Monday, 1/21, PNCT will be OPEN in observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day
Monday, 1/21, PNCT will be OPEN in observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day. Doubles moves til 4pm. Reefer Gate hours: 7am-3:30pm.
PierPass: Port Truck Gate Schedule for MLK Day Weekend 2019
Terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have announced revised schedules for the Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday weekend of Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, through Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. The schedule is posted below, and a PDF of the schedule can be downloaded by clicking here: https://www.pierpass.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MLK_Weekend-2019_1.pdf.
Please continue to monitor the websites of individual terminals for updates.
USDA to Reopen FSA Offices for Limited Services During Government Shutdown - US Department of Agriculture
Washington, D.C. (January 16, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that many Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices will reopen temporarily in the coming days to perform certain limited services for farmers and ranchers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recalled about 2,500 FSA employees to open offices on Thursday, January 17 and Friday, January 18, in addition to Tuesday, January 22, during normal business hours. The offices will be closed for the federal Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, January 21.
In almost half of FSA locations, FSA staff will be available to assist agricultural producers with existing farm loans and to ensure the agency provides 1099 tax documents to borrowers by the Internal Revenue Service’s deadline.
“Until Congress sends President Trump an appropriations bill in the form that he will sign, we are doing our best to minimize the impact of the partial federal funding lapse on America’s agricultural producers,” Perdue said. “We are bringing back part of our FSA team to help producers with existing farm loans. Meanwhile, we continue to examine our legal authorities to ensure we are providing services to our customers to the greatest extent possible during the shutdown.”
Staff members will be available at certain FSA offices to help producers with specific services, including:
• Processing payments made on or before December 31, 2018.
• Continuing expiring financing statements.
• Opening mail to identify priority items.
Additionally, as an intermittent incidental duty, staff may release proceeds from the sale of loan security by signing checks jointly payable to FSA that are brought to the county office by producers.
Information on the locations of FSA offices to be open during this three-day window will be posted:
• On the USDA website.
• On Twitter at @SecretarySonny and @USDA.
• On USDA’s Facebook page.
While staff are available in person during this three-day window, most available services can be handled over the phone. Producers can begin contacting staff on January 17 here.
Additionally, farmers who have loan deadlines during the lapse in funding do not need to make payments until the government shutdown ends.
Other FSA Programs and Services
Reopened FSA offices will only be able to provide the specifically identified services while open during this limited time. Services that will not be available include, but are not limited to:
• New direct or facility loans.
• New Farm loan guarantees.
• New marketing assistance loans.
• New applications for Market Facilitation Program (MFP).
• Certification of 2018 production for MFP payments.
• Dairy Margin Protection Program.
• Disaster assistance programs, such as:
o Livestock Indemnity Program.
o Emergency Conservation Program.
o Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program.
o Livestock Forage Disaster Program.
o Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish.
While January 15, 2019 had been the original deadline for producers to apply for MFP, farmers have been unable to apply since December 28, 2018, when FSA offices closed because of the lapse in federal funding. Secretary Perdue has extended the MFP application deadline for a period of time equal to the number of business days FSA offices end up being closed, once the government shutdown ends. These announced days of limited staff availability during the shutdown will not constitute days open in calculating the extension. Producers who already applied for MFP and certified their 2018 production by December 28, 2018 should have already received their payments.
More information on MFP is available at www.farmers.gov/manage/mfp.
In the News:
Carriers including Zim and HMM have announced that, from February 4, they will impose charges of between $40 and $75 for containers which are fully used in both directions. Read entire article
Port Authority Announces Showcase of WTC 2019 Indoor Events to Brighten Winter Season - NY/NJ Port of Authority
Initiatives include the first ever indoor Farmer’s Market, in partnership with Westfield, at the World Trade Center beginning January 15
Building on its successful 2018 initiatives to transform the World Trade Center into a dynamic space in Lower Manhattan, in partnership with other campus stakeholders, the Port Authority today announced several upcoming events to brighten the winter season for those who live and work in Lower Manhattan.
Beginning tomorrow, January 15, the Port Authority and Westfield are launching the first ever indoor winter Farmer’s Market in the center of the Oculus. The market provides farmers and merchants from throughout New York State with the opportunity to sell fresh fruits, vegetables, baked good and other items. The market will initially consist of five vendors – Samascott Orchards, Roxbury Mountain Maple, Meredith’s Country Bakery LLC, 1857 Spirits – Barber’s Farm Distillery and Francesca’s II Bakery. Beginning January 22, Riverine Ranch will join the weekly market.
The market will be open from 7 a.m. through 7 p.m. on Tuesdays through March 26.
“The World Trade Center Farmers Market, in partnership with Westfield, has been a highly successful fixture on the World Trade Center campus for the past two years, and bringing it indoors will allow for a year-round customer experience for those who live and work in Lower Manhattan,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “The market, coupled with upcoming activities planned in the next two months including a performance by a 60-piece orchestra and a Lunar New Year celebration, will continue our focus to make this campus a dynamic hub for creative, cultural and community activities.”
In addition to the Farmer’s Market, the following activities have been proposed for the World Trade Center campus through the end of February:
- On Friday, February 8, the Asian Cultural Center Symphony, a 60-piece orchestra, will play in the Oculus beginning at 7:30 p.m. Prior to the concert at 2 p.m., an art display celebrating Lunar New Year will be featured in the Oculus beginning at 2 p.m.
- On Saturday, February 9, the Lion Dance Kick-Off will be held in the Oculus at 1:30 p.m. in partnership with Brookfield Place and the Chinese Cultural Center. The kick-off will feature a Lion Dance from the Oculus to Brookfield Place.
- On Saturday, February, 9, Westfield is launching a mini-Lego House exhibit in advance of the Lego movie, which will provide a photo opportunity to engage customers.
Travelers at Newark Liberty, LaGuardia and JFK Getting a Taste of a New Dining Service - NY/NJ Port of Authority
Airports first on East Coast to offer “AtYourGate” app for direct food delivery to gates for originating passengers and those between flights
Pilot project makes service available at two EWR terminals, one terminal each at LGA and JFK; expansion to follow if pilot is successful
Part of comprehensive Port Authority effort to improve airport customer service at all agency facilities
Travelers who pass through Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia and portions of John F. Kennedy International airports can now order food through a new dining app that delivers orders directly to their gate, saving passengers time and expanding their dining options.
The pilot of the AtYourGate food delivery service -- available at Terminals A and B at Newark Liberty, Terminal B at LaGuardia, and in JFK’s Terminal 7 -- also provides customers with real-time updates on the status of their order. Delivery is quick and expedited, within 20 to 30 minutes of order placement with participating restaurants and no minimum order requirement.
AtYourGate is available at gates in post-security areas at the select terminals, as well as in pre-security areas such as baggage claim and ticket counters.
The Port Authority plans to bring food service delivery to all terminal gates at each airport, through AtYourGate or other apps, by end of 2019.
The delivery service is just one of the new amenities available to travelers as part of the Port Authority’s ongoing effort to improve the customer experience at all of its facilities.
“We are continually exploring service innovations and new technologies in order to make traveling easier for our customers,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Partnering with innovative companies such as AtYourGate helps us effectively meet passenger needs in an increasingly digital world.”
“The Port Authority is taking significant and concrete steps to improve the services we provide at all of our facilities for a better customer experience. This is a big step in that direction,” said Port Authority Kevin O’Toole.
To date, AtYourGate has delivered more than 5,000 orders and generated more than 15,000 app downloads across the three airports. Newark Liberty customers have access to Famous Famiglia Pizzeria, Jersey Mike’s, Manchu Wok, Sora Sushi Bar, Qdoba Mexican Eats, Dunkin,’ Auntie Anne’s and Wendy’s
Customers at LaGuardia’s Terminal B can order from Irving Farm Coffee Roasters, Kingside Bar, 5 Boroughs Food Emporium, Osteria Fusco and La Chula Taqueria, while JFK Terminal 7 patrons can make a purchase from Burger Joint, Irving Farms Coffee Roasters and Apartment 7B Deli.
AtYourGate – working with GOLO, an on-demand delivery platform and Paysafe Group, an online payment company – launched at Newark Liberty in partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, followed by its introduction at LaGuardia in collaboration with LaGuardia Gateway Partners and at Kennedy with the support of British Airways, which operates Terminal 7.
“AtYourGate’s rapid expansion is a testament to its strong partnerships, which have enabled us to offer the best-in-industry app for mobile ordering and delivery in our current network of airports,” said PJ Mastracchio, founder and CEO of AtYourGate.
TGI, which operates several restaurants participating in the program, reported that customers are taking advantage of the ease, speed and accessibility of the new service. “Travelers that have used the app are excited because it allows everyone in the group to get what they want without leaving their seats,” said TGI Regional Manager Steve Pallatto.
While waiting to board a recent flight at Newark Liberty, one passenger agreed. “I was craving Wendy’s and I couldn’t believe how fast my food was delivered after placing my order. I travel a lot and my experience with AtYourGate was completely stress-free,” said passenger Corey Lorent.
The user-friendly app is available for download through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, or by clicking here New York and New Jersey airport travelers who download the app qualify for free delivery on their first purchase by entering the promotion code AYGFREE. There is no minimum order requirement.
The service is part of the Port Authority’s ongoing effort to provide an optimal customer experience at its airport. Other recent initiatives include unlimited free high-speed Wi-Fi, mobile-friendly websites for easier access to screening and taxi wait times and other real-time information and updated restroom facilities.