Pollert is only the 18th recipient in the award’s 40-year history

(Hauppauge, NY) Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today honored Fred Pollert for his 37 years of service to Suffolk County residents by presenting him with the distinguished Suffolk County Public Service Award. The Suffolk County Public Service Award, is the highest honor to be bestowed on an individual for extraordinary and exemplary service to the people of Suffolk County.

“I can’t think of anyone who could be more deserving of being honored with the County’s highest award than Fred Pollert.” Bellone said.  For almost four decades, Fred has worked to make government more efficient and save taxpayer dollars.  He is one of the most dedicated public servants I have ever encountered and I will be forever grateful to him for coming out of retirement in 2012 to help navigate the County through the worst fiscal crisis in its history.”

Pollert worked for 27 years for the Suffolk County Legislature’s Budget Review Office, serving as Director, six years as Deputy County Executive for Finance under County Executive Steve Levy and two years as Vice President for Administration for the Long Island Power Authority. For the past two years he has served as Deputy County Executive for Finance and Management under County Executive Bellone, returning to County service in order to work with County Executive Bellone on fiscally responsible items to put Suffolk County back onto strong fiscal footing without piercing the tax cap.

The award was created during the administration of County Executive John Klein and designed by then Chief Deputy County Executive Arthur Bergmann.  It was first presented in 1973 and over the past 40 years, it has only been presented to 17 individuals.  The first was presented to H. Lee Dennison, who served as Suffolk’s first County Executive.

It’s cold, and people are recovering from the hyper-social holiday season. Things are quieter than normal in Queens, but there are some great upcoming (and indoors) entertainment options, such as a jazz jam, Middle Eastern music, a Three Kings reenactment, fascinating documentaries and classic movies. Here’s the rundown.

Jan. 3, The Lost Magic of the Shanghai Art Studios, 5 pm to 8 pm. The Noguchi Museum screens a documentary on the Shanghai Animation Studio, which was effectively halted by the Cultural Revolution in 1965. Admission is free on the first Friday of the month as part of “First Fridays,” a program that includes a guided discussion on a single work of art on view. NM, 9-01 33rd Rd., LIC, www.noguchi.org.

Jan. 3, Networking and Socializing, 6 pm. The Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning offers “First Fridays,” events for professionals to meet in a comfortable setting with music, refreshments and art. $5 with business card/$10 without. JCAL, 161-04 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica, www.jcal.org.

Jan. 3, The Grandmaster, 7 pm. Over three days, the Museum of the Moving Image presents six movies selected for its 2013 Curators’ Choice series. The Grandmaster follows the life of Bruce Lee’s mentor, Ip Man, through moments of major historical upheaval in China. MMI, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.

Jan. 4, Three Kings Celebration, 2 pm. The Latin American Cultural Center of Queens, guitarist David Galvez and violinist Romulo Benavides host a re-enactment of the Three Kings, who followed a star to a Bethlehem manger to see the newborn Jesus. They brought gifts symbolizing compassion, adoration and mortification. Free. Arrow Community Center, 35-30 35^th St., Astoria, 718-261-7664.

Jan. 4, Viola, 2 pm; Museum Hours, 3:30 pm. As part of the Museum of the Moving Image’s 2013 Curators’ Choice series, Argentine filmmaker Matías Piñeiro will participate in a Q&A via live video call following the screening of Viola, which tells the story of young actresses in an all-female production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Director Jen Cohen will appear in person for Museum Hours, which is about a Vienna museum guard who befriends an enigmatic visitor. MMI, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.

Jan. 5, Middle Eastern Music and Dance, 3 pm. The Sunday Concerts @ Central Series returns with Waleed Albakry performing classic and modern Middle Eastern music with the belly dancer Jordan. Free. Queens Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica, www.queenslibrary.org.

Jan. 5, Computer Chess, 2 pm; Leviathan, 5 pm; A Touch of Sin, 7 pm. The Museum of the Moving Image finishes its 2013 Curators’ Choice series with director Andrew Bujalski participating via live video call after a screening of Computer Chess, which depicts a group of chess software programmers who meet in a seedy motel for a weekend gaming tournament. Leviathan is a documentary set aboard a fishing vessel as it navigates the treacherous waves off New England, the waters that inspired Herman Melville to write Moby Dick. A Touch of Sin features vignettes dramatizing injustices experienced by the nation’s underprivileged workers (i.e. a mineworker confronts the apathy of his local politicians). MMI, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.

Jan. 8, Monthly Jazz Clinic & Jam, 5 pm to 10 pm. At 5 pm, individuals can learn more about jazz and play with the Queens Jazz OverGround. At 7 pm, musicians are invited to jam with QJOG and anybody else who shows up. $10 for spectators, free from performers and students. Flushing Town Hall, Flushing, 137-35 Northern Blvd., www.flushingtownhall.org.

The “It’s In Queens” column is produced by the Queens Tourism Council with the hope that readers will enjoy the borough’s wonderful attractions. More info at www.itsinqueens.com.

(Middle Island, NY) Assemblyman Edward Hennessey was proud to be invited to honor Longwood Jr. High School eighth-grader Laraib Sarwar as the first-place middle school winner of the 6^th annual Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest, sponsored by Cablevision and Olympusat.

Pictured left to right are Dr. Michael Lonergan, Superintendent of Longwood Central School District; Dr. Levi McIntyre, Principal of Longwood Jr. High School; Ms. Cassie Corkery, teacher; Laraib Sarwar, student; Assemblyman Edward Hennessey; Kristen Thurber, Cablevision Public Affairs; Ms. Roberta Zaccaria, Chairperson of Lote (Languages Other Than English) Department.

This year the essay required students to name a Latino, past or present, with whom they would choose to spend a day and explain why in 500 words or less. Ms. Sarwar wrote about singer and song writer Selena, who was named the top Latin artist of the 90s. Ms. Sarwar, as the first-place essay winner, was presented with a laptop computer courtesy of Cablevision and Olympusat.

(Farmingdale, NY) Total Body Boot Camp and Performance Center will host “Boot Camp for a Cause” to support the local non-profit organization, Angela’s House, on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 8 a.m. at the gym’s Farmingdale location. Angela’s House, based in Hauppauge, assists families caring for medically frail children either at home or in special homes that offer 24-hour nursing support.

Total Body’s “Boot Camp for a Cause” allows participants to make a donation to Angela’s House by purchasing Gold ($50), Silver ($30) or Bronze ($15) donation levels. Each donation level is associated with different offers for the participants to use towards a Total Body Boot Camp service. There will also be a 50/50 raffle the day of the event. All proceeds will go directly to Angela’s House.

During the hour-long event, there will be a 45-minute workout for those who donated to Angela’s House. Boot Camp for a Cause will take place at 127 E. Carmans Rd., Farmingdale. To register for this event, call (631) 225-7831 or visit www.lifitnessbootcamp.com. There will be an additional $5 charge will be added to the  donation amount if participants register the day of the event.

About Total Body Boot Camp and Performance Center
Total Body Boot Camp and Performance Center (TBBC) opened its first location in October 2010 in Farmingdale, NY. Owned and operated by Billy Hofacker, who has more than 15 years of personal training experience, TBBC has become a workout home for many Long Island residents.

Known its family atmosphere, TBBC provides both large team classes and small group classes. TBBC coaches clients to reach their goals and full potential. TBBC looks forward to opening a second location in Babylon, NY in January 2014.

(Long Island, NY) On Thursday December 26 at 3:21PM, Suffolk County EMS First Responder, Christine Hogan, answered a 911 emergency call for active maternity help. Christine’s over the phone instructions would prove vital in successfully bringing a bouncing baby girl into this world.

As delivery became eminent, Christine began to provide post-dispatch and pre-arrival instructions which included clearing the infant’s airway and tying off the umbilical cord. Christine answered the call with one patient, and quickly found herself with two. She smoothly transitioned to a multiple patient scenario while maintaining a professional demeanor throughout the entire call.

“Christine provided care for a Suffolk County resident, and her family, at a level consistent with both, the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch and the Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services,” said Commissioner Joseph Williams, Fire, Rescue, Emergency Services (FRES). “Christine should truly be commended for a job well done.”

Christine consistently remained calm and reassuring toward the caller as she assisted in the successful delivery of the newborn baby girl.  The Suffolk County Police Department along with the Brentwood Legion Ambulance arrived on scene post-delivery, to take over pre-hospital care of both the mother and her newborn.

“Our men and women of Emergency Medical Services in Suffolk County have consistently gone above and beyond to ensure the safety of our residents,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “I am proud of Christine’s unwavering composure and thank her for her commitment to serve the people of Suffolk County.”

(Central Islip, NY) ClearVision Optical delivered holiday happiness to EAC Network clients with their 4th Annual Angel Donations initiative. ClearVision’s Angel gifts provide presents and warm clothing to children who have been abused, and bring delight to those who now need the holiday spirit more than ever.

Pictured (l-r); AnnMarie Theologitis, Clearvision; Jennifer Trakhtenberg, Clearvision; Andrea Ramos-Topper; Regional Director of Children’s Services, EAC Network

ClearVision Optical’s talent management team delivered the gifts to EAC Network’s Suffolk County Child Advocacy Center at the Pat & Mary Bagnato Place for Kids in Central Islip. From there, EAC Network staff distributed the gifts to abused children across Long Island and the New York metro area.

ClearVision is committed to making each day better for someone else. That’s why they encourage employees to band together in an effort to make a positive difference in the lives of others. For more information about ClearVision visit www.cvoptical.com.

About EAC Network
EAC Network provides a broad array of educational, vocational, counseling, and criminal justice services. The organization’s 70 programs protect children, create opportunities for seniors, promote healthy families and communities, empower people through employment and education, and provide alternatives for people with substance abuse and mental health needs. For more information about EAC Network, please call (516) 539-0150 or visit www.eac-network.org.

(Smithtown, NY) Dr. James C. Marotta, Long Island dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon and leading hair restoration specialist, is proud to announce the addition of three of the newest multifunction laser treatments on the market to date – ProWave, Laser Genesis and Excel as part of the Xeo Platform.

Dr. James C. Marotta, Long Island dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon and leading hair restoration specialist

“These laser treatments are ideal for our office because each of my patients have individual and unique treatment needs, and these lasers are designed for all ethnicities,” said Marotta Facial Plastic Surgery owner, Dr. Marotta. “Whether it is deep wrinkles or a vascular issue, I can precisely select and control the parameters and customize each treatment.”

The new Laser Genesis is one of the first lasers that works effectively on a broad range of ethnically diverse patients. This device is a multi-purpose, all season, all skin type solution for overall skin health that utilizes laser technology to safely and effectively treat uneven skin texture, scars, large pores, and diffuse excessive redness. Laser Genesis is a comfortable, non-ablative, non-invasive form of facial rejuvenation for both men and women.

The ProWave laser treatment delivers a specially tailored light source for high-speed and permanent hair reduction. The FDA-approved hair removal system provides treatment for a wide range of skin and hair types – quickly and safely. Six months after the recommended 3 treatments, clinical studies showed that patients experienced more than 80% hair reduction.

The Excel is the first clinically effective long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser for both facial and lower extremity vascular lesions. The Excel works to safely and effectively treat patients’ discrete vessels, high pressure vessels and deep veins.

Marotta Facial Plastic Surgery in Long Island, NY is devoted to rejuvenating and enhancing your natural beauty using state-of-the-art surgical and non-surgical procedures for beautiful, natural results.

For more information on Dr. Marotta, Marotta Facial Plastic Surgery, and the new laser treatments listed above, please visit: www.marottamd.com.

(Long Island, NY) On December 24, 2013, The New York State Department of Labor released preliminary local area unemployment rates for November 2013, which are calculated following procedures prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s unemployment rate relies in part on the results of a telephone survey of 3,100 households (out of more than 7 million) in New York State.

The state’s private sector job count increased by 141,700 from November 2012 to November 2013. As reported last week, the state’s unemployment rate was 7.4% in November 2013. The economy added 4,300 private sector jobs in November 2013, bringing the state’s job count to a record high of 7,493,500.

The data in the table above are not seasonally adjusted, which means they reflect seasonal influences (e.g., holiday and summer hires). Therefore, the most valid comparisons with this type of data are year-to-year comparisons of the same month; for example, November 2012 versus November 2013.

Unemployment rate highlights in November 2013:

Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, for New York and every other state are based on statistical regression models specified by the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are the most up-to-date estimates of persons employed and unemployed by place of residence. Estimates are available for New York State, labor market regions, metropolitan areas, counties, and municipalities of at least 25,000.

See State and Area Unemployment Rates (opens in new window)
See Unemployment Rate Map (opens in new window)
See Jobs and Unemployment Fact Sheet (opens in new window)

(Sag Harbor) This Sunday, December 22, the tranquil Cormaria Retreat House in Sag Harbor opened its greenery festooned doors for the Ivy Breakfast, an annual fundraiser.  Families from all across the East End filled the spacious dining room and enjoyed holiday time at the majestic hilltop mansion overlooking the bay.

The house, originally built for California real estate developer Frank Havens, was completed in 1905 and still contains its original Tiffany Studios windows and elegant hardwood interior decor.

Santa welcomes everyone into the library

In 1943, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary established Cormaria as a finishing school for young Catholic women. In 1949, it was converted to a Retreat Center.

In 1960 an extension was added, providing 28 additional beds. After Vatican II, the Retreat House programs were broadened to include men as well as women. The Retreat House can now accommodate up to 72 retreatants.

Cormaria offers retreat services throughout the year, including directed and theme-based retreats, guided retreats, on-going spiritual direction, Day of Prayer, celebrations, weekend retreats for individuals in recovery, and retreats for professionals.

Over the past 10 years, three retreat houses on Long Island have closed. Cormaria, which is staffed by members of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, now offers eastern Long Island’s only Catholic retreat services expressing the mission of their community in a ministry of hospitality to all who spend time there.

Sister Ann Marino, her fellow sisters in the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary,  Carol Ahlers, Director of Development, chefs Bill De Petris and his grandson Eric Gilliam and a host of volunteers served up a delightfully festive family style breakfast which was a welcome break form the holiday hustle and bustle.

Billy DePetris, Eric Gilliam, Benedetta Deubel, Linda Lacchia & Pat Farrell

Pat Farrell, Claire & John Blodorn

The Joly Family, Jennifer, Evan & Luc with Sister Ann Marino

Jennifer, Evan & Luc Joly

Harry Bates & Gillian Kluge

Jim & Ann Marquardt

Tony Vargas, Producer of Hamptons-Mainstreet.com & Carol Ahlers from Cormaria

Maryann Calendrille, Sister Andrew & Kathryn Szoka

Denise & Renee Sabloski

Emily, Rachel, Jean & Chris Bishop

Jane & Joe Makowski, Bill & Ann Umstead & Gabe & Diane Schiavoni

Jax, Keith & Emmett Schumann

Barbara & Tim Mott

Harry, the Pug & Sister Catherine Browne

Chris Ambrose, Fiona Weatherell & Phyllis Kleinsmith

Ciara Weatherell

George, Pat Farrell & Gregg Cassin

Participants came from as far away as South Brooklyn and the North Bronx to compete.

(Long Island, NY) More than 50 participants, including members of Queensboro Tri, Alley Pond Striders, North Brooklyn Runners and Prospect Park Track Club, rambled through prime Queens real estate during the Toy Drive Forest Park 5 Miler on Sunday.

Organized by the newly formed nonprofit Queens Distance Runners, this first-ever fun run made loops through the park before finishing near Metropolitan Avenue. Ricardo Cauhizo won the men’s division in 28:11, while Blanca Lucero took women’s division honors in 34:46.

The event had a charitable aspect as well, as some joggers brought toy donations for the Queens Centers for Progress to distribute to needy children. Plus, a portion of the event’s proceeds went to the Queens Tourism Council. The next Queens Distance Runners event will be a 10-kilometer tag team race in Cunningham Park on Feb. 15, 2014.