“Suspected getaway driver in Kearny jewelry store murder was caught ... - Bridgeton News” plus 4 more

Suspected getaway driver in Kearny jewelry store murder was caught ... - Bridgeton News
Data show N.J.'s roads the nation's worst - Philiy.com
The wide, weird world of stimulus - CNN Money
Women make up their minds faster when buying a home - Daily Territorial
Car-repair legislation backed by insurance companies wins a round - Los Angeles Times

Suspected getaway driver in Kearny jewelry store murder was caught ... - Bridgeton News

Posted: 04 Sep 2009 02:31 PM PDT

by Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal

The suspected getaway driver in the case of a Kearny jewelry store owner who was gunned down during a robbery last month was caught thanks to a tip from a citizen who saw a photo of the car, officials said.

Elvis Feratovic, 24, of Bloomfield is charged with felony murder and robbery. He is accused of being in the car while two others went to the store, robbed and shot 47-year-old Xavier Egoavil to death.

Feratovic, who is being held on $750,000 bail, was arrested after being interviewed at the county Homicide Squad offices last night and appeared in Central Judicial Processing Court via videolink this morning from the Hudson County jail in Kearny.

"We are hopeful that the two other individuals involved in this murder will be brought to justices shortly," Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said following this morning's court appearance.

Egoavil, a Kearny resident who left behind his wife, Gina, and two children, Xavier, 10, and Ivana, 6, was shot four times inside Rachel Jewelers at 8:45 a.m. Aug. 18 after he struggled with one of two robbers, officials said. Egovil's mother was in the store at the time; his father had left the store to go to a pastry shop.

During today's hearing Judge Richard Nieto asked Feratovic if he understood what was happening.

Feratovic blurted out "I don't, because I am a victim of a crime..." but he was quickly cut off by the public defender who advised him to avail himself of his right to remain silent.

Later, reacting to Feratovic's statement, DeFazio told The Jersey Journal: "The only victim of the crime here was Xavier, who was shot and killed, and his mother who was traumatize."

Earlier this week a citizen contacted Kearny police saying he recognized the getaway car from descriptions and images that were featured in numerous news reports about the murder, including in The Jersey Journal.

Investigators found the car in a Passaic County auto repair shop where they believe work was being to make it less recognizable, DeFazio said.

"We believe (Feratovic's) intent was to have the appearance of the car altered and in fact, to some degree, it was," DeFazio said. "The distinctive rims were gone, the (window) tinting was removed.."

Homicide detectives determined Feratovic was the owner the car and they contacted him yesterday, DeFazio said.

Investigators allege Feratovic provided the getaway car and waited in it around the corner form the Kearny Avenue jewelry store, DeFazio said, adding that after the fatal robbery he sped the two men away.

Images of the car were captured by a security camera, as were images of the two men that entered the store, DeFazio said.

The gunman is described as being in his late 20s to early 30s and standing about 6 feet tall; he appears to be white with an olive complexion. His beard may have been fake. He wore dark pants and a light-colored green shirt, officials said. The gunman spoke English to his accomplice, but he also spoke a little Spanish.

Police has released a sketch of the gunman.

The second man is described as being in his late 20s or 30s, standing 5 feet, 8 inches tall and of medium build, officials said. He wore a long-sleeved white shirt and dark pants.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office's Homicide Squad at (201) 915-1345.

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Data show N.J.'s roads the nation's worst - Philiy.com

Posted: 04 Sep 2009 01:55 PM PDT

New Jersey has the worst roads in the country.

Just over 28 percent of the state's roads were rated in "poor condition" in a recent report, well above the national average of 5.8 percent.

Transportation for America, a Washington lobbying group, highlighted the road conditions and other measurements, using data compiled by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

In Pennsylvania, 11.3 percent of roads were in poor condition, putting it in the bottom fifth of the states.

Timothy Greeley, a spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, said things are getting better. He said the state had increased its spending on road projects in the last two years because "investment in New Jersey's transportation infrastructure is critical to New Jersey's economy and quality of life."

He said the department spent more on resurfacing in fiscal 2008 and 2009 than in the previous five years. And he said the department increased its spending on bridges to more than $600 million, up from $400 million in fiscal 2006.

"Our roadway network handles a higher workload than many other states in this country and supports high-volume usage while combating harsh weather conditions in the Northeast," Greeley said.

In South Jersey, road crews are especially busy this summer, with an infusion of federal stimulus money added to regular state and county road-repair budgets.

In Burlington County, the biggest resurfacing projects include 4.9 miles of Burlington-Jacksonville Road (County Route 670) for $1.36 million, and 6.4 miles of Elbo Lane (CR 612) for $1.54 million.

"We try to pick the worst and put them into this year's resurfacing program," said county engineer R. Thomas Jaggard. His list this year includes 16 roads funded with $7.8 million in state money and four projects funded with $2.5 million in federal money.

In Gloucester County, crews have been resurfacing Route 322 in Harrison Township in recent weeks and are about to tackle Tuckahoe Road (CR555) and Fries Mill Road (CR655) in Monroe Township, among others.

In Camden County, I-295 is being resurfaced from Exit 32 to Exit 24. Other projects include Blackwood-Clementon Road (CR 534) in Lindenwold and Pine Hill, and Erial-New Brooklyn Road (CR 706) in Winslow Township.

Part of the reason for New Jersey's rough roads may be a lack of funds for highway repairs, said a motorists' group spokeswoman.

New Jersey, the most densely populated and the second-most affluent state in the nation, gets most of its highway-repair money from gasoline taxes. The state has the fourth-lowest gas tax in the country (at 14.5 cents per gallon, including a 4-cents-a-gallon petroleum-products gross-receipts tax), so it gets less highway-repair money from its gas tax than most states.

(Overall, though, New Jersey has the highest state/local tax burden in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation.)

"We have old roads, and we're a major thoroughfare in the Northeast, and a lot of repairs have not been done," said Tracy Noble, a spokeswoman for the AAA MidAtlantic auto club. "And if we don't figure out how to fund the Transportation Trust Fund, it's going to get worse."

The state's Transportation Trust Fund, which pays for road projects, is slated to run out of funding for roadwork next year. All of its $895 million a year will be required to pay for debt service on previously borrowed money.

Noble said 65 percent of AAA members polled in New Jersey opposed an increase in the gasoline tax.

"That said, we need to find a way to fund the Transportation Trust Fund," Noble said.

Of New Jersey's approximately 10,000 miles of road, 2,808 miles were rated as "poor" in the FHWA statistics, based on 2007 data. Only 952 miles were rated "very good" or "good." The rest were deemed "fair" or "mediocre."

With the release of the state-by-state data, "we're kind of waving a red flag and saying, 'If you let this stuff go, it really does come back to haunt you,' " said David Goldberg, communications director for Transportation for America. The group is lobbying for the next federal transportation bill to create a dedicated funding stream to keep highways and transit facilities in good shape.

Goldberg said that New Jersey had done better than many states in repairing existing roads rather than building new ones, but that the state suffered from having lots of expensive urban roads and "a very high amount of truck traffic."

Noble said the FHWA statistics supported what AAA members in New Jersey said about the state's roads in AAA polling. While most (73 percent) said the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway were in "excellent" or "good" condition, 50 percent rated state and county roads as "fair" or "poor."

The national average of "poor" roads was 5.8 percent in 2007, the most recent year available, and Oregon had the lowest percentage of "poor" roads, at 0.8 percent.

Among the other states with low percentages of "poor" roads were Kentucky (1 percent), Massachusetts (1 percent), North Dakota (1 percent), Georgia (1.4 percent), Florida (1.4 percent), and Ohio (1.4 percent).

The road-condition ratings are based on reports that individual states are required to submit to the FHWA, using a standard International Roughness Index. The ratings include most major roads, but not "local or minor collector" roads.

Contact staff writer Paul Nussbaum at 215-854-4587 or pnussbaum@phillynews.com.

What's the worst road in New Jersey? Send your candidates to pnussbaum@phillynews.com

The wide, weird world of stimulus - CNN Money

Posted: 04 Sep 2009 01:12 PM PDT

The government has spent about $85 billion on Recovery Act projects so far, but not all of money is being used to fix roads, provide more Medicare aid to states, amp up clean energy programs or school repair.

There are currently just under 22,000 contracts for stimulus projects. They range from just a few pennies for nuts and bolts at a local hardware store to billions of dollars for nuclear waste cleanup.

But dig a little deeper, and you'll find stimulus has also funded an electric oyster shell dispersal cart, ice machines, $25 million of pork and ham, a reach-in freezer, $3 million worth of auto lawyers, office furniture and nine water safety mascot costumes.

If some of those projects make you scratch your head, you're not alone. Take a peek into the world of stimulus diversity.

NEXT: Bobber the Water Safety Dog (and friends)

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Women make up their minds faster when buying a home - Daily Territorial

Posted: 04 Sep 2009 12:43 PM PDT

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION: Home sales pace to quicken

By Joe Pangburn, Inside Tucson Business
Published on Friday, September 04, 2009

Men are slower than women at making up their minds when it comes to decisions about real estate, according to a survey conducted for Coldwell Banker.

Almost 70 percent of women said the knew they day they walked into a house if it was right for them, versus 62 percent of men who said the same thing.

Coldwell Banker contracted with International Communications Research in Pennsylvania, which conducted the survey of 1,000 adults in May. The questions included: "How long did it take for you to know that the last home you purchased was right for you?" and "If you found the home of your dreams but had concerns about its security, would you still be interested?" "Not only did we uncover some of the inherent differences between men and women, but we also pinpointed a number of ways that the two genders are actually the same," said Coldwell Banker's Diann Patton. "For example, both men and women are increasingly concerned with having a space to work in their homes – something we would not have seen 40 years ago. We also found that feeling insecure about a home's safety is a deal-breaker for most people, regardless of gender."

Patton said the survey was an attempt to better understand the clients' wants and needs in the process of buying a home.

"We wanted to learn if there were differences in what they are looking for," she said. "We also wanted to find out how we can communicate differently with different clients."

Among other findings:

• 55 percent of women would rather live closer to their extended family than to their job, versus 37 percent for men.

• 64 percent of women said it would be deal-breaker if their dream home had issues regarding security, versus 51 percent for men.

• Almost 70 percent of respondents who said they were living with a significant other said they made large financial decisions mutually.

• Men were four times more likely than women to turn an extra 12 foot-by-12 foot room into an entertainment room.

Pace of home sales

Residential real estate closings in the Tucson region for the first three weeks of August averaged 188 per week, which is 23 percent off the weekly pacing since June of 244 closings. But the pace is about to pick up, according to Long Realty Research Center, which reports that during those same three weeks, there were 929 properties put under contract, for a weekly rate of almost 310 — up 7 percent over the weekly pace of 290 since June.

It's expected the pace will continue to pick up as the Nov. 31 deadline approaches to qualify for the federal government's $8,000 first-time home buyer's credit.

Short sale on 14 lots

Steve Johnson, of GS Real Estate Investments, has acquired 14 builder-ready lots for $380,000 in the Savage Place subdivision at the southwest corner of E. Speedway and Harrison Road.

The sale was a foreclosure distressed sale from M&I Bank.

Johnson is planning to build new homes on the lots that will be price competitive with foreclosure sales to offer affordable housing on the far eastside.

"Only through a distressed sale would our client be able to deliver a new home product in this current market condition and still make a reasonable profit", said James P. Robertson Jr., of Long Commercial Services, who represented GS Real Estate Investments, along with Mary Diaz of Long Realty Company.

"You're going to pay the bottom price for today and three months from now, so you may as well get it over with now," Robertson said. "Deals like these aren't going to last once they come up."

Certification for J.B. Steel

Steel fabricator J.B. Steel has received the quality certification for Standard Steel Building Structures from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).

J.B. Steel, 2850 E. Ganley Road, has been in business since 1994. Among its current projects, it is supplying the steel for the Ritz-Carlton at Dove Mountain Resort and Spa.

The certification, which is reviewed annually, is confirmation by an independent auditor the company has the personnel, knowledge, organization, equipment, experience, capability, procedures and commitment to produce quality work as a structural steel fabricator.

Sales and leases

• QuikTrip Corporation has purchased 2.6 acres, at 5154 E. Speedway, from Don Medoff for $1.3 million. Steve Cohen with Picor Commercial Real Estate Services represented the seller. Doug Wright with Commercial Investors Realty represented QuikTrip.

• Earhart Equipment Corporation purchased the 115,627 square feet of land at 13968 N. Adonis Road, Marana, for $300,000 from Andy Frank. Steve Cohen, Picor Commercial Real Estate Services handled the transaction.

• Larsen Vending Inc. leased 2,300 square feet of warehouse space at 210 W. Fifth St. from Rich Rodgers Investment. Phoenix-based Larsen Vending is expanding into the Tucson market. James P. Robertson Jr. of Long Realty Commercial Services represented the tenant. Brandon Rodgers of CB Richard Ellis represented the landlord.

• SCL Enterprises leased a 2,000 square-foot industrial suite at 1684 S. Research Loop, Suite 502, from Foothills Business Ventures LLC. SCL Enterprises intends to use the space for an auto repair facility. Ron Zimmerman and Gary Emerson of Bourn Partners LLC represented the landlord and the tenant.

• Wheels & More leased a 1,860 square-foot automotive building located at 3502 N. Oracle Road from the McTarnahan Family Trust. Ron Zimmerman of Bourn Partners LLC represented the landlord and the tenant.

• Global Prevention Services-Tucson LLC extended its lease for 1,440 square feet in Exchange Place Business Park, 1870 W. Prince Road, Suite 27, from Presson Corporation. Rob Glaser and Paul Hooker with Picor Commercial Real estate Services handled the transaction.

• Nicolas Robles leased 1,440 square feet in Exchange Place Business Park, 1870 W. Prince Road, Suite 34, from Presson Corporation. Rob Glaser and Paul Hooker with Picor Commercial Real estate Services handled the transaction.

• Catalina Scientific Instruments leased 1,440 square feet in Exchange Place Business Park, 1870 W. Prince Road, Suite 21, from Presson Corporation. Rob Glaser and Paul Hooker with Picor Commercial Real estate Services handled the transaction.

• Fairway Homes Inc. leased 1,293 square feet of retail space at Cortaro Crossing, at the northwest corner of Cortaro and Silverbell roads, in Marana from Cortaro Retail LLC. The space will be used for a new home showroom. Aaron LaPrise and Brian Harpel, with the Harpel Company Inc. handled the transaction.

• Inverse Lighting Inc renewed its lease for 1,200 square feet in Exchange Place Business Park, 1870 W. Prince Road, Suite 64, from Presson Corporation. Rob Glaser and Paul Hooker with Picor Commercial Real estate Services handled the transaction.

• Desert Valley Aire Inc. leased 980 square feet at Prince West Plaza, 1015 West Prince Road, from Prince West Plaza LLC. The company plans to open an HVAC store. Rob Tomlinson, Picor Commercial Real Estate Services handled the transaction.

E-mail items for this column to jpangburn@azbiz.com. Real Estate and Construction appears weekly.

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Car-repair legislation backed by insurance companies wins a round - Los Angeles Times

Posted: 04 Sep 2009 12:36 PM PDT

Reporting from Sacramento - An insurance industry-backed bill that would make it easier for auto insurers to persuade motorists to fix their dents only at company-selected garages won a key vote today in the state Senate and should be on the governor's desk next week.

The heavily lobbied proposal, which was opposed by an unlikely coalition of car dealers, auto body shops, trial attorneys and consumer activists, would ease prohibitions against so-called "steering" by insurance companies to favored body shops.

The bill, AB 1200 by Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi (D-Castro Valley), passed the Senate on a vote of 21-17. It's expected to easily win a final endorsement in the Assembly. For now, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken no public position on the measure.

The bill would change a 6-year-old state law that requires insurance companies to tell claimants they have a legal right to get their car repaired at any body shop they want. Insurers can recommend taking the vehicle to one of their pre-picked facilities -- only if the car owner has no personal preference.

Consumer advocates opposing the bill said it would give insurers a license to try to convince customers to send their cars to the company shops, which often are contracted to provide low-cost repairs, even after vehicle owners have picked their own facility.

marc.lifsher@latimes.com