(LONG ISLAND, NY) Crime Stoppers and the Nassau County Police Department have released a survalience photo of a man wanted in connection with a bank robbery at the Capital One Bank, located at 1085 Northern Blvd., in Flower Hill, New York.

According to the release, a Male Black, described as 6’0″, approximately 25-30 years old, with a thin build, medium complexion, 160-170 lbs., entered the bank and approached a teller and presented a demand note written on a blue deposit slip while making a verbal demand for money.

The physical description of the subject is listed as a Male Black, 6’0”, approximately 25-30 years old, thin build, medium complexion, 160-170 lbs., unshaven, brown eyes, wearing a black ski cap with gray lettering, black nylon 3/4 length coat, blue jeans, brown work boots.

The teller, fearing physical injury complied. The subject further described as unshaven, with brown eyes, wearing a black ski cap with gray lettering, black nylon 3/4 length coat, blue jeans, and brown work boots fled on foot and was last seen westbound on Northern Blvd.

No other information is available at this time.

Crime Stoppers is asking anyone who has information about the identity of the above subject to call our toll free hotline: 1-800-244-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers offers up to a $5,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest. You do not have to reveal your identity to help solve this crime. All calls will remain anonymous.

(LONG ISLAND, NY) Crime Stoppers and the Nassau County Police Department are seeking the public’s help in identifying the pictured subject in connection with a Petit Larceny which occurred in East Garden City, New York.

On Sunday, January 26, 2014, at approximately 1:50 P.M., the subject pictured was observed inside of the Louis Vuitton Store at Roosevelt Field Mall where he stole Sunglasses valued at $620.00, and exited the store without making payment. The subject fled the scene in an unknown direction.

On Sunday, January 26, 2014, at approximately 1:50 P.M., the subject was observed inside of the Louis Vuitton Store – Roosevelt Field Mall located at 630 Old Country Road, East Garden City. While present in the store the subject did steal a pair of Conspiration Sunglasses valued at $620.00. He then exited the store passing all points of purchase without making payment for the items. The subject fled the scene in an unknown direction.

Crime Stoppers is asking anyone who can identify the subject, or with any information about this crime to call our toll free hotline: 1-800-244-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers offers up to a $5,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest. You do not have to reveal your identity to help solve this crime. All calls will remain anonymous.

(LONG ISLAND, NY) Crime Stoppers and the Nassau Police Department are seeking the public’s help with identifying the pictured subject. The subject is wanted in connection with a Burglary that occurred in Valley Stream, New York.

On Monday, December 30, 2013 the subject pictured unlawfully broke into an apartment in Valley Stream where he damaged property, and stole two watches, and a gold ring. The subject fled the scene in an unknown direction.

On Monday, December 30, 2013, from approximately 5:00 A.M., to 8:00 P.M., the pictured subject did unlawfully break into an apartment located on Ballard Avenue, Valley Stream. Once inside the apartment the subject did damage the victim’s personal property, and steal two watches, and a gold ring. The subject fled the scene in an unknown direction.

Crime Stoppers is asking anyone who can identify the subject, or with any information about this crime to call our toll free hotline: 1-800-244-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers offers up to a $5,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest. You do not have to reveal your identity to help solve this crime. All calls will remain anonymous.

(LONG ISLAND, NY) Crime Stoppers and the Nassau County Police Department are seeking the public’s help in identifying the pictured subject in connection with a Grand Larceny which occurred in Merrick, New York.

On Monday, October 14, 2013, at approximately 6:04 p.m., the subject pictured broke into a car and stole a pocketbook and wallet containing several credit cards which we later used fraudulently to make purchases. The subject and another subject fled the scene in an unknown direction.

On Monday, October 14, 2013, at approximately 6:04 p.m., the pictured subject was present at Extreme Gym located 2119 Merrick Road, Merrick. While present at the gym the subject acting in concert another unknown male black subject, did break into the victim’s car and steal her pocketbook, and wallet containing several credit cards. The subjects were observed at the Cross Town Wine and Liquor Store located in Freeport, NY, making fraudulent purchases using the victim’s credit cards in the amount of $500.00. The subjects fled the scene in an unknown.

Crime Stoppers is asking anyone who can identify the subjects, or with any information about this crime to call our toll free hotline: 1-800-244-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers offers up to a $5,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest. You do not have to reveal your identity to help solve this crime. All calls will remain anonymous.

(LONG ISLAND, NY) Crime Stoppers and the Nassau County Police Department are seeking public’s help in identifying the pictured subject in connection with a Petit Larceny that occurred in Levittown, NY.

On Sunday, January 26th, 2014, at approximately 3:30 PM, the subject shown attempted to purchase $100.00 worth of gift cards using counterfeit $10 dollar bills. The subject is described as a Male Black, approximately 5’9” tall, 175lbs, possibly in his 20’s.

On Sunday, January 26th, 2014, at approximately 3:30 PM, the subject shown was observed inside of CVS located at 2970 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown. While present in the store the subject attempted to purchase $100.00 worth of gift cards using counterfeit $10 dollar bills. The subject was advised by the store clerk that the bills were counterfeit and that they would not be accepted as payment, and the subject fled the scene in an unknown direction. The subject left one counterfeit $10 bill at the store.

The subject is described as a Male Black, approximately 5’9” tall, 175lbs, possibly in his 20’s.

Crime Stoppers is asking anyone who can identify the subject, or with any information about this crime to call our toll free hotline: 1-800-244-TIPS (8477).  Crime Stoppers offers up to a $5,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest. You do not have to reveal your identity to help solve this crime. All calls will remain anonymous.

(LONG ISLAND, NY) Crime Stoppers and the Nassau County Police Department are seeking the public’s help with identifying the subject pictured above. The subject is wanted in connection with a Commercial Burglary that occurred in Uniondale, New York.

On Saturday December 28th, 2013 at approximately 1:27 AM, the subject pictured above broke into the a vacant store at 977 Nassau Rd in Uniondale and fled the scene with a television. The subject was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, colored vest, and jeans.

On Saturday December 28th, 2013 at approximately 1:27 AM, the unknown subject pictured above broke into the rear of a vacant store located at 977 Nassau Rd in Uniondale. Once inside the subject then attempted to gain entry through the wall into the adjoining business Serena Wireless located at 975 Nassau Road. The subject later fled the scene with a television. The subject was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, colored vest, and jeans.

Crime Stoppers is asking anyone who knows the identity of the subject, or anyone with any information about this crime to call our toll free hotline: 1-800-244-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers offers up to a $5,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest. You do not have to reveal your identity to help solve this crime. All calls will remain anonymous.

A resource for new, start-up, and established community gardens

(Long Island, NY) In partnership with Stony Brook University Family Medicine’s Community Roots Project and the Suffolk County Food Policy Council, Sustainable Long Island and Stony Brook University Family Medicine’s Dietetic Interns have developed a Long Island Community Gardens website, which will serve as an online-hub focused upon starting, maintaining, and successfully running a local community garden. Launched live today at www.longislandcommunitygardens.org, the comprehensive website will also serve as an educational resource on the benefits, concerns, types, and locations of community gardens across Long Island.

“Community gardens are a fantastic way to promote healthy eating, build community awareness, and to educate adults and children alike about agricultural and environmental stewardship,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “This website provides our citizens with the information and tools they require to seed and grow community gardens across Long Island.”

This newly launched website will be an invaluable resource to anyone seeking to learn more about community gardens,” said Erin Thoresen, Senior Program Coordinator at Sustainable Long Island and Chair of the Suffolk County Food Policy Council’s Food Equity Subcommittee. “Not only will it provide information on how to create and maintain your own garden, but it will offer ideas on expanding access to healthy, affordable food options. In creating this resource, our hope is that it will inspire the public to get outdoors more and improve their physical health by taking part in related activities, such as digging, building, planting, and more.”

The website was implemented after the three collaborating organizations (Sustainable Long Island, Stony Brook University Community Roots Project, and the Suffolk County Food Policy Council) identified the need for online resources dedicated strictly to local Community Gardens. After research and the actual building of two community gardens in Long Beach and Freeport, it became a top priority to develop a central hub where streamlined information on community gardens was made readily available. Four Dietetic interns worked in Sustainable Long Island’s offices over the course of four months to develop the website. Now completed, additional interns will continue to update and maintain the website, blog, and email inbox.

“Members of the Suffolk County Food Policy Council are committed to the creation of community gardens because they foster the kind of healthy eating habits and agricultural awareness that improve lives in communities of all stripes,” said the Chair of the Suffolk County Food Policy Council, August Ruckdeschel, Farmlands Administrator in the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development & Planning. “I would specifically like to thank the teams at Sustainable Long Island and the Department of Family Medicine at Stony Brook University School of Medicine for building a comprehensive community gardens website we can all be proud of.”

“By providing nutrition and garden expertise to our Nassau and Suffolk community gardens, these organizations have laid the foundation for the establishment of a Long Island community garden association and created a venue for communication, education, and resource sharing among local gardens,” said Iman Marghoob, the community gardens’ coordinator at Stony Brook Medicine. “The website has already received much praise from local community garden managers.”

The Long Island Community Gardens website supports the missions and goals of its three collaborating organizations. By encouraging the development of self-sustaining community gardens, the website aims to increase public access to healthy food, promote local and sustainably grown fruits and vegetables, and improve overall public health. The website was also made possible in part by a Bank of America grant awarded to Sustainable Long Island.

By definition, a community garden is a single piece of land gardened collectively by a group of people. Visitors to www.longislandcommunitygardens.org will learn why a community garden is so much more. Community gardens bring people of different ages, genders, and ethnicities together to establish something beautiful and beneficial to everyone involved. Each individual plays a role in making the garden successful.  Not only do gardens increase access to fresh food and nature, they also beautify neighborhoods, raise property value, and reduce neighborhood crime. Local community gardens provide Long Islanders with the opportunity to learn, grow, and live together.

About Sustainable Long Island
Sustainable Long Island is a nonprofit organization advancing sustainability through community revitalization, brownfield redevelopment, and food access initiatives. Sustainable Long Island connects public and private resources and expertise with communities that need them the most while promoting economic development, environmental health, and social equity. Sustainable Long Island is located at 399 Conklin Street, Suite 202, Farmingdale, NY 11735. For further information, call (516)-873-0230, visit www.sustainableli.org or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Stony Brook University Community Roots Project
The Stony Brook University Community Roots Project is a New York State Department of Health grant program that provided financial, educational, and social support to nine community gardens across Suffolk County. Project goals include helping community gardens grow and become sustainable; increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially among families in underserved communities; increasing physical activity; creating a safe, welcoming environment for communities; and making organic produce available to all. Read about the project on their blog, like them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.

Suffolk County Food Policy Council
The Suffolk County Food Policy Council was established in 2011. The Council is comprised of 16 members representing the County Executive and the Departments of Health, Economic Development & Planning, and Social Services, along with representatives of food retailers, processors and distributors, local food workers, community based groups, and advocates for food equity. The Council meets six times per year and works on a variety of policy initiatives and programs to strengthen the County’s food system.

(KINGS PARK, NY) School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. (SBPLI) is announcing that March is Expanding Girls’ Horizons in Science and Engineering Month and is urging girls to get involved in robotics as a way to become interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Expanding Girls’ Horizons in Science and Engineering Month was created by the Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) Network, a not-for-profit organization that encourages young women to pursue careers in STEM. According to the EYH Network, girls become most interested in these areas of study when they are in middle school.

This season, SBPLI had 110 elementary and middle school teams compete in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO League (FLL) Qualifying Tournaments; of those teams, 13 teams were fully comprised of Girl Scouts from Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

“It is encouraging to see girls and young women take part in our robotics programs, especially those who start early in our Junior FIRST LEGO League program,” said Joani Madarash, Executive Director, SBPLI. “Many of these young women who have gone through SBPLI’s programs have since graduated and continued their pursuit of STEM in college and in their careers. We urge all young girls to get involved in the robotics program, where you will learn about science and have fun as well.”

About School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc.
School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. (SBPLI) was founded in 1984 by Fred Breithut with the goal of developing partnerships between local high schools and businesses that would provide students with practical experience and curriculum development, while helping the business community develop its future workforce. Over 100 partnerships have been formed. In 1999, SBPLI brought the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition to Long Island, in which eight high school teams participated. Since then, the Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition has grown to 50 teams competing each year. SBPLI also hosts Long Island’s annual FIRST LEGO League Qualifying and Championship Tournaments and the Junior FIRST LEGO League Expo, in which approximately 1,000 elementary and middle school students from Nassau and Suffolk Counties take part each year.

For more information, visit www.sbpli.org.

Case Arose Out Of Claims By Attorneys General That Sellers Of DRAM Memory Chips Colluded To Inflate Prices;  Schneiderman: My Office Will Continue To Ensure That New York Consumers Victimized By Unlawful Cartels Receive Adequate Compensation

(NEW YORK) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that consumers can now file claims to recover money due to them from a $310 million fund created as a result of settling litigation brought by New York and several other states against the major manufacturers of Dynamic Random Access Memory (“DRAM”) computer chips. The settlements, which were recently preliminarily approved by the Court, arose out of claims by the New York Attorney General and other states that the major DRAM manufactures conspired to fix prices. Consumers who purchased devices containing DRAM chips, typically computers, between 1998 and 2002, when the alleged conspiracy was taking place, may now submit claims for compensation from the fund.

“Illegal price-fixers are an affront to our free-market system and should not be tolerated,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “New York has been a leader in antitrust enforcement for more than a century, and companies should be aware that my office will aggressively intervene to stop anti-competitive behavior and obtain compensation for injured New Yorkers.”

In the wake of a federal probe of the DRAM industry, New York completed its own year-long investigation in 2006 and filed an antitrust lawsuit in federal court against DRAM manufacturers, alleging that New York’s consumers overpaid millions of dollars for electronic devices containing DRAM. DRAM is a common form of memory chip found in desktop computers and other high-technology devices, such as laptop computers, printers and video game consoles. The New York Attorney General’s office litigated its claims against the DRAM cartel participants over multiple years in federal courts in New York and California.

The settlements between New York and several major DRAM manufacturers, reached in conjunction with a similar lawsuit filed by a group of other states and class actions filed on behalf of consumers, provide for compensation to individuals and businesses that purchased DRAM chips or devices containing DRAM chips in the United States from 1998 to 2002. More specifically, the settlements permit claims by individuals and others who purchased products that contain DRAM from computer manufacturers such as Dell or HP, from retailers such as Best Buy or Staples, or through any other source. The settlements also require the DRAM manufacturers to implement antitrust compliance programs and enjoin them from engaging in certain conduct that would violate the antitrust laws.

To receive money from the settlement, eligible consumers must submit a claim form by August 1, 2014, with the settlements’ administrator. The amount of money received depends on the type and quantity of electronic devices a claimant has purchased, and the total number of claims made. Individuals who purchased DRAM or products containing DRAM may receive up to the entire amount of the overpayment they made due to the alleged price fixing and are guaranteed a payment of at least $10. Consumers are not necessarily required to have purchase receipts or other documents in order to file a claim.

Any consumer who purchased one or more of the following between 1998 and 2002 is eligible to make a claim:

• Desktop computers
• Laptop computers
• Computer servers
• Computer graphics cards
• Printers
• Video game consoles
• MP3 players
• PDAs
• DVD players
• Digital video recorders.

If you purchased other technology devices also containing DRAM memory, you also may be eligible to make a claim.

No payments resulting from the settlement will be made until the court has granted final approval to the settlements, including the resolution of any appeals. It is anticipated that final approval will occur within the next two years. Also, if too many or too few claims are received, the Court may order that the settlement funds be provided to public or non-profit organizations in addition to or instead of consumers who file claims.

To file a claim, or for more information about the settlements, consumers may visit www.DRAMclaims.com or call 1-800-589-1425. 

Following final approval, the Attorney General’s Office expects to make a further announcement concerning an additional recovery by the State to compensate for overcharges to governmental agencies for purchases under State contracts.

New York’s investigation and litigation was handled by Assistant Attorney General Jeremy R. Kasha, with assistance from Assistant Attorney General Saami Zain and paralegal Arlene Leventhal. Former Acting Antitrust Bureau Chief Richard L. Schwartz also played a major role in the matter. The Antitrust Bureau, led by Eric J. Stock, is part of the Economic Justice Division, led by Karla G. Sanchez.

(NEW YORK, NY) UJA-Federation of New York’s fourth annual “Pack It Up For Purim” food drive runs now through March 16, 2014, and aims to provide more than 3,000 food packages to hungry New Yorkers. Food will be collected at seven different locations in Long Island.

The initiative follows one Purim tradition of offering mishloach manot, or charitable food baskets, to friends, neighbors, and those in need. Fanning out over New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, over 40 UJA-Federation beneficiary agencies, synagogues, day schools, and other organizations serve as food collection sites and many are organizing food-packing projects to help inspire community-building and charitable giving.

“Approximately 2.6 million New Yorkers – or nearly one in four – have difficulty affording food for themselves and their families and we need to come together to help feed our neighbors,” says Susan Kohn, executive director of the Volunteer Leadership Development Department at UJA-Federation of New York. “In the spirit of Purim, we are so grateful to our food collection sites and encourage all New Yorkers to come out and help members of our community who are just trying to feed their families.”

“Our goal for last year was to deliver over 2,000 food packages, and this year we raised that goal to 3,000 to further alleviate pressure on food distribution sites and increase the number of families we can serve,” said Kohn.

Each Pack It Up for Purim food package will contain nutritious, nonperishable items such as whole-grain cereal or oatmeal, canned vegetables, canned tuna, pasta, beans, granola bars, and peanut butter.

“For clients of the Rina Shkolnik Kosher Food Pantry at the JCC of the Greater Five Towns, these packages are dually important – they allow for the poor to enjoy a festive meal and help forge a sense of happiness during the month in which Purim occurs. Pack It Up For Purim enables the community to fulfill these good deeds in such a beautiful way,” says Joel Block, executive director of the JCC of the Greater Five Towns.

The festival of Purim, celebrated annually by Jews around the world, commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination.

For more information on how to volunteer and to find a list of food-packing sites, please visit http://www.ujafedny.org/purim.

The seven “Pack It Up For Purim” food collection sites in Long Island include:

• Barry and Florence Friedberg Jewish Community Center, 15 Neil Court, Oceanside, NY, Contact: (516) 766-4341
• Jewish Association Serving the Aging (JASA Jewel Quinn Senior Center), 1260 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, NY, Contact: Jeanne Ruvolo, Project Director, 516.571.8675, jruvolo@jasa.org
• Jewish Association Serving the Aging (JASA Long Beach Senior Center), 570 West Walnut Street, Long Beach, NY, Contact: Mindy Leeper, Project Director, 516.432.5555, mleeper@jasa.org
• Jewish Association Serving the Aging (JASA Young at Heart Club Senior Center), 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack, NY, Contact: Sharon Reichman, Project Director, 631.273.5218, sreichman@jasa.org
• Jewish Community Center of the Greater Five Towns, 207 Grove Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY, Contact: Renee Harris, Food Coordinator, 516.295.5678, renee.harris@fivetownsjcc.org
• Port Jewish Center, 20 Manorhaven Boulevard, Port Washington, NY, Contact: Lauren Chizner, Religious School Director, 516.817.9576, lauren.chizner@gmail.com
• Young Israel of Plainview, 132 Southern Parkway, Plainview, NY, Contact: Jordana Rothschild, Chair, Social Action Committee, 347.852.4677, jordanar@gmail.com

About Feeding Our Neighbors: An Interfaith Response
Feeding Our Neighbors: An Interfaith Response unites Catholic Charities and UJA-Federation of New York, two of the largest faith-based, not-for-profit organizations, to raise awareness about the issue of hunger and food insufficiency in the community. Through the shared values of “Let all who are hungry come and eat” and “No hungry neighbor should be turned away,” the Jewish and Catholic communities collectively pledge to make a difference in the lives of those who are hungry and in need. The interfaith initiative stems from Catholic Charities’ Feeding Our Neighbors initiative, an effort to fight hunger by replenishing dwindling supplies in emergency food programs that continue to be stretched thin. Together, Catholic Charities and UJA-Federation maximize their impact to realize a goal of collecting and distributing one million meals to feed hungry New Yorkers during winter’s cruelest months.