Mental Health Association in Suffolk County Announces 2007 Award Reipients

Lindenhurst, NY, August 06, 2007  — The Mental Health Association in Suffolk County will be honoring Linda Milch and the Long Island Advocacy Center at its Mind Matters Gala on October 4, 2007, at Lands End in Sayville.  The Gala begins at 6 p.m. and includes cocktails, dinner and dancing.  The Board of Directors of the MHA selected Ms. Milch and the Long Island Advocacy Center as this year’s  honorees for their leadership, dedication and commitment to protect the legal rights of students and individuals with disabilities.

Established in 1955, The Mental Health Association in Suffolk County, Inc., is a not-for-profit organization, dedicated to improving the mental health of all people in the community through programs of service, education and advocacy, and through cooperation with other public and private agencies having similar goals.
   
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Media Contact:
Colleen Merlo
Executive Director
Telephone: 631-226-3900

 

 

PROFUSION ANNOUNCES:   The Long Island Breakfast Club  “EXPERIENCE COUNTS” As Quoted in Newsday “They Meet, They Eat, & They Seek” Meeting August 11th to be held 9:30am at Sterling Glen, Roslyn, NY

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West Hempstead, NY, August 4, 2007 - The Long Island Breakfast Club was founded in 2006, an organization providing advocacy, support, career and employment counseling, referrals and good old-fashioned laughter to prepare mature individuals and people who are physically challenged for productive employment.  Counted among the membership are women and men who have recently been downsized and looking for support to continue positive reinforcement to gain employment back in the corporate world.  Membership is encouraged for any individuals who need the extra support to continue momentum in searching for jobs in the mid-life years. As stated by Founder Valentina Janek, “Although it is not uncommon for people to frequently change jobs, it is a struggle for middle age seekers to gain employment. “

The Long Island Breakfast Club invites members of all ages, male or female,  to join our ranks and experience the camaraderie and bonding to help you get through the interviewing cycle in mid-life on August 11th at 9:30 AM at Sterling Glen, located at 100 Landing Road Roslyn, NY. For directions, view websitewww.sterlingglen.com

As Quoted by Founder, Joann Fiorentino, The Long Island Breakfast Club was founded by five individuals in a unique and passionate way.  The organizations strong proponents are to work with individuals who need the positive reinforcement to job search after losing a job in the mid-life years. It is the goal of the organization to assist with providing referrals, companionship and business networking and contacts for interviewing as well as mentors for each individual’s success.  The Club currently is servicing the communities of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and was founded by four individuals who were seeking employment and experiencing much difficulty due to their wealth of experience and their age.As stated by Valentina Janek, “They say in the end, all that really matters are the connections and relationships people share.”  “When people come together simply due to similar circumstances, things happen.”  The founders are accepting new members and considerations for submissions for stories on the effects of downsizing and interviewing to be published in a new book called “Life After The Big Bad Boot”.  The organization is an example of diverse individuals forming together to part of the big plan to decrease age discrimination as well as promote “Experience Counts!”  To celebrate this spirit of community, The Long Island Breakfast Club would like to invite you to attend on August 11th at 9:30 AM.

ABOUT THE LONG ISLAND BREAKFAST CLUB

An organization providing advocacy, support, career and employment counseling, referrals and good old fashioned laughter to prepare mature individuals and people with special needs for productive employment.

MISSION STATEMENT/EXPERIENCE COUNTS

ABOUT PRO-FUSION

Profusion is a public relations small business partner serving clients in media relations, event management, internal communications, cause related and social marketing.   

ABOUT THE FOUNDERS

Valentina Janek, Director of Marketing at ARS Financial Services, Joann Fiorentino, Delegate Director at Rainbow Chimes, Stephanie, Carlino, Executive Director & CEO at              The Long Island Neurological Institute, Chris Fidis, Implementation Manager of Verizon, Patricia Locurcio, Recording Secretary at Pro-Fusion.

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Media Contact: 
Valentina Janek
President of Pro-Fusion
(516) 565-3714
http://www.pro-fusion.us/

Auction Gala at New Location

After a memorable and successful Golf Outing on June 18th, Long Island Youth Mentoring is beginning to gear up for their Annual Harvest Auction Gala on Saturday, October 6, 2007.  This year’s Gala will take place at the beautiful de Seversky Center.  The de Seversky Center, located on the pristine campus of New York Institute of Technology at Old Westbury, is a gold coast mansion.  This neo-classic Georgian mansion was part of the fabled stretch of estates on the Long Island North Shore.

Chamber music, hors d’oeuvres and a Silent Auction will begin the evening with an elegance that will continue throughout. They will be followed by dinner and the Auction.

The fatherless children on Long Island desperately need the guidance they receive from Long Island Youth Mentoring.  There are approximately 35 small group foster homes in Suffolk and Nassau counties. You probably do not know that 60% of the children who leave these homes at age 18, end up homeless.

The various programs that Long Island Youth Mentoring conducts throughout the year help fatherless children find trust, experience unconditional love, and gain a truthful sense of their identity. The multi-generational curse of dependence and abuse must stop once and for all. It not only hurts these children but it drains our economy.

The volunteer adult mentors are recruited from local churches across Long Island.  Upon successful completion of an extensive screening and training process, they are matched with a child, providing them with a special relationship that nurtures enduring change. We have this opportunity to be able to be involved in something that requires a nominal effort on our part, yet has such a lasting impact on our children of tomorrow.

Support our organization by joining us for an elegant and unforgettable evening at the de Seversky Center.  You may sign up by calling our offices at 631-242-5101.  Please visit our website http://www.liyouthmentoring.org/ for further information about our auction and this important ministry to fatherless and at-risk children on Long Island.

Boomer Esiason Foundation partners with Redbone in F.C.A. Montauk Slam celebrity fishing tournament on Long Island

Football greats Boomer Esiason, Dave Rimington, baseball hall of famer Wade Boggs among celebrities helping Redbone to “catch the cure for cystic fibrosis,” Sept. 19 - 21

Esiason is shown here taking photos of an angler at his annual Costa Rica Classic a catch & release billfishing tournament held each spring to help patients in the Central America country with CF.

MONTAUK, Long Island, NY— The Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF) will partner with the Redbone for the sixth annual F.C.A. Montauk Slam, a national celebrity fishing event to raise funds and awareness for cystic fibrosis, at the Montauk Yacht Club Resort and Marina, Sept. 19 – 21.

A field of 80-plus anglers and celebrities are expected to use fly and light tackle for a “Nor’ East Grand Slam” of striped bass, bluefish and false albacore. All fish caught are photographed, measured and immediately returned to the water. The teams are guided by 40 experienced and local captains.

Besides its extensive work with raising monies for CF research and education, the BEF has recently created a scholarship fund to assist CF patients pursuing college degrees. Proceeds from the tournament will be presented by the Redbone to BEF for the scholarship program.

“As research and therapeutic developments have increased the lifespan of CF patients over the past two decades, the need for a scholarship program for these students has emerged,” said Esiason who is best known for his years as a top quarterback in the NFL and is now a TV and radio sports broadcaster.

“Having grown up here on Long Island I’m delighted to see the Foundation initiate and develop this scholarship program as well as take an active role in the Redbone tournaments created in the Florida Keys 20 years ago by Capt. Gary and Susan Ellis, who are also parents of a CF child. Their events have raise millions of dollars for CF research and awareness through nearly 30 annual celebrity fishing events.”

Montauk Slam entries expected to go fast

A field of some 40 boats is expected to sell out quickly.  The entry fee is $3,000 to fish with a celebrity or $3500 for two people fishing as a team. It includes a guide for the two days of tournament fishing, auctions, awards party and all meals listed on the social schedule.

Besides Esiason, other celebrities scheduled are collegiate and NFL football great Dave Rimington –- who is also president of BEF – and Baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs.  More celebrities are to be announced. 

The individual tournament grand champion will win a stainless steel Rolex watch. The team grand champions will each win stainless steel Montauk Slam sculptures by Roger Fowler.  Other tournament category winners will take home beautifully framed original and limited edition marine artwork from nationally known artists.  

In addition, the tournament’s grand champion male and female anglers and the top celebrity angler will qualify to compete in the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Inshore World Championship (IWC) next year in the Florida Keys.

“The Montauk fishery is abundant,” said Ellis. “In the fall the migration of the three species of fish is called a ‘blitz’ with a feeding frenzy around the point of Montauk. It’s a fisherman’s dream.” 

Tournaments nationally and internationally

In addition to Montauk, BEF and the Redbone will be partnering with two other tournaments which include the Deep Water Cay Bonefish Classic at Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas, Nov. 16 – 19, and the Over the Hill Sailfish Tournament at Islamorada, Fla., January 21 – 22, 2008.

BEF also has its own fishing competition the Costa Rica Classic Billfish Tournament, with the actual two fishing days on March 28 – 29, 2008.  The celebrity tournament is limited to 100 registrants of two to six person teams fishing for sailfish and marlin from the Los Suenos Resort.  All proceeds from the Classic help benefit children in Costa Rica who are afflicted with CF.
Registration per angler is $700.  Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Winners of CRC also receive trio of world class tournament entries

Besides the events and prizes surrounding the tournament, Rimington said the winning team from the Costa Rica Classic will not only receive an invitation to fish in the prestigious IGFA Offshore World Championship (presently held in Mexico each year, fishing against teams from more than 30 countries) in 2009, but will also receive paid registrations for a team of four to compete in the two Los Suenos Signature Billfish Series tournaments in 2009 which is valued at $10,000.

“We’re excited about the growth of this fun and rewarding tournament,” said Rimington, “and what it means to helping youngsters afflicted with CF.”

Rimington explained that, “Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes the body to produce abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and can lead to life-threatening lung infections. The CF mucus also obstructs the pancreas, interfering with digestion. Though medical science has made remarkable progress, there is still no cure for CF.”

To learn more about the Montauk Slam please go to the Redbone web site at http://www.redbone.org/ or call the Redbone offices at 305-664-2002.                  . 

For more information on the Costa Rica Classic please go to http://www.costaricaclassic.com on the Boomer Esiason Foundation website http://www.esiason.org/ or call Mike Hill at 212-525-7777 or leave a message on the CRC Hotline 800-317-5378.

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Media Contact:
Pete Johnson
Johnson Communications
480-951-3654

Former NFL QB great Boomer Esiason has announced the partnering of the Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF) with the Redbone celebrity fishing tournament series event the F.C.A. Montauk Slam in Montauk, Long Island, N.Y, Sept. 19 - 21.  The annual two-day inshore tournament is expected to attract 80 anglers and celebrities, catch & release fishing for blues, stripers and football shaped fish called false albacore (or albies) while at the same time helping to raise money for the BEF Scholarship Program for patients with CF. 

For more information on the Montauk Slam please call the Redbone offices at 305-664-2002. For more information on the Boomer Esiason Foundation go to the website http://www.esiason.org/ , call Mike Hill at 212-525-7777 or leave a message on the CRC Hotline 800-317-5378.

LIPA Urges Long Island to Act Now, Prepare for the Height of the Hurricane Season

Uniondale, N.Y.—August 1, 2007—As Long Island enters the height of the 2007 hurricane season, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) reminds area residents and businesses to take time now to anticipate a storm and be prepared.

Two weeks ago, Long Island was hit with a sudden and violent storm that in select areas, dropped 4-5 inches of rain in a very short period of time.  Many local roads were flooded and people were unable to conduct normal routines.  Since the storm, which caused over 60,000 outages, was no where near the intensity of a hurricane, it should be an eye opener for Long Island.  Long Island needs to prepare for a hurricane.

“During the last several years the Long Island region has been spared the destructive power of a hurricane,” said CEO/President Richard M. Kessel.  “We have all seen the tremendous damage and resulting tragedy inflicted on Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama by Hurricane Katrina.  Long Island’s good luck will not last, so LIPA and its customers must continue to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best.”

“Though theAmerican Red Cross has undertaken many proactive initiatives to better prepare Long Islandthis hurricane season, it is ultimately the responsibility of all Long Islanders toevaluate their own level of preparedness,” said Frank Cassano, CEO of the Nassau Red Cross.

“KeySpan and its employees are ready to react to weather and system conditions that could challenge our ability to supply LIPA’s 1.1 million electric customers and KeySpan’s 2.6 million gas customers,” said Robert B. Catell, Chairman and CEO of KeySpan.  “Our employees have been trained across the company in emergency preparedness on both the electric and gas sides and are committed in ensuring that Long Islanders have a reliable energy supply.”

“LIPA and KeySpan have continuously recognized the need to plan and exercise for a significant storm event.  After Katrina, no one needs to be reminded of the potential devastation a hurricane can bring.  None the less, it is very difficult to prepare when the sun is shining.  This drill proves that these essential utilities will be ready, come rain or shine,” said Michael Balboni, Deputy Secretary for Public Safety.

To prepare for heavy storm activity LIPA has implemented a special storm hardening program that will invest an additional $25 million per year over the next 20 years ($500 million) on targeted efforts to help protect the Island’s electric system against severe storm damage.  As the storm hardening program moves forward in the years ahead, Long Island still needs to be prepared for wide-scale outages if the Island gets hit with a hurricane this season, which is predicted to be more active in the Atlantic basin than previous years.

The storm hardening expenditures is in addition to the $2.5 billion LIPA has invested over the last nine years on transmission and distribution system upgrades and improvements, and will be in addition to LIPA’s annual capital improvement expenditures of about $200 million.

In preparation for a storm LIPA begins tracking major storms days before they near Long Island.  As a major storm, or hurricane, approaches the region, LIPA takes steps to respond quickly to storm-related outages.

For customer service, “21st Century”, an automatic reporting system that can process more than 100,000 customer calls per hour can be activated.  Automatically, outages are electronically recorded and reported to system operators to start the restoration process by assigning a job ticket to the reported outage.

In addition to the line crews, all employees have a second job if a major storm strikes and are trained for storm emergency assignments, and personnel work extended shifts around the clock to complete all service restorations as quickly as possible.

LIPA’s Storm Center at http://ww.lipower.org/stormcenter is available 24/7 for updates, outage information and storm restoration progress reports.

To help minimize storm damage to LIPA’s electric system, LIPA’s forestry program works throughout the year to identify and trim tree limbs in rights of way and along easements that could potentially cause outages during or after a storm. Additionally, customers are urged to have trees on private property surveyed independently to be assured that their trees or bushes are not experiencing dangerous and weakening rot.  Tree limbs that come in contact with electric lines remain the major cause of customer outages during storms, accounting for over 90% of all service disruptions. For more information on LIPA’s Forestry program, please visit LIPA’s Web site at http://www.lipower.org/community.

Well in advance of a hurricane or tropical storm reaching Long Island, LIPA’s customers are encouraged to follow these storm preparation recommendations to help ensure their family’s safety and comfort:

• Develop a family plan for survival and property protection. Rehearse the plan so everyone knows what to do.
• Have flashlights, battery-operated radios and extra batteries on hand. Check the batteries to make sure they are fresh.
• Know the hurricane risks in your area. Learn the storm surge history and elevation of your area. Learn the location of official shelters or make plans for a local hotel or motel. Be prepared to take alternate routes to these locations as main streets maybe closed.
• Learn safe routes inland away from the Ocean or LI Sound.
• If your residence is in a potential flood or storm surge zone, be prepared to evacuate when officials recommend it.
• Arrange now for elderly and others with special needs such as those who depend on electric life-support devices.  Alert LIPA customer service  (1-800-490-0025) about these support devices.
• Inventory personal property; safely secure all records and valuable documents in a watertight place.
• Have material available to protect your doors and windows. Boarding or shuttering windows is significantly more effective than taping windows which barely strengthens the window and will not protect at all against flying debris.
• Put together a family hurricane evacuation kit that includes bottled water, bedding and clothing, including sleeping bags and pillows, and appropriate prescription medicines.
• Ensure that enough non-perishable food and water supplies are on hand. NOAA suggests 1 gallon of water per person per day.
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
• Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed of dead wood.
• Determine where to move a boat in an emergency.
• Provide for pets.

If a hurricane or major tropical storm damages the region, Long Islanders are strongly cautioned to stay away from downed power lines. Immediately after the storm, outages will be evident to LIPA via its computerized control systems. LIPA’s computer systems automatically detect neighborhood service interruptions and begin the restoration process by alerting systems operators of the outage. However, should anyone notice a downed electric line or experience a single service interruption, call 1-800-490-0075. In addition, downed wires might end up covered by tree limbs or leaves, so be careful when letting children play outside after a storm.

For more information on hurricane preparedness, as well as links to weather sites and emergency response agencies visit LIPA’s Web site at http://www.lipower.org/stormcenter.

LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric utility, owns the retail electric Transmission and Distribution System on Long Island and provides electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens.  LIPA is the 3rd largest municipal electric utility in the nation in terms of customers served and the 6th largest in terms of electricity delivered.  In 2006, LIPA outperformed all other overhead electric utilities in New York State in all three major reliability categories.  LIPA does not provide natural gas service or own any on-island generating assets. More information about LIPA can be found online at: http://www.lipower.org.

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LIPA Contact Information:
Media Relations: (516) 222-7700
Media Pager: (516) 525-LIPA
media.relations@lipower.org

LIPA Storm Center
www.lipower.org/stormcenter

LIPA News Center
www.lipower.org/newscenter