(Long Island, NY) Crimes Against Property Squad detectives along with the Fourth Squad report the details of two arrests for grand larceny that occurred in Valley Stream on Monday, April 21, 2014 at 12:15 P.M.

According to detectives, Friday Imhiavan, 43, of 1003 Willmohr St., and Ana Agosto, 22, of 580 Van Siclen Ave., both of Brooklyn, and acting in concert, entered Target located at 500 W. Sunrise Highway with two stolen credit cards and made purchases from the electronics department. Defendant Imhiavan purchased computers, cameras, memory cards, refill phone cards and I tune cards, with one stolen credit card totaling $4,953.55. Defendant Agosto made similar selections and when she attempted to make her purchase with the other stolen credit card in the amount of $2,876.70, the transaction was declined.

Nassau County Crimes Against Property Squad detectives report the details of two arrests for grand larceny that occurred in Valley Stream on Monday, April 21, 2014 at 12:15 P.M. Photo Credit: NCPD.

Fourth Precinct police officers placed the defendants under arrest at the scene a short time later. Imhiavan is being charged with Grand Larceny 3rd Degree, Identity Theft 1st Degree and Criminal Possession Stolen Property 4th Degree. Agosto is being charged with Grand Larceny 4th Degree (Attempt) and Criminal Possession Stolen Property 4th Degree. Both defendants will be arraigned on Tuesday, April 22, 2014, in First District Court, Hempstead.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

(Long Island, NY) Whitsons School Nutrition has partnered with several school districts to develop school gardens in order to promote sustainability in schools as well as healthy eating habits.

Once just a “foodie” trend, eating local foods has now become a widespread movement. People have realized the extensive wellness and environmental benefits that purchasing local fruits and vegetables bring. Schools have also embraced this movement and have created farm-to-school programs and school gardens. Research has proven that school gardens not only function as a hands-on learning tool for students, but also help children become more familiar with fruits and vegetables thus encouraging their presence in their diet.

In partnership with Whitsons School Nutrition, several schools on Long Island have created school gardens and greenhouses on their premises. These gardens are a great example of the collective effort of the school community -teachers, students, parents and foodservice providers- to promote environmental sustainability and healthy eating lifestyles. According to Bill Whitcomb Jr., School Gardens Coordinator at Whitsons School Nutrition, “With the increasing environmental and health concerns regarding the source of our food, we believe it is important to take the initiative to create connections between students and the foods they eat. That’s why Whitsons created the School Garden project in order to help organize and support school district communities in creating a greenhouse or garden.”

Whitsons School Nutrition has been involved in the development and execution of several school gardens in the following Long Island school districts:

• Hampton Bays Public Schools
• Greenport Public Schools
• Uniondale Public Schools
• East Hampton Public Schools
• Lawrence Public Schools
• Lindenhurst Public Schools

Whitsons has provided the technical support to develop these gardens and the link to have these fresh items featured as part of the school lunch in the cafeteria. Some of these gardens are already in their second or third year of production and have produced a bounty of produce such as spring greens, fresh herbs, squash, peppers, cucumbers, berries, etc. Other gardens, in East Hampton, Lindenhurst and Lawrence, are starting this spring 2014, with harvest times planned for the fall.

These gardens are designed to provide not only an academic resource to the schools, but also the ability to grow food for school cafeteria use. The main objective of the school garden project is to provide the children a complete experience where they can grow their own food, and build a connection between the environment and the food they eat.

Whitsons Culinary Group provides a wide range of highly customized dining services to public schools, corporations and institutions, with a strong focus on nutritious, high quality menus made from fresh, wholesome ingredients. Whitsons has a long and proud history of excellence and growth since 1979 and currently ranks the 4th largest school nutrition provider in the United States. Whitsons’ scope of ­­expertise and services extends to: emergency dining, residential and healthcare dining, prepared meals, and school dining and services.

(New York, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today that his office has secured a settlement with Bed Bath & Beyond, a national retailer with 62 stores in New York, to ensure that applicants for employment are not automatically disqualified based on criminal convictions and without the individualized consideration that is required by New York State law. Bed Bath & Beyond operates over a thousand stores in total across the nation.

Under the settlement, the company agrees to take new steps that will ensure that the company complies with state laws which prohibit the automatic disqualification of job candidates with criminal convictions and that require that candidates with criminal records be given individualized consideration.

“My office is committed to ensuring equal access to employment opportunities for all New Yorkers,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “The law in our state prohibits the automatic disqualification of job candidates with criminal backgrounds and this agreement puts employers on notice that slamming the door on job seekers based on past conduct without deciding whether that conduct is relevant to the current job is not only wrong – it’s unlawful.”

Under New York State law, employers must conduct an individualized evaluation of applicants’ criminal records, by considering a number of factors, including the nature and gravity of an applicant’s criminal conviction and its bearing, if any, on any specific responsibilities of the job sought, the time that elapsed since the conviction, the age of the applicant at the time when the offense was committed; and evidence of rehabilitation. Attorney General Schneiderman’s office is committed to enforcing laws that guarantee all New Yorkers have an equal opportunity to seek lawful employment.

After a human resources manager for Bed Bath & Beyond disseminated information at a job fair stating that the company did not hire individuals with felony convictions, regardless of any evidence of rehabilitation, the Attorney General’s Office conducted an investigation and determined that Bed Bath & Beyond had automatically disqualified job applicants with felony convictions, without conducting the individualized determination required by law.

Pursuant to the settlement and the requirements of state law, Bed Bath & Beyond will modify its policies to comport with state law requirements, conduct training of all of its employees on these new policies, preserve records of its hiring decisions and any complaints related to criminal history discrimination, and provide periodic reports to the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau to ensure compliance with the law.

Bed Bath & Beyond will pay a total of $125,000 in relief, of which $40,000 will be awarded as restitution to individuals who were unlawfully denied employment with the company, and $15,000 will be paid to each of the following organizations: the Center for Employment Opportunities, the Osborne Association, and the Doe Fund, all of which provide job training and placement services for individuals with criminal records.

Vincent Warren, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, said, “Given practices such as racial profiling, immigrant detention, and discriminatory laws that lead to a disproportionate number of people of color behind bars, it is important that we deal with the collateral consequences of mass incarceration. Barriers to re-entry for individuals with prior convictions are especially stark in the employment context. I thank the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau for working to address these barriers to ensure greater access to employment opportunities for all communities.”

Inimai Chettiar, Director of the Justice Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, said, “If we want people to contribute to our economy, we need to provide them with the necessary tools to do so. Research has conclusively proven that providing former felons with access to job opportunities helps reduce recidivism, lowers the crime rate, strengthens communities, and strengthens our economy. I applaud the Attorney General’s Office for making barriers to re-entry a core civil rights priority.”

The Civil Rights Bureau of the Attorney General’s Office is committed to promoting access to equal employment opportunities and combating discrimination in New York State. To file a civil rights complaint, contact the Attorney General’s Office at (212) 416-8250, civil.rights@ag.ny.gov or visitwww.ag.ny.gov.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney Generals Ajay Saini and Sandra Pullman, Civil Rights Bureau Chief Kristen Clarke and Executive Deputy of Social Justice Alvin Bragg.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are investigating a one-car crash that killed an 83-year-old man in Melville last night.

Rafael Ortiz, 57, was driving a 2001 Toyota Camry west on the Long Island Expressway when the vehicle veered off the roadway, striking a pole, east of Exit 50 in Melville at approximately 7:25 p.m.

Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are investigating a one-car crash that killed an 83-year-old man in Melville last night. Photo Credit: Chris Tozzi.

Ortiz’s stepfather, Dominic Bottiglieri, 83, of Theodore Drive, Coram, was killed in the crash. Ortiz, also of Theodore Drive, Coram, was transported by Suffolk County Police helicopter to Stony Brook where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The vehicle was impounded for a safety check and the investigation is continuing.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact the Second Squad at 631-854-8252 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police Fifth Squad detectives are investigating a crash that killed a Patchogue man last evening.

Timothy Miller, 39, was crossing North Ocean Avenue, just south of Peconic Street, in Holtsville, when he was struck by a 2013 Nissan Sentra that was driven by Molly Silvestre, 20, of Selden, at 10:03 p.m.

Suffolk County Police Fifth Squad detectives are investigating a crash that seriously injured a Patchogue man last evening. Photo Credit: Chris Tozzi.

Miller, of Patchogue, was treated at the scene by members of the Holtsville Fire Department and transported to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue where he is being treated for head and chest injuries. Miller later died of his injuries this morning.

The vehicle was impounded for a safety check.

The investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone with information about the crash to call the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552.

(New York, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today released the following statement in observance of Earth Day:

“On the first Earth Day, in 1970, there were no comprehensive federal regulations to protect clean air or clean water. There was no Endangered Species Act. There was little recognition of the threat of climate change, and even less effort to combat it. But thanks to the efforts of far-sighted environmental activists, the first Earth Day marked the birth of the modern environmental movement, which has secured landmark legislation and transformed public consciousness about our relationship with the natural world.

“We have made tremendous strides since the first Earth Day, but we face even more daunting challenges today. So on this Earth Day, let us be mindful not only of how fragile our shared planet is, and of our shared responsibility to protect it, but also of the power of social movements to change the course of history. As we confront the generational challenges of climate change, as well as continued habitat destruction and the pollution of our air and water, let us recommit ourselves to organizing and working together for a healthy and sustainable future.”

(Long Island, NY) The latest Siena poll shows that the majority of New Yorkers think that Governor Cuomo has done a poor to fair job as Governor of New York. Question 12 of the poll asks “How would you rate the job that Andrew Cuomo is doing as Governor? Would you rate it excellent, good, fair, or poor?” 54% of New Yorkers think the Governor has done a poor to fair job, while only 45% think he has done a good to excellent job.

The following is a statement by Billy Easton, Executive Director of the Alliance for Quality Education.

“The Siena poll shows a striking amount of dissatisfaction with Andrew Cuomo’s leadership, especially in public education. It’s no surprise because the Governor has severely underfunded public schools, resulting in annual cuts in programs for our kids. The poll reflects the fact that, on public education issues, voters won’t be fooled by rhetoric unless it is met with real action to improve schools.”

About AQE
The Alliance for Quality Education is a coalition mobilizing communities across the state to keep New York true to its promise of ensuring a high quality public education to all students regardless of zip code, income or race. Combining its legislative and policy expertise with grassroots organizing, AQE advances proven-to-work strategies that lead to student success and echo a powerful public demand for a high quality education.

(Mineola, NY) In support of the Nassau County Police Department’s Return Every Adult & Child Home (R.E.A.C.H.) Program, the NCPD Foundation is hosting a registration drive on Wednesday, April 23rd and Friday, April 25th at the NCPD Police Academy, which is located at 200 Second Avenue in Massapequa Park, to register participants of the Association for Children with Down Syndrome (ACDS).

The R.E.A.C.H. Program was launched by County Executive Mangano and the NCPD in 2010 to provide law enforcement officials with information and photos of individuals who suffer from cognitive disorders (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia, Autism, etc.) should they go missing. Individuals registered with the R.E.A.C.H. Program have their information stored in a secure database created by the NCPD so that when law enforcement is notified of a missing loved one, the NCPD can disseminate a photo and pertinent information through the NCPD’s Real Time Intel system.

County Executive Mangano stated, “My goal when unveiling this program in 2010 was to have every adult and child with a cognitive disorder in Nassau County registered with the R.E.A.C.H. Program. By doing so we ensure that our law enforcement officers are equipped with the intelligence needed to assist in returning a loved one home safely should they go missing.”

Registration is free and only takes approximately ten minutes for each individual. Every registrant will be given a wristband, lanyard and identification card so that law enforcement officers can recognize them as members of the program should they go missing.

“It has been a pleasure to work with the R.E.A.C.H program,” said Michael Smith, Executive Director of ACDS. “The concept of registering ACDS program participants was overwhelmingly embraced by the families we served and our consumers have been made to feel very welcomed by police officials. I hope we never need their services, but if we do, we know our guys will be in good hands.”

“Due to this amazing program, the NCPD is able to return individuals to their loved ones before they know they are missing,” said Eric Blumencranz, Chairman of the NCPD Foundation. “We are proud to support this program and encourage our residents who have loved ones that suffer from a cognitive disorder to have them registered as an extra layer of protection and security.”

The NCPD is able to register individuals at its Asset Forfeiture Unit Monday – Friday from 9am – 4pm. To schedule a time to have your loved one registered please call (516) 573-5775.

(West Islip, NY) On March 21, 59-year-old Vincent Marullo came close to seeing his wife, Susan, and two children for the last time. After feeling extremely fatigued for a couple of weeks, Marullo went to the doctor thinking he had bronchitis. Initial testing showed a drop in blood pressure prompting his doctor to send him for cardiac testing. Cardiologist Eileen Bishop, MD, performed a trans esophageal echocardiogram (TEE), a special ultrasound test to assess heart muscle and valve function. The results prompted an urgent cardiac catheterization performed by Good Samaritan Hospital’s Director of the Cardiac Catherization Program Ezra Deutsch, MD, to examine the coronary arteries for blockages. Marillo was found to be in cardiogenic shock and needing immediate open heart surgery to bypass blockages in the arteries leading to his heart and replace a severely diseased mitral valve.

Fortunately, the recently launched St. Francis Open Heart Surgery Program at Good Samaritan Hospital had in place an expert cardiothoracic surgical team from St. Francis on-site at Good Sam. Cardiothoracic surgeon Christopher La Mendola, MD, performed emergency triple bypass and heart valve replacement in order to save his life. Over the next several weeks he would also need additional surgery to drain fluid from around his heart and have his heart shocked back into rhythm.

Pictured (L-R): His daughter, Betsy, and wife, Susan, have been at Vincent Marullo’s bedside for nearly a month. He will start cardiac rehabilitation at Good Samaritan within the next few weeks. Mr. Marullo is looking forward to returning back to work in commercial construction in the very near future. He is very thankful for this second chance in life and is looking forward to spending time with his family. Photo Credit: Good Samaritan Hospital.

“If they hadn’t had the St. Francis Hospital Open Heart Surgery program at Good Samaritan Hospital my husband would not have survived,” said Susan Marullo. “Having brought my husband to Good Sam was a miracle.”

For more information on the open heart surgery program at Good Samaritan, please visit www.good-samaritan-hospital.org or call (631) 376-4444.

Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center is a 537-bed (including 100 nursing home beds), voluntary, not-for-profit hospital located in West Islip. The medical center, which has more than 3,500 employees and 900 physicians on staff, had nearly 28,000 patient admissions and nearly 100,000 emergency department visits in 2012. Good Samaritan is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island. Visit the website at www.good-samaritan-hospital.org.

The medical center supplies residents with the tools necessary to maintain good health. This includes community lectures, screenings, health fairs and other community programs and services.

(Long Island, NY) Today’s Siena poll proves that New Yorkers want Democrats and Republicans to work together to achieve bipartisan results, which is exactly what we’ve been doing over the last four years. By partnering with the Governor and members of the Independent Democratic Conference, we’ve reduced income and property taxes, brought spending under control and made real progress in creating a climate where businesses can create new jobs for hardworking people.

The last thing taxpayers want is a return to the chaos and dysfunction that existed when one party controlled every facet of state government. In just two years, Senate Democrats raised taxes by $14 billion, enacted the job-killing MTA payroll tax, eliminated the STAR rebate check for seniors and homeowners, instituted an onerous energy tax surcharge, and pitted one region of the state against another.

Bipartisanship and compromise, when it can be achieved, is always preferable to finger-pointing, politics and the blame game. We’re going to continue to work to achieve real solutions to the challenges New Yorkers are facing, and this Siena poll confirms our approach is the right one.