(Alabny, NY) As part of the agency’s overhaul of its policies and procedures to ensure that individuals are safe and that employees have the skills and resources they need to successfully do their jobs, the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) today announced a workforce recruitment campaign that is based on the rewards and realistic challenges of being a direct support professional (DSP). OPWDD’s campaign seeks to attract new applicants by stressing the values expected of all DSPs—dignity, equality, and respect for everyone—and includes a web video featuring DSPs currently in state and nonprofit service.

The video can be found online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfr3nUcEttM&feature=youtu.be.

“Few careers are more rewarding, or more challenging, than those of direct support professionals,” said Commissioner Courtney Burke. “We have implemented many positive changes to step up our role in providing oversight and guidance. Providing trainings and supports to our workforce is front and center in terms of making the system safer and strengthening the quality of services we provide. Our recruitment campaign will complement these changes well, as it is based on the values of our workforce and provides a realistic view of a career in direct support.”

Since April 2011, OPWDD has overhauled virtually every aspect of its operations, including raising hiring standards and standardizing the trainings and supports that employees need to succeed, for the first time in the agency’s history. By committing to this new workforce recruitment campaign, the system will benefit from more applicants and a broader applicant pool, which will help alleviate issues that create stress within the workforce, such as staff vacancies and increased overtime.

Raymond Bowman, an OPWDD DSP from the Capital Region said, “Being a DSP is one of the most rewarding and challenging endeavors that I’ve embarked on. I’m so thankful that as a DSP I’ve had the opportunity, on a daily basis, to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people I serve. Helping people grow to live richer, fuller lives and to become more independent brings me great joy and personal satisfaction, and is what I like best about being a DSP.”

Joseph M. Macbeth, executive director of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals said, “On a daily basis, direct support professionals are asked to navigate a maze of ethical dilemmas and must often respond by making critical decisions at a moment’s notice. The outcomes of these decisions can literally be a matter of life and death for the person who is receiving supports. There is no other profession in this industry that demands universal, competency-based skill standards and a code of ethical practices. I applaud New York State OPWDD for recognizing the immense responsibility of the direct support role and providing them with the tools to build long, successful, and rewarding careers that secure freedom, justice, and equality for people with disabilities.”

Juanita Crisp, a DSP with the Developmental Disabilities Institute on Long Island said, “Working as a DSP takes time and patience. Knowing the difference I make in someone’s life is rewarding and a privilege.” 2

Juanita’s colleague, Philbert Badresingh, added, “Genuine love is hard to come by, but when you work as a DSP that is exactly what you get from the people we serve. ”

OPWDD and its network of nonprofit providers provide services and supports to more than 126,000 individuals with developmental disabilities, which include intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, the autism spectrum, and more. The agency has approximately 22,000 employees, the vast majority of whom are direct support professionals. Follow the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities on Facebook and YouTube.

The group which hails from London, England will present “Twinkle Twonkle” which brings audience members on a magical adventure as Stella and her younger brother Ryan travel through the galaxy using well known Mother Goose nursery rhymes as their guide. The show weaves together science, lessons in sibling sensitivity and plenty of audience participation for an experience the whole family can enjoy together. Following the 50-minute show audience members will be invited up on stage to work together and create their own collaborative constellation and then name it.

A pre- and post-performance activity guide will be available to enhance audience members’ appreciation of the performance. The guide which can be downloaded from www.licm.org/theater.php will offer suggestions for conversations and activities to prepare children for the themes that are explored in the show, as well as follow-up activities that will further their interest in literacy and science themes.

Tall Stories uses a physical story telling style combined with original music to create a lively theatrical experience that embraces its audience. The show has received rave reviews as it traveled around the world since debuting in 2010. “Twinkle Twonkle is an absolute joy to watch and is children’s theatre at its best,” commented BroadwayBaby.com

Performances will take place on Thursday, February 23, Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25 at 1 and 3 p.m. The cost is $6 with museum admission ($4 for LICM members) or $10 for theater only. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling (516) 224-5801 until 4 p.m. the day before the performance. Day of performance tickets are only available for purchase at the LICM Box Office on a first come, first serve basis.

These theater performances are made possible through grants received from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

The Presidents’ break week will also feature theater performances by WonderSpark Puppets on February 19-20 and the Bari Koral Family Rock Band on February 21-22.

All activities will be held at the Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Avenue, Garden City, NY. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Museum admission: $11 for adults and children over 1 year old. Under 1 year old FREE. $10 seniors. Additional fees for theater and special programs may apply. For additional information, contact 516-224-5800 or visit www.licm.org

About Long Island Children’s Museum
The Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) is a learning laboratory where hands-on exhibits invite visitors to experiment, examine and play. Through lively interdisciplinary activities, children and adults can share in the excitement of the learning process as they explore the world in which we live. The museum is designed for infants through 12 and their grownups. LICM is a not-for-profit institution chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. For more information, visit http://www.licm.org/.

About Tall Stories Theatre Company
Tall Stories was founded in 1997 by joint artistic directors Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell. The company has grown to become a highly acclaimed, internationally touring company. They present old, new and timeless stories in a physical, visual style, always acknowledging the presence of the audience. The company tours to theatres, community venues and schools in the UK, Europe, North America and Asia. Tall Stories productions are created in a collaborative style and link original music with movement and lots of laughs. Tall Stories production of “Twinkle Twonkle” is funded by Arts Council England and John Lyon’s Charity.

(Long Island, NY) Winning his long, persistent demand that a wide array of sweeping civil and criminal claims not be released without investigation, Attorney General Eric T Schneiderman announced today a $136 million settlement for New York with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers over foreclosure abuses, the most per “underwater” borrower of any state in the nation, and the fourth highest dollar amount nationwide as part of the federal-state settlement. In addition to penalties for past abuses, the settlement includes direct relief to victims of wrongful foreclosure conduct, loan modifications including principal reductions for struggling homeowners, and funds that can be used to support foreclosure legal assistance and housing counseling programs. Today’s settlement, which also imposes strong national standards for mortgage servicing, fulfills Attorney General Schneiderman’s demand that he retain the right to bring legal action over misconduct that has not yet been investigated, a right that was absent from earlier settlement proposals.

“Thanks to the advocacy and support of Americans across the country, we have preserved the right to continue investigating the misconduct that led to the bubble and crash of the housing market. For a year, the proposed settlement was simply inadequate, and I applaud all those who fought with us to hold banks accountable for their role in the foreclosure crisis, provide meaningful relief to New York’s struggling homeowners, and allow a full airing of the facts to ensure that abuses of this scale never happen again,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “On multiple fronts, we will continue to investigate the mortgage crisis that has impacted communities in every corner of this state, and ensure that justice and accountability prevail.” 

Over the past year, Attorney General Schneiderman fought for a fair national settlement, on behalf of New York’s homeowners, for mortgage servicing abuses, making it clear that he would not sign an agreement that would give financial institutions broad legal immunity for conduct that had not been investigated. Until recently, the language in settlement proposals had been too broad to justify reaching an agreement. Today’s settlement is a vast improvement, and it will allow the Office of the Attorney General and other agencies to investigate and bring appropriate civil and criminal actions.

New York’s estimated share of the guaranteed cash payments in the settlement is $136 million, the fourth highest in the nation. New York will be able to distribute these funds to legal aid, homeowner assistance and advocacy organizations to help distressed individuals facing foreclosure or servicer abuse.

Among the critical legal claims Attorney General Schneiderman fought for, and successfully preserved in today’s settlement are:

• All criminal claims.
• All claims based on mortgage securitization misconduct, under securities fraud statutes, including New York’s Martin Act, and other sources of law. This includes securitization claims based on servicing, foreclosure or origination-related facts.
• All claims directly against the private national mortgage electronic registry system known as MERS, as well as claims against financial institutions for the use of MERS in the Attorney General’s recently filed lawsuit over a wide range of deceptive and fraudulent practices in New York.
• All claims for violations of fair lending laws that relate to discriminatory practices in loan origination.
• All tax claims, including any claim that the failure to transfer mortgage loans to the securitization trusts or other conduct violated tax rules.
• All claims by counties for lost mortgage recording fees; and
• All claims and defenses held by private and third parties, including those held by individual mortgage loan borrowers.

Mark Ladov, Counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program said, “Homeowners in every corner of state have been hit hard by the mortgage crisis. We must do everything we can to prevent this kind of economic catastrophe from happening again, and to assist the families and communities hit hardest. We applaud the leadership of Attorney General Schneiderman in ensuring that today’s settlement provides much-needed funding for foreclosure prevention services, a great deal for the people of this state. This settlement is a landmark, but much work remains to be done. Fortunately, Attorney General Schneiderman has preserved our state’s right to investigate the mortgage meltdown, and we will work with him to deliver justice for the people of New York.”

Kirsten E. Keefe, Senior Attorney, Empire Justice Center, said, “We applaud Attorney General Schneiderman’s work towards a meaningful agreement that promises to provide desperately needed relief to New York’s homeowners, as well as hold the industry accountable. We truly appreciate the Attorney General’s recognition of the importance and need for direct services for struggling homeowners, and the critical role legal services and housing counselors play in keeping homeowners in their homes. We look forward to working with Attorney General Schneiderman to ensure that servicers do the right thing and provide meaningful loan modifications to stabilize New York’s housing market and economy.”

Sarah Ludwig, Co-Director of the Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project said, “Thousands of New York families and communities are still suffering from the fallout of the foreclosure crisis, and the settlement charts out critical relief. We thank Attorney General Schneiderman for insisting on transparency and accountability in the process of forging a multi-state settlement. We look forward to working with the Attorney General to make sure that the settlement is effectively implemented and enforced in New York, and to ensuring that individual homeowners’ rights are vigorously protected.”

Christie Peale, Executive Director of the Center for NYC Neighborhoods, said, “New Yorkers have been fortunate to have strong leadership fighting for a fair resolution to the economic crisis. We applaud Attorney General Schneiderman for his continued commitment to justice and accountability. This settlement, along with the state’s ongoing investigation into the mortgage crisis will bring both immediate and long-term relief to homeowners at risk of losing their homes”

Today’s settlement preserves the legal authority of the Schneiderman-led Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Working Group announced by President Obama in the State of the Union address. This joint investigation brings together the Department of Justice (DOJ), several state law enforcement officials, and other federal agencies to investigate those responsible for misconduct contributing to the financial crisis through the pooling and sale of residential mortgage-backed securities. It builds upon ongoing state and federal investigations, while also launching new ones.

The new working group includes hundreds of staff, including an initial commitment of 55 Department of Justice attorneys, in addition to analysts, agents and investigators. As it begins its work, 15 federal prosecutors – civil and criminal – and 10 FBI agents and analysts will be initially assigned to the working group. An additional 30 attorneys, investigators and other staff from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country will join the working group’s efforts, in addition to existing state and federal investigations into similar misconduct under those authorities.

Attorney General Schneiderman has made it a top priority of his administration to hold accountable those whose misconduct led to the collapse of the housing market– and to provide significant relief to homeowners. In the State of New York, an average of 1 in 10 mortgages is at risk of foreclosure. The approximate number of individuals living in homes that are either in foreclosure or at risk of foreclosure (based on typical household size for each distressed mortgage) exceeds the populations of Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse combined.

The below figures for New York homeowners are estimates of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The specific amounts are dependent on eligibility requirements and are not guaranteed.

Payments to victims of wrongful foreclosure: $13 million estimated
Benefits estimated from refinance program: $140 million estimated
Homeowners’ benefits from loan modifications: $495 million estimated

Because of the complexity of the mortgage market and this agreement, which will be performed over a three-year period, borrowers will not immediately know if they are eligible for relief. It will take between 30-60 days to appoint a settlement administrator, and banks will be conducting a vigorous search to identify eligible borrowers and this may take several months.
For loan modifications and refinance options, borrowers may be contacted directly by one of the five participating mortgage servicers.

For payments to foreclosure victims, a settlement administrator designated by the attorneys general will send claim forms to eligible persons (You may be eligible if you were foreclosed on between January 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2012)

Even if you are not contacted, if your loan is serviced by one of the five settling banks, you are encouraged to contact your servicer to see if you are eligible—keeping in mind that it will take anywhere from six to nine months to be contacted.

Bank of America: 877-488-7814
Citi: 866-272-4749
Chase: 866-372-6901
GMAC: 800-766-4622
Wells Fargo: 1-800-288-3212

For more information on today’s agreement, visit:
 
www.ag.ny.gov
www.NationalMortgageSettlement.com
www.HUD.gov
www.DOJ.gov

In addition to meeting one-on-one with a volunteer attorney, housing counselors from the Nassau County Homeownership Center, Community Development Corporation of Long Island and La Fuerza Unida are on hand to help with loan modifications. Attorneys from Nassau/Suffolk Law Services, which provides reduced fee legal services for those who meet certain income guidelines, as well as volunteer bankruptcy attorneys, will also be available to assist residents, all in the same room.

• Reservations are required by calling the Bar Association at 516-747-4070. Attendees are asked to bring their mortgage documents to the clinic.
• Bi-lingual attorneys fluent in Spanish will be on site. Attorneys bi-lingual in Russian, Haitian Creole, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, American Sign Language and many other languages will be made available upon request when homeowners call to make reservations.

Since launching the clinics in 2009, volunteer attorneys have helped more than 1,500 families  with individual foreclosure issues, help them sort things out, and give advice or refer them to agencies and programs, right in the same room. The attorneys do not provide legal representation, but help homeowners find out if, indeed, they need a credit counselor or a lawyer, and put them in touch with available resources. The program is made possible in part by a grant from the Community Development Fund of Long Island, the Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation, Long Island Community Foundation and the NYS Bar Association Foundation.

Founded in 1899, the Nassau County Bar Association, with a membership of nearly 6,000 private and public attorneys, judges, legal educators and law students, is the largest suburban bar association in the country. NCBA demonstrates its commitment to the community by offering a variety of services for the public, including lawyer referral services, senior citizen and mortgage foreclosure clinics, judicial screening, public education programs and support for the Volunteer Lawyers Project, which provides much-needed free legal services for the indigent of Nassau County. The WE CARE Fund, the NCBA’s charitable arm, assists children, the elderly and others in need, through countless projects and donations.  For more information, call (516) 747-4070 (language translation available), email info@nassaubar.org, or visit www.nassaubar.org.

These events are strategically timed and coincide with the end of New York Fashion week and Black History month to allow Noir La Modé’s fashion crazed followers to openly celebrate black culture; it’s history and ethnic diversity while at the same time engaged in the magical world of intricate design, bold patterns, delicious textures, and luxurious colors.
 
Noir La Modé’s event partners are Nassau Financial Federal Credit, Whole Foods, Atlantic Audi, IShine from Yahoo, Stellar.Tv, Monster, Style Blazer, African American Museum and LI Pulse Magazine.
 
Noir La Modé gives future designers an educational ride, learning the importance of what different cultures have added to the fashion industry, understand the importance of “giving” back to its community. Also allowing you to be inspired by the fruitful mix of diversity that have transformed international runways and design to date. From elaborate gowns to quirky hats, yummy gems and sparkly heels, Noir La Modé gives multi-cultural designers a chance to make a “dent” in the fashion industry.
 
This roller coaster event will be traveling to Miami, Atlanta, DC, London and who knows where else in 2013! No show will never be the same.
 
Noir la Modé – A platform which offers a A la Carte platter of delights, captivating the very essence of fashion, design, and the arts, garnishing with simulating educational spice.

(Long Island, NY) It’s time to grab your money, get prepared for some great fun and meet us downtown as the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce’s Village Merchants Committee supports a new trend in “Buying Local” by initiating a monthly “Cash Mob” at local businesses in Huntington Village.

The concept is simple – get a “mob” of people together to meet and shop at a local merchant. The first “Cash Mob” will be held on Thursday, February 16 at 6 p.m. at Value Drugs, located at 349 New York Avenue in Huntington. Refreshments will be served and all participants will receive a 20% discount on their bill.

“If everyone spends some amount of money during the ‘Cash Mob,’ this will have a positive impact on our village and its merchants. But more importantly, it reminds people to ‘Buy Local,’” said Patricia Grant, Chair of the Chamber’s Village Merchants Committee. “This innovative program will not only show support for local business but also remind residents just how committed the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce is to supporting local merchants. The more people we can get there, the bigger impact we can make.”

According to Chamber officials, Value Drugs was selected to kick-off this campaign because Peter Pastorelli, owner of Value Drugs, has been one of the Chamber’s biggest supporters. In addition, Value Drugs is one of the Chamber’s longest standing members. Peter Pastorelli, Sr. preceded his son on the Chamber Board of Directors and currently serves on the Advisory Board.

Presently, Peter Pastorelli, Jr. is one of the Huntington Chamber’s volunteer block captains and a recent addition to the Village Merchants Committee. “He is always willing to take on whatever we need him to do and this was one way we could give back,” Grant added. The “Cash Mob” idea was the recommendation of David Walsdorf a Huntington Chamber Board Member and local business owner of Walsdorf Insurance after he saw the successful program take place on the West.

For more information on the “Cash Mob,” call (631) 423-6100.

No matter what impassioned students, parents, teachers or elected officials have said, the PEP has voted to close schools every time. By closing schools against the will of the people, it is clear that Bloomberg and his PEP want to privatize public education at the expense of us all.

“Entire communities in Bed-Stuy, in Harlem, in the South Bronx, in Midtown, in Coney Island have reached the tipping point of their allegiance to a failed education regime. The departure of each high-ranking school official stacks one more weight on the scales of justice. Teachers and parents won’t stand by as the Department pits school against school, community against community, charter against public, union against parent,” said Justin Wedes, an educator and activist from Brooklyn.

When: Thursday February 9th, 5:30PM
Where: Brooklyn Technical High School, 29 Fort Greene Pl (between Fulton and Dekalb) in Brooklyn
Transit: Near the Nevins 2/3/4/5 or the Dekalb B/D/N/Q/R

In October, the PEP walked out of the meeting, but the community carried on. Video of the walkout is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbmjMickJMA.
 
Students, parents and educators from the 99%, invite you to join them in having a people’s vote on the school closings. PEP meetings are open to the public. Save our schools!

(Great Neck, NY) On Sunday, March 25th at 4:00pm, please join Rolling Stones fans from across the tri state area at the Great Neck Arts Center, located at 113 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, NY 516.829.2570 as they present a very special meet and greet engagement with world renowned author and Rolling Stones insider Bill German, who will be discussing his ups and downs with “the world’s greatest rock ’n’ roll band.”

His recent book, Under Their Thumb, chronicles how he befriended the Stones while he was just a teenager, and how he became the band’s official historian for the next two decades.  Rolling Stone Magazine called it “Hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking” and it was also lauded in The New York Times as “Memorable details from the [Stones’] inner sanctum.” He traveled the world with them, stayed at their homes, and witnessed their concerts, recording sessions, and in-fights.  He’ll share his humorous anecdotes and never-before-seen photos.

As an intermission to the event, which is sponsored by Brandywine Senior Living at The Savoy, Long Island’s Number 1 Rolling Stones Tribute Band “Streetfighter” will perform a spot on set of their biggest hits, complete with not only moves like Jagger but the sound and look to match.

Admission to this event costs $10 per person and is open to all ages. Drinks will also be available at a cash bar. All funds raised go to support the School for the Arts, Scholarship Program, and Outreach Program, which currently serves thousands of students in the region. Anyone who is interested in attending should contact Ronni Berger at ronni@greatneckarts.org or call (516) 829-2570 as soon as possible to reserve your seats for this very special afternoon.

For more information about Great Neck Arts Center, please visit http://www.greatneckarts.org

For more information on Bill German, please visit http://www.billgerman.com

For more information about Streetfighter, please visit http://www.Streetfighterstonesband.com

ABOUT THE GREAT NECK ARTS CENTER:
The Great Neck Arts Center, a vital Long Island institution for over fifteen years, is now recognized as a premiere venue for art, music, dance, drama, film and literature. Our School for the Arts, an affiliate of the Kennedy Center “Partners in Education” in Washington DC, offers classes and programs for adults and children. Students are instructed by world-class artists and teachers who utilize the latest educational strategies and tools.

ABOUT BILL GERMAN:
If you enjoyed the film “Almost Famous,” then you’ll love Bill German’s new book, Under Their Thumb. It’s a true account of his life with the Rolling Stones. German met the band while he was a teenager, shortly after launching his Stones-only magazine, Beggars Banquet. The publication lasted for seventeen years, during which time he traveled the world with the Stones, stayed at their homes, and witnessed their recording sessions. He lived the dream of every Rolling Stones fan, until he eventually had to leave the life behind. Under Their Thumb offers a unique, honest, and humorous perspective of the greatest rock ’n’ roll band in the world, and features dozens of never-before-seen photographs. Published by Random House/Villard, it is available at select Borders and Barnes & Noble stores across America, and Waterstone’s stores throughout England.

ABOUT STREETFIGHTER (ROLLING STONES TRIBUTE):
Established in 1978 as Long Island’s answer to the Broadway production of BEATLEMANIA, The band was conceived to capture the music, spirit, and look of the world’s greatest rock and roll band, replete with period correct clothing, playing songs from three distinctively major evolutions of Rolling Stones music;

1964-68 Chuck Berry & the blues to psychedelic: “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” to “Ruby Tuesday”

1969-73 Revolutionary & the Political: “Street Fighting Man” to “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”

1973-present: Still Rockin’! “It’s Only Rock and Roll But I Like It”!

(St. James, NY) Congressional candidate Randy Altschuler released the following statement today backing legislation by Florida Senator Marco Rubio defending religious freedom, while criticizing President Obama and incumbent Congressman Tim Bishop.
 
“The Obama Administration’s decision to force Catholic organizations to provide insurance plans for their employees that cover contraception – despite the fact that doing so would violate a major tenet of their religious faith – callously ignores the right to freedom of religion granted in our Constitution by the Founding Fathers.  
 
This is big government overreach at its worst.  It is proof that ObamaCare and its mandates need to be repealed and replaced with free market-based healthcare reforms. 
 
Not surprisingly, ObamaCare’s biggest champion on Long Island, incumbent Congressman Tim Bishop, has remained silent on this issue, despite the fact that he represents a substantial Catholic population here in Suffolk County.   The controversy, and his refusal to weigh in, exposes Bishop for what he is: a hyper-partisan, career politician who doesn’t have the courage to stand up to his own party when they threaten core Constitutional rights. 
 
Despite Bishop’s disappearing act, yesterday, for the first time, the Obama Administration seemed to realize they have made a huge mistake and are starting to signal a retreat.  Let’s hope it’s more than just campaign posturing.
 
If the President is truly willing to admit that he made a terrible mistake, and is looking for a common sense solution, I suggest he throw his support behind Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s new legislation, “The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2012.”
 
According to Senator Rubio, the bill seeks to establish a firm religious exemption to the aforementioned insurance mandate under ObamaCare by simply stating that the federal government can’t force religious organizations to abandon the fundamental tenets of their faith.  It can’t be any more commonsense than that.
 
I urge Congressman Bishop to sponsor Senator Rubio’s legislation in the House and, should the President refuse to act, I urge the Congress to pass Senator Rubio’s legislation in short order and force the President’s hand on this issue.”