Long Island Business News

Rough Terrain for Hummer Dealerships

At the Ramp Hummer dealership in St. James, more than 100 of the big, boxy GM vehicles sat cheek-by-jowl in the sunshine. They seemed to be screaming. "Take off $10,000!" yelled large, colorful cards from the windshields.

Barry Sonnenfeld Shooting Movie On Long Island's East End

The East End has long been home to many of Tinseltown's biggest stars. But it's rarely been a place where Hollywood's moviemakers set up shop.

Long Island's Commercial Real Estate Market Teeters

As insulated as Long Island real estate has been through past recessions, experts say the recent collapse of financial firms on Wall Street will eventually result in lower prices and higher vacancies in commercial properties here. The departure of Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch put the fate of more than 3 million square feet of Manhattan office space in question. Although conquerers such as JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America absorbed a lot of the space, the firms will, in all...

Melville's Lend America Bucks Trend, Looks to Buy Up Mortgages

With most of Wall Street unloading as much bad debt as possible, Melville's Lend America is using that to its advantage. Investors are approaching the originator of government-backed mortgages to help them collect on bad loans that are weighing down their portfolios.

Elmont Horse Hospital to Open Next Month

Owners: Richard Schiavo, Michael Iavarone Hospital: Ruffian Equine Medical Center

Q&a with Richard Casey, Owner of New Hyde Park-Based R&B Films

Disc jockey Richard Casey's company is experiencing explosive growth even though his business is based on free giveaways.

Aquaculture Plan Is Ok

To the Editor: Your Sept. 5 article regarding Suffolk County's proposed shellfish aquaculture program in Peconic and Gardiners Bay, entitled "Shell Game: Baymen Battle over Proposed Program," was way off base in the characterization of the proposed program. In particular, I would like to address two points: the scale of the program and the agricultural nature of the operation.

Long Island Financial Briefs: October 3, 2008

Mortgage group helps homeowners via the Web The Mortgage Recovery Group, a group of local lawyers that counsel troubled homeowners, has a new Web site.

Long Island Real Estate Briefs: October 3, 2008

Storm clouds gather over Long Island RE market The mounting financial crisis will soon impact Long Island's already tenuous real estate market, says internationally known auction expert Steve Good from Chicago-based Sheldon Good & Co.

Long Island Legal Briefs: October 3, 2008

At home and broke A spouse who did not pay any of the withholdings attributable to a joint income tax refund has no ownership in the refund and therefore can't claim an exemption in a joint bankruptcy petition, the 8th Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel has ruled.

How To...Buy a Franchise

Starting a new business from scratch can be a scary proposition, especially for a neophyte. Many entrepreneurs find buying a franchise to be a less risky venture. With a franchise agreement, a company allows another party to use its intellectual property, such as its trademark, logo and system of doing business, to generate sales and profits. A franchisee typically sells products or services supplied by the franchiser or that meet the franchiser's standards.

Interview with Jingfang Ju, Co-Director of Translational Research Laboratory at Stony Brook

NAME: Jingfang Ju TITLE: Co-Director of the Translational Research Laboratory

Long Islanders On the Move: October 3, 2008

Banking Gold Coast Bank in Islandia welcomed Suzanne K. Kirkpatrick as vice president/relationship manager. Kirkpatrick, who will focus on small-business and middle-market clients, was formerly an independent consultant serving the small-business community and providing risk analysis for commercial banks.

Long Island Nonprofit Briefs: October 3, 2008

Building a future YouthBuild Long Island has begun construction on its first house, in Brentwood.

Programs That Four L.I. Companies Use to Find, Attract, and Keep Personnel

For certain professions, it's always difficult to find talent, no matter what the economy is doing. Here's a look at programs that four large companies have instituted to find, attract and keep personnel in hard-to-fill roles. Healthy growth within the organization

Long Island's Education Is the Area's Economic Engine

While Wall Street melts down and generates more worries than profits, Long Island's education economy is growing as schools develop and expand, employing thousands and generating business for other industries. An area once known for its defense industry now has a thriving education economy.

Masters of Their Universe: The Value of the Mba in Today's Business World

After Lorraine Chambers Lewis was promoted to corporate director of employee health services for the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, she wanted more than on-the-job training. So Lewis enrolled in Hofstra University's health care administration MBA program, developed jointly with North Shore-LIJ. Although she hasn't yet completed the program, she is already implementing some of what she's learned.

Beyond Raises: Long Island Companies Get Creative in Competing for Employees

Recruiting in an economy with a low unemployment rate is costly and difficult, especially in professions with shortages, such as nursing. But St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn found a prescription to attract and retain nurses. The hospital, which offers bonuses and profit sharing, was named among the best places in the state to work by the New York State Society for Human Resource Management for its efforts to provide a welcoming workplace.

Ones to Watch: Long Island Directors and Administrators

Dr. Harold A. Fernandez Director of Heart Failure Surgery