casino. Council will revisit the ban in a year with hopes that the country's economic crisis will have subsided.

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THE SMOKING BAN IN ATLANTIC CITY CASINO'S was to take effect on October 15, 2008. City Council on October 8, 2008 voted in favor 5 to 4 to delay the smoking ban due to the Trump Organization & Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. However, council will not vote on the bill again until October 22, 2008.

Mark Juliano, chief executive officer of Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc., and Larry Mullin, president & chief operating officer of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, are the only two casino executives to address council in delaying the smoking ban for a year. Mark Juliano stated "NOW IS THE WRONG TIME", assuring council members this was not an instance of "CORPORATE GREED" but the preservation of jobs. Also in favor is Bob McDevitt, president of Local 54 of UNITE-HERE.

The Poker rooms in all of the casino's in Atlantic City are non-smoking and the flow of players continue to come, when they need to have a cigarette the poker players go outside. Gamblers are Gamblers.

It is my opinion, also being a casino employee this smoking ban should go into effect on October 15, 2008 and yes it is all about "CORPORATE GREED".

Donald Trump himself dislikes cigarette smoke and has stated that numerous times in the press, but prefers to put his employee in harms way, with all types of illness that you receive from second hand smoke! Donald Trump being a non smoker supports the government drive against smoking. He even announces in public that smoking should be stop forever. re: New York Time, Press of Atlantic City.

Hey Donald, you need to work in one of your casinos as a casino dealer, beverage server, bartender, or as any casino employee for a year in a smoking area and lets see how long you would last!

C'est La Vie

I commend the Atlantic City Council persons whom are against the delay:

William Marsh

Steven Moore

Eugene Robinson

Bruce Ward

WWW.CANCER.ORG for more information on second hand smoke, smoking and cancer

Here in ATLANTIC COUNTY is a striking difference between North Jersey & SOUTH JERSEY in the amount of undeveloped land. This September Atlantic County acquired enough open space to reach an annual total of 1,000 acres for the third time in the last four years. In September 63 acres of HAMMONTON farmland was purchased through America's Farmland Preservation Program, New Jersey State Agricultural Committee and the Atlantic County Open Trust Fund.

Landowners who take part in the Farmland Preservation Program agree to sell the development rights to their land but maintain ownership and the ability to continue to farm the land.

Perhaps the most impressive item to the Preservation Program is that we will be able to enjoy the woods, the pinelands and wetlands and appreciate all that New Jersey Pinelands has to offer.

TOP 10 FATEST GROWING OCCUPATIONS: 2004 - 2014

* HOME HEALTH AIDES

* NETWORK SYSTEMS AND DATA COMMUNICATIONS ANALYSTS

* MEDICAL ASSISTANTS

* PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

* COMPUTER SOFTWARE ENGINEERS

* PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTS

* DENTAL HYGIENISTS

* COMPUTER SOFTWARE ENGINEERS

* DENTAL ASSISTANTS

* PERSONAL & HOME CARE AIDES

The above occupations are for projected growth between now and 2014 are concentrated in the health and techonology sectors.

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THE 10 OCCUPATIONS WITH LARGEST JOB GROWTH 2004 - 2014

* RETAIL SALES PERSONS

* REGISTERED NURSES

* POST SECONDARY TEACHERS

* JANITORS AND CLEANERS

* WAITERS AND WAITRESSES

* COMBINED FOOD PREPARATION & SERVING WORKERS

* HOME HEALTH AIDES

* NURSING AIDES, ORDERLIES & ATTENDANTS

* GENERAL & OPERATIONS MANAGERS

Information obtained from Yahoo, CN8, Comcast, Ask.com, About.com