(Garden City, NY) RE/MAX Beyond Broker/Owners Allan and Regina Eldridge announced that Christine and Jan (John) Hermanowski of Smithtown and their Executive Assistant, Gina Malone of Ronkonkoma, have joined RE/MAX Beyond.

“Known as ‘Team Hermanowski’ Christine and Jan are seasoned real estate professionals. They are also energetic and genuinely nice people. Prior to joining our office in Smithtown they were with Keller Williams Realtors and before that Prudential Elliman. My wife Regina and I have known Christine and Jan since our days at Prudential, we know they will be a perfect fit into our office,” said RE/MAX Beyond Broker/Owner Allan Eldridge.

Christine began her career in residential property sales in 2006 and Jan in 2007. Today the husband and wife Team are ranked in the top 2% of realtors in the country. In Christine’s first year at Prudential Elliman, she was named “Rookie of the Year.”

“We were familiar with the RE/MAX business model, a system that has been tested and refined, and allows for independent business decision making. The RE/MAX office environment will support my dedication to serving my clients with the highest levels of professionalism, honesty, integrity and trust,” said Christine Hermanowski, Associate Broker, CBR, SRES.

“Our residential sales business is Island wide and is secured mostly through referrals. We are fortunate to have Gina Malone, our Executive Assistant, managing our day-to-day business activities and she has discovered RE/MAX Leadstreet is a good resource for leads,” said Real Estate Salesperson Jan Hermanowski, CBR.

“It continues to be a good market for first home buyers. Inventory varies from community to community, but we stick by our clients to help them find the home they want in a location on the Island where they will be happy.” said Christine.

“My greatest satisfaction comes from helping my clients achieve their goals. The future looks bright for the Hermanowski Team at RE/MAX Beyond,” Jan added.

• For information about RE/MAX Beyond call 631-862-1100 or visit www.remax-beyond.com.
• For information about RE/MAX New York, Inc., visit www.remax-newyork.com or call 1-800-REMAX-NY.

About RE/MAX of New York
Headquartered in Garden City, New York, RE/MAX of New York, Inc. is a leader in the sale of residential and commercial real estate in New York State. The company has a sales force of more than 2,000 agents and 140 offices throughout New York. RE/MAX agents in New York generated over $16 billion in sales and completed more than 150,000 transactions since 2003.

For more information on residential and commercial real estate resources, please visit www.remax-newyork.com.

E-filing is easiest way to prepare returns, and fastest way to receive refunds

(New York, NY) New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Thomas H. Mattox testified today to a Joint Legislative Budget Hearing that e-filing continues to significantly advance over paper filing.

Only one week into the tax season, more than 1.3 million taxpayers have e-filed their income tax returns – more than 10% of the total expected.   In comparison, the Department has received only 8,000 paper income tax returns this year.

“E-file is widely accepted as the easiest, safest and fastest way to prepare and file income taxes, and our numbers continue to increase each year,” testified Commissioner Mattox.   “And for the millions of New York taxpayers expecting refunds, the message should be perfectly clear – e-file to receive your refund twice as fast compared to mailing a paper return.”

• Commissioner Mattox’s Testimony to the Joint Senate and Assembly Budget Hearing

Nearly 90% of New York’s 10 million taxpayers e-filed last year.  This year, thanks to the Department’s new Income Tax Web File, almost all New Yorkers can prepare and e-file their State returns for free.   Already, more than 7,000 have used the new option, with thousands more taking advantage of free software options available from the Department’s Web site.

Also new this year, the Tax Department now accepts all income tax forms electronically, removing any barrier to filing electronically.

“Not only is e-filing safer and faster than mailing a return, but it’s also more accurate,” added Commissioner Mattox.   “Paper returns are 20 times more likely to have errors than e-filed returns.”

In addition taxpayers receive prompt confirmation of receipt for e-filed returns, alleviating the need for certified mail or concerns of whether a return has been received by the Tax Department.

Sign up for Online Services

Commissioner Mattox noted that, by creating a Tax Department Online Services account, taxpayers can receive email alerts regarding their refunds, view their returns online, and use several other features.  In the past year, income taxpayers created more than 220,000 Online Service accounts – a 34% increase – bringing the total to nearly 900,000.

Taxpayers have until Tuesday, April 15, 2014 to file their 2013 tax returns.

Connect with the Tax Department

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(Long Island, NY) Nicole Stanpfli, 26 years old, developmentally disabled and emotionally disturbed, was given a puppy by her widowed grandmother and caretaker Carmela Ferrante for Christmas under the recommendation of her doctor who thought a puppy could help calm and comfort her in times of need. At the time of sale, Chloe, a toy shiatsu, came with antibiotics, however, the store assured Nicole and Carmela they had nothing to worry about.

By New Year’s Eve, it was evident that Chloe was very sick so she was rushed to a local vet who diagnosed her with kennel cough and an upper respiratory infection. Carmela immediately contacted the The Puppy Boutique, the store that sold her the dog, and was scolded for bringing Chloe to a vet other than their partner’s and offered another dog instead of medical treatment. Concerned about Chloe’s health, Nicole and Chloe asked that the store, The Puppy Boutique, instead pay for treatment. Going against state law, The Puppy Boutique refused to pay Carmela’s prior bill but said they could see the store’s vet instead. Over the next two weeks, Chloe was shuffled between the store and the store’s vet and when Carmela came to pick her up, Chloe was sicker than ever before. Forced to take her home, Nicole, already troubled, became more depressed and disturbed over concern for her new-found friend, and Carmela, an elderly widow and Nicole’s sole caretaker, became stuck with hundreds of dollars in veterinary bills that are still piling up. Now, the vet says Chloe may have a congenital disorder impacting her breathing and surgery may cost thousands of dollars.

Reviews of The Puppy Boutique allege that the store utilizes puppy mills and a USDA Aphis search of Chloe’s breeder revealed that her breeder had violations during three of her last four inspections, one of which revealing an injured and suffering dog and two more revealing that no responsible adult was even available to show inspectors the facility.

Nicole and Carmela are looking for justice for their puppy and only want Chloe to get better, asking the store to pay for their medical bills and appealing to the media and lawmakers to make sure this does not happen to anyone else.

In Nicole’s words: “I’m angry and sad. I love Chloe and I just wish she would get better. It’s not right what they did. Chloe is suffering and she can’t breathe … I looked up the pet store and the internet says they use puppy mills.”

According to Carmela: “This was supposed to be a Christmas present. It’s a nightmare. Nicole is very upset and I can’t afford all of these bills. I just wanted to make Nicole happy.”

Nicole is being aided by her crisis worker, John Di Leonardo, who works for the agency Independence Residences, Inc. and counsels Nicole in times of need and assists her out in the community. An advocate for both humans and nonhumans, John Di Leonardo is also president of Long Island Orchestrating for Nature (LION), an animal advocacy group that was recently thanked by Assemblywoman Rosenthal for their help in passing The Puppy Mill Bill, a law that now allows local municipalities to pass laws regulating pet stores and puppy mills, last month.

According to John: “This is exactly why we fought so hard to pass The Puppy Mill Bill and why we need to keep fighting to pass stronger laws. Our laws are still very weak. There are so many sick dogs coming out of pet stores in New York. It’s not fair to consumers or to the suffering animals. I wish I would’ve known Carmela was going to get Nicole a dog. I would’ve told her to adopt; not to shop.”

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and First Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the person responsible for stealing a donation jar from a convenience store in Lindenhurst.

According to police, the man pictured entered 7-Eleven, located at 849 N. Greene Avenue, and stole a donation jar that contained cash collected for Leukemia research on February 3 at 9:44 p.m.

A man entered 7-Eleven, located at 849 N. Greene Avenue, and stole a donation jar that contained cash collected for Leukemia research on February 3 at 9:44 p.m. The suspect is described as white, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, 155 pounds with facial hair.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking he public’s help to identify and locate the person or persons responsible for stealing cosmetics from a store in the Smith Haven Mall.

Surveillance image of one of the two men who police say entered Sephora, located at 313 Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove on January 13, 2014, at approximately 6:50 p.m. They removed assorted cosmetics from the shelves and left the store without paying for the merchandise.

Two men entered Sephora, located at 313 Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove on January 13, 2014, at approximately 6:50 p.m. They removed assorted cosmetics from the shelves and left the store without paying for the merchandise.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

(Long Island, NY) Crime Stoppers and the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad are seeking the public’s help for any information in connection with the murder of the victim pictured below. The murder occurred in Uniondale, New York.

Ramone Green, 23, of Long Beach, succumb to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at 12:08 pm

According to Police, on Friday February 7th, 2014 at approximately 11:30 AM in front of Hansen Cleaners located at 433 Jerusalem Ave in Uniondale, the victim pictured above was approached by two unknown male black subjects and stabbed. The victim was taken to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.

Crime Stoppers is asking anyone who has any information about the person(s) responsible for this MURDER, or anyone with any information about this case to contact us at our Toll free hotline: 1-800-244 TIPS (8477), or contact the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad at 516-573-7788

Unfair to Upstate: New Analysis Shows Governor’s Tax “Freeze” Plan Favors Downstate Suburbs and Shortchanges Upstate; Upstate Lawmakers Join Advocacy Groups in Calling it Unfair

(Albany, NY) An analysis released by New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, Citizen Action of New York, Alliance for Quality Education and Strong Economy for All found that Governor Cuomo’s tax “freeze” plan would disproportionately favor downstate suburban communities at the expense of upstate communities. Click here for the full analysis.

Homeowners in downstate suburban counties would receive rebates that are three times the size of the rebates offered in upstate counties under the so-called “freeze” plan. For the school tax portion of the rebate, the average homeowner in a downstate suburb would receive a $324 freeze check, while in upstate regions average rebates would range from $97 in the Mohawk Valley to $132 in the Finger Lakes.

Members of the State Senate and Assembly who represent communities in upstate New York are calling the plan unfair.

“Upstate schools are experiencing extreme fiscal stress, and it is important to closely examine all proposals and policies to ensure that no one region bears an unfair burden and that our children receive the best education possible,” said State Senator David Valesky (D-Syracuse).

Upstate taxpayers would not only subsidize higher rebate checks for well-off suburban homeowners, but would also face the impact of cuts in schools and local services in order to fund the freeze which would cost $1.8 billion over three years – amounting to a double-whammy for upstate communities.

“The tax freeze plan is unfair,” said Assembly member Addie Russell (D-Theresa). “Under this plan, rural upstate municipalities that are truly struggling to fund education, police, fire and other essential services will be left behind while New York’s wealthiest suburbs reap these new tax benefits.”

The “freeze” checks would be paid out of the state budget, the same funds which could otherwise be used to pay for schools or local services like police and firefighters – either of which would produce a much fairer distribution than the proposed “freeze.”

“A number of legitimate concerns have been raised about the proposed tax freeze and associated rebate check. After crunching the numbers, it does not appear that upstate taxpayers will actually benefit that much,” said Assembly member Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell). “I strongly support the governor’s interest in tying property taxes to personal income, commonly referred to as a ‘circuit breaker.’ Many of us have been advocating this approach for years.”

“I do not support the tax proposal in its current form because it’s unfair to upstate New York because our rebate checks would be much smaller than in downstate suburbs. Under the plan, money that could be going to fund our schools would instead be sent to downstate suburban counties,” said Assembly member Barbara Lifton (D-Ithaca).

“Instead of providing help to struggling communities and taxpayers, the tax freeze is just another gimmick that benefits the wealthiest communities at the expense of all the rest of us,” said Karen Scharff, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York. “We need to focus the state’s limited resources on badly needed school aid and basic services in the places where the economy has been hit the hardest.”

“The property tax freeze may make for a great sound bite but it is not a sound solution to provide meaningful tax relief, especially in upstate New York. This ill-conceived proposal will cost nearly a billion dollars and will direct the largest benefits to the state’s wealthiest communities, regardless of need and leave upstate residents with what amounts to the equivalent of a small pizza party. This election year proposal will hurt our schools and communities and not deliver any meaningful relief to the families that need it the most in upstate New York,” said Ron Deutsch, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness.

“This is an ill conceived plan that shortchanges upstate homeowners and communities. It targets state funds to wealthier communities in suburban counties. The money would be better spent stopping yet more cuts to programs for students in schools upstate and throughout the state,” said Billy Easton, Executive Director of Alliance for Quality Education.

“By giving larger rebates to residents of wealthier areas, this tax freeze plan will only serve to broaden economic inequality in this state,” said Michael Kink, Executive Director of Strong Economy for All. “We need to prioritize the communities that need help the most.”

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. www.aqeny.org

(Stony Brook, NY) The Ward Melville Heritage Organization continues its informative dinner series, Navigate Your Healthcare, with the best and brightest in the medical field offering insight and answers to your questions.

Genetic Medicine…Where Are We Now? will be held March 6 with Dr. Alexander Krasnitz, Ph.D, Assistant Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Dr. Janice Lu, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine (Pictured).

The Moderator for this session, Supported Stony Brook Medicine, Fitness Rx and WALK-97.5 Radio will be Lina M. Obeid, M.D., Vice Dean for Research, Office of Scientific Affairs Reproductive Specialists of NY at Stony Brook Medicine.

A wide variety of topics will be included on this fascinating subject, including clinical trials using patient gene profiles to determine diagnosis and treatment of disease. This personalized, genomic-based approach is predicted to change the future of medicine. (The Navigate Your Healthcare series evolved from WMHO’s highly successful, “Medicine: Past, Present & Future” program that is held at its historic Dr. Samuel Thompson House in Setauket.)

The forum begins at 6:30 pm at WMHO’s Educational & Cultural Center at 97P Main Street in the Stony Brook Village Center. The cost is $25 pp and includes a three-course buffet dinner, dessert and coffee provided by Three Village Inn. Space is limited and reservations are required. Call 631-689-5888 or visit www.wmho.org.

Founded in 1939, WMHO is a not-for-profit corporation that develops and fosters community enrichment through cultural and educational experiences. WMHO accomplishes this by enhancing and interpreting its historic and environmentally sensitive properties and by utilizing state-of-the-art technology.

For more information, please visit www.wmho.org.

(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,WF,I-Huntington Station) today announced his participation in the 3^rd Annual Legislative Food Drive Challenge sponsored by Long Island Cares. This year’s food drive aims to help local animals in need, so Lupinacci’s office will be accepting donations of pet food and supplies from now until March 31 at the district office and local schools.

“For many of us, especially the elderly and homebound, pets are as much a part of the family as the people we’re surrounded by,” said Lupinacci. “That’s why I’m asking residents to show their support for local pets that need a little something extra by taking part in our pet food drive. A simple donation of dog food, cat food or any other pet supply will help an animal right here in our community, and while they can’t say thank you, I’m sure their tails will be wagging with excitement.

From now until March 31, Lupinacci’s office will be collecting pet supplies for dogs, cats, hamsters, fish and ferrets. Items being accepted include but are not limited to bags of food, canned food, kitty litter and new pet toys. Donations can be dropped off at Lupinacci’s district office at 1783 New York Avenue in Huntington Station between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or in drop boxes at your local school. For more information on the Long Island Cares Pet Food Drive, please visit http://www.licares.org/press-release/pet-supplies-plus-reaches-support-long-island-cares-pet-pantry/.

(RONKONOMA, NY) Today, Senator Lee Zeldin (R,C,I—Shirley) praised the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) vote to amend its Summer Flounder Management Plan to implement “Regional Management” for fluke.

This move by the ASMFC, which New York fishermen have been pushing for nearly a decade, will provide a great benefit for local businesses that rely heavily on this popular fishery. Regional Management will essentially “level the playing field” for New York fishermen, by bringing their regulations into parity with neighboring states such as New Jersey and Connecticut, whose regulations have long been less strict than those in New York. The result is that New York fishermen will no longer need to leave the state to enjoy fishing for fluke under these relaxed regulations.

“I am extremely pleased that the Commission agreed with the recommendation I advocated for to adopt this regional management measure for fluke, which is so important for the continued economic vitality of our recreational fishing community here on Long Island,” said Sen. Lee Zeldin, who has been a tireless advocate for fishermen since his initial election to the N.Y. State Senate in 2010.

“Our representatives on the Commission, the Mid-Atlantic Council, the Marine Resources Advisory Council, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, have worked extremely hard on this proposal over the past few years, and they deserve the thanks and gratitude of all of us who enjoy fishing as one of Long Island’s premier attractions and past times.”

In his first year in office in 2011, Senator Zeldin secured a repeal of the saltwater fishing license fee. Since then, he has continued to work closely with the fishing community to ensure that this traditional attraction and economic engine retains its historical status as an important cultural facet of life on Long Island.