(Brookville, NY) The Nassau County Police Department has arrested three people for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in New Cassel/Brookville on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at 5:15 pm.

According to Third Squad detectives, the defendant Ryan P. Oliverio, 16, of 5 Hunters Lane, Levittown was walking on Frost Street and Old Country Road in New Cassel when Third Precinct Police Officers observed what appeared to be a handgun sticking out of his pocket.

Nassau County Police Department arrested three people for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in New Cassel/Brookville on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at 5:15 pm. File photo by Christoper Boyle.

Police conducted an investigation and Oliverio was found to have in his possession a loaded .380 caliber handgun without a license and 15 small and 3 medium clear bags that contained a greenish brown leafy substance believed to be marijuana.

During the investigation the defendant also admitted that on February 8, 2014 he had sold a .32 caliber handgun without a license to defendant David J. Yablans, 17, of 1610 Old Cedar Swamp Road, Brookville for an undisclosed amount of money.

Oliverio was then placed into police custody without incident.

At 9:40 pm Third Precinct Police then went over to the residence of defendant Yablans to recover the gun that he was in possession of. When police arrived there David Yablans admitted to having the gun but said his mother defendant Linda Yablans, 51, of 1610 Cedar Swamp Road took it away from him.

Defendant Linda Yablans assisted investigating Police Officers in opening a safe where the illegal handgun was kept. Upon opening the safe she failed to follow orders not to touch any contents and step away from the safe. Linda Yablans lunged forward and grabbed the handgun causing officers to struggle with her to remove the handgun from her hand. She was then placed into custody.

Ryan Oliverio is charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd Degree, Sale of a Firearm 3rd Degree, and Criminal Possession of Marijuana 5th Degree. David Yablans is charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree. Linda Yablans is charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree and Obstructing Governmental Administration 2nd degree.

All Three defendants will be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Wednesday, February 12, 2014.

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) Students from the New Opportunities at Hofstra (NOAH) program recently joined Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,WF,I-Huntington Station) for a lesson in government. The young people, who were students in Lupinacci’s American Politics class last summer, were in Albany to see the Assembly in action.

Students in the NOAH program at Hofstra University join Assemblymen Chad Lupinacci and Harvey Weisenberg in the Assembly Chamber.

“It was a pleasure and an honor to have this outstanding group of students attend the Assembly Session and provide them with the chance to see state government in action,” said Lupinacci. “Learning in the classroom provides students with a great base for their education, but nothing can surpass seeing government up close. Listening to the students share their thoughts and perspectives reminds me of how important the work we do here each day truly is. It was a pleasure to speak with the students and an honor to have them come and watch us do our work.”

(GARDEN CITY, NY) Sabre Real Estate Group LLC, the metropolitan region’s newest retail broker, has arranged a lease in Rockville Centre, Long Island, for Chocolate Works, the upscale New York City Upper West Side chocolatier.

Sabre, Chocolate Works’ exclusive broker for its franchised expansion throughout the New York metropolitan area, arranged a lease for 2,400 square feet at 191 Long Beach Rd., a site owned by Donald DelDuca. The store is expected to open this summer.

A spinoff of the decades-old 5th Avenue Chocolatiere, Chocolate Works has been a huge success since it opened last year at Amsterdam Avenue and W. 91st St. The cutting-edge candy marker has eight stores in total, including Rockville Centre.

In addition to its extensive collection of chocolates, including its signature 5th Avenue Truffle and such eclectic offerings as chocolate martini olives and chili-infused chocolate nibs, Chocolate Works stores are stocked with bulk bins of classic candies and also offer children’s parties and workshops for children and adults. The chocolate is made on premises and children are able to enjoy an interactive experience and become “chocolatier for the day” through on site workshops or parties.

Melissa Naeder, a director of Sabre and Ed Czarniak, a Sabre associate, represented Chocolate Works.

Chocolate Works plans to open several hundred stores across the metropolitan region over the next several years, including approximately 25 on Long Island. Sabre is seeking locations of 1,800 to 2,500 square feet in prime neighborhoods for the retailer.

About Sabre Real Estate Group LLC
Founded by Kenneth Breslin and Jayson Siano, experienced retail real estate professionals, Sabre Real Estate Group is a full-service retail real estate brokerage company focused on tenant and owner representation. Sabre also offers retail, restaurant and franchise consultation services, investment sales and property management. For more information visit www.sabreny.com or call (516) 874-8070 or email: info@sabreny.com

(Long Island, NY) Assemblymen Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) and Al Graf (R,C,I-Holbrook) today hosted a press conference to present a new measure that would fully halt the implementation and high-stakes testing of Common Core until a full study is performed by an independent commission. Under the plan approved by the Board of Regents this week, Common Core standards and examinations would still be ongoing while the complete implementation of the program is delayed until 2022.

Assemblyman Ed Ra (at podium) presenting his legislation to halt Common Core.

The Ra and Graf measure, part of the Conference-wide APPLE Plan to fix Common Core, would completely halt the implementation of Common Core until an independent commission performs a thorough review. This measure comes based on the recommendations of the educators, administrators and parents the Assembly Minority Conference met with during their 11 statewide public forums on Common Core. Of note during their press conference was the need to study the effect these changes in education are having on special needs students and how poverty can affect the ability to implement the new standards and tests.

“Rather than simply delay Common Core, we need to put a stop to the high-stakes testing and standards that are causing so much student and educator anxiety until a thorough review is performed,” said Ra. “An independent commission specifically needs to examine Common Core’s effect on special needs students’ IEP plans and on English as a Second Language students; how poverty affects the ability of both schools to implement the standards and children to adapt to the changes; and to see if there is a better option for our educators and students.”

“This bill is a culmination of six months of hearings throughout the state. We listened to parents, grandparents, educators, mental health professionals, and many others,” said Graf. “This bill should be the road map on how to achieve higher standards while at the same time considering the diversity of our students. This bill, in the words of Dr. Joe Rella, ‘Stops it, fixes it, and if it cannot be fixed, we scrap it.’ I take great pride in being a co-author of this legislation with Sen. Zeldin and Assemblyman Ra.”

To find out more about the Assembly Minority Conference’s statewide hearings, visit bit.ly/educationalcrossroads. For more information on their APPLE Plan, please visit bit.ly/APPLEplan.

(Freeport, NY) Crime Stoppers and the Nassau County Police Department are seeking the public’s help with identifying the unknown subject pictured below. The subject is wanted in connection with a Robbery that occurred in Freeport, NY.

Crime Stoppers and the Nassau County Police Department are seeking the public’s help with identifying the unknown subject pictured who is wanted in connection with a Robbery that occurred in Freeport, NY.

On Friday January 10th, 2014 at approximately 12:30am the subject entered the Atlantic Laundromat located at 395Atlantic Ave in Freeport. At that time the subject asked the employee for change. When the employee opened the cash register, the subject produced a knife and took cash from the register. The subject then fled on foot Westbound on Atlantic Ave.

The subject is described as a male black, mid 20’s, wearing all black clothing, and a blue hoodie with white lettering. Crime Stoppers is asking anyone who can identify the subject, or anyone with any information about this case 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.

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.

Utility ready to respond to outages caused by snow and rain starting Thursday morning

(Uniondale, NY – Feb. 12, 2014) PSEG Long Island is preparing for another winter weather event that is expected to bring a mix of snow and rain early tomorrow morning through Friday, with potential wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour, according to current weather forecasts.

PSEG Long Island will have all available line crews, tree trimmers, and support personnel to address any outages. Our crews will perform damage assessment and restoration efforts around the clock.

We have performed system checks on critical transmission & distribution equipment; arranged for contractors, including tree crews, to assist the utility’s own skilled workforce if necessary; and performed logistics checks – ensuring availability of critical materials, fuel and other supplies. In addition, we have coordinated with county and municipal emergency management personnel to inform them of the preparation work, what to expect and how the utility will respond.

While snow usually isn’t an issue for utilities, the possibility of sleet, ice and strong wind gusts can increase the likelihood of downed wires. Vehicles striking utility poles can also cause wires to come down.

GENERAL TIPS

Mother Nature can be unpredictable. It’s wise to have an emergency kit on hand year round. Here are some things to include:

• A battery powered radio
• A corded telephone (Cordless phones will not work if the power is out)
• Flashlights and extra fresh batteries
• A first-aid kit
• Bottled water and an adequate supply of non-perishable food
• A non-electric can opener
• Matches and candles with holders
• Extra blankets and sleeping bags
• A list of emergency phone numbers, including PSEG Long Island’s emergency service / outage hotline:
  1-800-490-0075. Call this number to report power outages or downed wires.

DOWNED POWER LINES

Accumulation of ice and heavy snow may weigh down power lines and as a result cause power lines to come down. Downed wires may appear dead but should always be considered “live.” STAY AWAY FROM ALL DOWNED LINES. Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything that it might be in contact with. Parents are urged to check for downed wires in areas where their children might play and to remind the children to stay far away from any wires. If a wire falls on a vehicle, passengers should stay in the vehicle until help arrives. To report a downed wire, call 1-800-490-0075 and tell PSEG Long Island the nearest cross street.

IF YOU LOSE POWER

First check your neighborhood. If you are the only one without power, check your fuse box for tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses. If that’s not the problem, look outside at the wire between your house and the utility pole. If it is down, report it immediately to PSEG Long Island.

Customers with a handheld device can also report power outages by texting “OUT” to PSEGLI (773454). You will receive confirmation that your outage has been submitted and will begin receiving ongoing updates as the status of your outage changes. This requires a one-time registration, to register, text REG to PSEGLI (773454) or visit My Account. General outage activity throughout our service territory is also available online and on our mobile website at www.psegliny.com. Updates are posted on www.psegliny.com/stormcenter during severe weather.

PSEG Long Island’s Twitter page is regularly updated to keep the public informed about our restoration progress and now has more than 1,400 followers.

At PSEG Long Island, employee and customer safety is first and foremost. Remember, safety is always the only choice.

PSEG Long Island LLC was selected by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) in Dec. 2011 to manage LIPA’s electric system. The 12-year contract includes commitments to improve customer satisfaction and provide safe, reliable service for LIPA customers. PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company with annual revenues of more than $10 billion. 

(Freeport, NY) The Nassau County Police Department has arrested a Freeport man for Tampering with Physical Evidence on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at 11:15 pm in Freeport.

According to detectives, on December 10, 2013 the defendant Juan R. Rodriguez, 42, of 164 Pine Street filed a report with the Freeport Police Department stating that his wife’s boyfriend had threatened him with a rifle. On January 31, 2014 Rodriguez reported to police that he was the victim of an attempted murder. He stated that he was walking on Pine Street near Taft Place when he observed his wife and her boyfriend pointing guns at him while yelling. Rodriguez said as he ran down Pine Street back home the two began shooting at him. After getting back to his apartment Rodriguez further reported that another man hiding next to a dumpster in the rear adjacent parking lot fired two shots at him.

According to detectives, on December 10, 2013 the defendant Juan R. Rodriguez, 42, of Freeport was charged with 4 counts of Tampering with Physical Evidence and two counts of False Written Statement.

An investigation revealed that the defendant Juan Rodriguez placed evidence at the scene of the shooting along Taft place that included three .223 bullet casings, one .45 caliber shell casings, eight .40 caliber shell casings, and a hair clip. It was also revealed that his wife and the boyfriend were not on Pine Street at the time of the incidence. On January 31 and February 2, 2014 the defendant signed statements that he knew were false. On February 11, 2014 Rodriguez was placed into police custody at the First Precinct.

Juan Rodriguez is charged with 4 counts of Tampering with Physical Evidence and two counts of False Written Statement. He will be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead today, Wednesday, February 12, 2014.

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.

Q&A with Retired KeySpan Chairman and CEO Robert B. Catell ’99 (Hon.) at Adelphi

(GARDEN CITY, NY) Adelphi University’s Hagedorn Lecture on Corporate Social Responsibility will feature the first John J. Phelan, Jr. Fellow of the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, Robert B. Catell ’99 (Hon.), retired KeySpan chairman and CEO. Mr. Catell will answer questions from Adelphi President Robert A. Scott on the topics of “Energy Independence and Sustainability” as part of the Hagedorn Lecture on Corporate Social Responsibility on Wednesday, February 26, at 6:00 p.m. The event, part of the celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of the Willumstad School of Business, is free and open to the public and will be held in the Thomas Dixon Lovely Ballroom in the Ruth S. Harley University Center, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY. The Robert B. Willumstad School of Business will mark the 50-year anniversary of being chartered, during its 1964–1965 academic year, by the State of New York as a degree-granting school, with a series of events and profiles of its alumni.

As a Phelan fellow, Mr. Catell will share his expertise and insights with students, faculty, and the broader community, enriching the overall educational experience. The fellow program was established in 2013 in memory of one of Adelphi’s distinguished alumni, John J. Phelan, Jr. ’70, ’87 (Hon.), to honor his lifetime of service and generous support for his alma mater. Mr. Phelan was the former chairman and CEO of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Mr. Catell has more than 50 years of experience in the energy utility industry. Currently, he serves as chairman of the Board of JJT Energy, an energy services company providing natural gas on Long Island and New York City to the residential, commercial and industrial markets. He is the former KeySpan chairman and CEO, chairman of National Grid US, and deputy chairman of National Grid plc. Mr. Catell serves on the Board of many organizations: a director of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), chairman of the Board of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC) at Stony Brook University, New York State Smart Grid Consortium, KEYERA Energy Management Ltd., and the New York Energy Policy Institute’s Advisory Council (NYEPI).

Additionally, he is the former Chairman of the American Gas Association, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Long Island Association, Partnership for New York City, Inc., U.S. Energy Association (USEA), Business Council of NYS, the Advisory Board of the City College of New York’s School of Engineering and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. He received both his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering from City College of New York.

Since its inception in 2003, Adelphi’s annual lectureship series on Corporate Social Responsibility has enabled the University to invite prominent speakers to address pressing issues of the day. The series was made possible through a generous contribution from Horace Hagedorn ’01 (Hon.) and wife Amy Hagedorn ’05 (Hon.), and fits in with the University’s overall goal of creating a culture of conscience among students, faculty, staff, administrators, and local community members.

To learn more about the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, visit http://business.adelphi.edu/.

About Adelphi University:
Adelphi is a world-class, modern university with excellent and highly relevant programs where students prepare for lives of active citizenship and professional careers. Through its schools and programs—College of Arts and Sciences, Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Honors College, Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, University College, College of Nursing and Public Health and the School of Social Work—the coeducational university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as professional and educational programs for adults. Adelphi University currently enrolls nearly 8,000 students from 43 states and 45 foreign countries. With its main campus in Garden City and its centers in Manhattan, Suffolk County, and Poughkeepsie, the University, chartered in 1896, maintains a commitment to liberal studies, in tandem with rigorous professional preparation and active citizenship.

(Bethpage, NY) In recognition of Black History Month, Optimum, in conjunction with the Smithsonian Channel™, is sponsoring the “Make Your Mark” video contest for high school students. The contest provides an opportunity for students to reflect on how they can make a lasting “mark” by submitting a proposal and creating a video that documents their idea on how to incite positive change within their school and community. Students with the winning video will be awarded $2500 for a school or community project.

As part of the contest, students will view the Smithsonian Channel documentary Breath of Freedom that details the experiences of African-American GIs who helped rebuild Germany at the end of World War II and experienced equality for the first time overseas. Just as the soldiers featured in the documentary helped ignite the Civil Rights Movement, students can document their unique “mark” for positive change in their own video.

The “Make Your Mark” contest is open to all high school students in Optimum’s footprint within the tri-state area. Students should record and submit a creative and informative video (two minutes maximum) that explains their “mark,” why it should be chosen and how their school or community could benefit from the $2500 award. They will then share this video (via Facebook or Tweets) with friends and family to earn votes for the project. Deadline for entries is February 28.

“Optimum is delighted to partner with the Smithsonian Channel in sponsoring the ‘Make Your Mark’ contest to celebrate Black History Month,” said Cablevision Vice President of Public Affairs Jen Ostrager. “We are proud to provide students with an opportunity to make a positive change in their community and better understand the history that helped spark the Civil Rights Movement.”

About Cablevision
Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC) is a leading media and telecommunications company, serving millions of households and businesses throughout the greater New York area. Providing quality products that keep customers connected, Cablevision offers Optimum-branded digital cable television, high-speed Internet and phone services as well as Optimum WiFi, the nation’s most robust wireless Internet network. Cablevision’s Lightpath subsidiary is a premier provider of integrated business communications solutions for larger companies. Through its local media and programming properties – News 12 Networks, Newsday Media Group and MSG Varsity – Cablevision also delivers news and information created specifically for the communities it serves. Additional information about Cablevision is available at www.cablevision.com.

(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,WF,I-Huntington Station) joined the most recent Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) Advocacy Academy event to address the seriousness of drug and substance abuse. During the event, Lupinacci also spoke about his role as a legislator and his efforts in the Assembly.

Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci speaking during a recent Advocacy Academy Event

“It is so important to have programs like LICADD’s Advocacy Academy in our community. By providing full-day training sessions to volunteers, interns and community members, this program helps to ensure that people of Long Island are aware of just how serious the issue of drug and alcohol addiction is,” Lupinacci said. “It also provides key knowledge regarding substance abuse prevention, treatment and resources to assist with a successful recovery.”

Lupinacci also discussed his recent efforts in support of Sagamore Children’s Psychiatric Center. A newly developed plan by the Office of Mental Health includes a scale-back of services that could result in the potential closure of the Sagamore Children’s Psychiatric Center. The closure of this facility would lead to a detrimental loss of support and resources the children who receive treatment there so greatly need.