(Long Island, NY) Before an audience of more than 300 supporters and local businesspeople, the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce named Senator Jack M. Martins (R-C-I, Mineola) its “Legislator of the Year” award at the organization’s 25th Annual Awards Gala held recently at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale, New York.

The event’s honorees represent a wide variety of Long Island sectors, everything from nonprofits to government and are selected in recognition of accomplishments that have impacted the Long island community. The ceremony was particularly meaningful as Senator Martins’ first-generation immigrant parents, Antonio and Gloria Martins, looked on from the audience. Among peers in the New York area construction industry, theirs is widely considered the epitome of the immigrant success story. Having come to the US from their native Portugal on the day following President Kennedy’s assassination, their persistence and dedication have become the calling cards of J&A Concrete, one of the area’s leading providers of foundation and superstructures.

“This prestigious award, given by such an esteemed organization, is a source of honor and pride for myself and for my entire family” said Senator Martins. “I’m humbled to have been acknowledged in this way because the immigrant story is my family story. If not for the courage and fortitude of my parents who left everything to start a new life in America, I would never have had the tremendous opportunities or impact I’ve had. This award is special validation for my parents’ sacrifice and the sacrifice of all immigrants who still believe in the American Dream.”

The Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1988. The organization holds monthly workshops and other meetings throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties to assist those who wish to start up a business as well as established proprietors who are working to expand their businesses. To date, approximately 300 independent businesses on Long Island belong to the LIHCC.

Award Recognizes New York State as First To Use Clean Water Funds to Combat Air Pollution and Increase Energy Efficiency in Homes

(New York, NY) The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York State Environmental Facilities Corp. (EFC) announced that the recent multi-million dollar bond issuance for energy efficiency financing has been recognized as “Deal of the Year for Small Issuer Financing,” by The Bond Buyer, a leading public finance publication.

The bond issuance represented a unique financing collaboration between the two State authorities and reflects Governor Cuomo’s strategic statewide plan to scale up clean energy through creative financing mechanisms, enhance New York’s competitiveness for clean energy businesses, and make the state’s energy systems more resilient.

NYSERDA’s $24.3 million bond issuance, completed last August, was backed by a guarantee through EFC’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF), the largest such fund in the nation, which provides AAA-rated financial assistance to local governments and public entities to finance clean water and drinking water projects. This marks the first time Clean Water funds were used to reduce air contaminants that contribute to water pollution.

The bond issue was also the first time NYSERDA has used revenue bonds to finance consumer loans for residential energy efficiency improvements issued through the Green Jobs-Green New York (GJGNY) program, which has a goal to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, support sustainable community development and create opportunities for green jobs.

Proceeds from the bond issuance are being used to replenish the $42.5 million GJGNY revolving loan fund. The EFC guarantee, along with a federal bond interest subsidy, enabled NYSERDA to offer $29.2 million for low interest rate loans to more than 3,200 consumers, pledged as repayment for the bonds. Some of the loans pledged for the bonds included loans using an on-bill recovery financing mechanism authorized by legislation signed by Governor Cuomo in August 2011.

“This bond issuance reflects Governor Cuomo’s strategy to leverage private sector financing opportunities to scale-up innovation and development and create a self-sustaining clean energy sector,” said Richard Kauffman, Chairman of Energy and Finance for the Cuomo Administration and chairman of NYSERDA. “This bond issuance was the initial endeavor, followed by the launch of the $1 billion New York Green Bank, to create a bold, new market-oriented approach to overcome market barriers that currently prevent the widespread flow of private capital into the clean energy economy.”

“In partnership with EFC, NYSERDA was able to offer revenue bonds to the market for energy efficiency projects for the first time. This is an innovative approach that other states can model,” said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, NYSERDA. “In addition, it is a precursor to the kinds of successful financial structures that New York State will launch through Governor Cuomo’s NY Green Bank initiative to drive private investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.”

EFC President and CEO Matthew Driscoll said, “EFC’s collaboration with NYSERDA was truly groundbreaking. For the first time ever, EFC used the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to guarantee the financing of a residential energy efficiency program. New York State is the first state in the nation to extend its authority under the Clean Water Act by linking clean energy, reduced air pollution and improved water quality in New York’s lakes, rivers and Long Island Sound. There is a clear relationship between air pollution and water quality, and now states across the country have a new way to finance the solution.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which approved the SRF financing, said, “New York is the first state ever to utilize the SRF to support initiatives that address atmospheric depositions that impact public health and pollute critically-important water bodies. These bonds were rated triple-A thanks to a guarantee from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation. NYSERDA will use the bond proceeds to finance consumer loans that will be used for the installation of residential energy efficiency improvements and Energy Star compliant products.”

Giving the bond sale a ‘Aaa’ rating, Moody’s Investor Services attributed its rating to EFC’s “strong financial position” and “strong program management and oversight, including sound underwriting standards and ongoing surveillance of program borrowers.”

Similar kinds of innovative financing are expected to be available through the NY Green Bank, which will address financing gaps that are now barriers to clean energy investment – a win for the economy, the environment and public health.

About NYSERDA
NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975. To learn more about NYSERDA’s programs and funding opportunities, visit nyserda.ny.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram.

(Kew Gardens, NY) The Queens Tourism Council on Monday announced the publication of Queens in Your Pocket, a jam-packed guide to the borough’s cultural, recreational and historical hot spots. Free copies are available to the public.

The 72-page handbook features photos of Queens scenes on the cover. Inside, the text provides detailed descriptions of museums, theaters, sports and entertainment venues, nature and public spaces and Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, where the borough’s most famous landmark, The Unisphere, makes its home.

Photo: Deputy Borough President Barry Grodenchik (second from left) received some of the first copies of Queens In Your Pocket at Queens Borough Hall last week. He is seen with (from left) QEDC Executive Director Seth Bornstein, the guidebook’s publisher Victoria Schneps and QTC Director Rob MacKay.

The unique reporting format lets readers know the inside scoop and main features of each venue, as well as its address, website and suggestions for things to do nearby. To add another local touch, Jessica Lau, an intern from Queens College, performed the graphic-design duties.

To receive a free copy in the mail, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with 86 cents in postage to QTC (120-55 Queens Blvd., Ste. 309, Kew Gardens, NY 11424). For more information, send an email to Rob MacKay at rmackay@queensny.org. Queens in Your Pocket is also available at the Borough President’s Office, the Redbird Tourist Information Center at Queens Boulevard and 82nd Avenue, and various hotels and attractions throughout Queens.

“We are pleased to support the Queens in Your Pocket guide through a grant by the NYC & Company Foundation,” said NYC & Company Foundation Executive Director Kelly Curtin. “Our foundation, in partnership with NYC & Company, works to increase visitation and awareness of the city’s arts and cultural treasures, including our dozens of members in Queens, through programs such as Culture Spot and Arts on Tour as well as through our website and information centers and other materials. The Queens in Your Pocket guide puts the rich cultural diversity of Queens at their fingertips in a way that is appealing to both New Yorkers and visitors alike.”

“Queens in Your Pocket is your roadmap to people and places that can help you discover all that our great county has to offer in entertainment, culture and epicurean delights,” Borough President Helen M. Marshall stated. “It doesn’t take up a lot of room. You can put it in your pocket, but it can unlock a whole new world for longtime residents and first time visitors alike.”

Assemblywoman Margaret Markey (D-30th District, Maspeth), who is chair of the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development, added: “Tourism is an important and growing sector of the economy in Queens, providing thousands of jobs and helping to support our many outstanding cultural resources. The wealth of attractions in Queens is amply reflected in this helpful guide that will be a valuable resource for both residents and visitors to our wonderful borough.”

“It was a distinct pleasure to work on this guide,” said Queens Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Seth Bornstein. “There are so many fun and enriching things to do in Queens, and it’s great to be able to share them with readers. Plus, there’s an authenticity to our home that tourists love, and borough is booming. Readers of the guide will never run out of fun and enriching things to do around here.”

Tom Gubitosi Gives Holiday Cheer and $20,000 Shopping Spree for 200 Children on Long Island

(Farmingdale, NY) Holiday cheer filled the air at Walmart in Farmingdale for 200 children as they eagerly shopped for their favorite holiday toys during the 14th Annual Marie and Michael Gubitosi Foundation Holiday Shopping Spree.

Pictured; Tom Gubitosi and some very happy shoppers.

Funded by longtime Farmingdale resident and EAC Network Board Member Thomas Gubitosi, the excited children got a chance to take a picture with Santa and then were given $100 to shop for everything, including action figures, Lego sets, Barbie dolls, video games and even electronics. Over 150 volunteers shopped with the children; some were child participates themselves from past years’ events.

The children are in the foster care system, have a parent who is battling substance abuse, or have a family struggling economically. The Foundation was established in honor of Mr. Gubitosi’s late mother and brother with the goal of helping needy children. “It is always such a special day for the children and the volunteers,” expressed Mr. Gubitosi, “I am the lucky one… it gives me so much pleasure to be able to do this for my mom, brother & family.”

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.

Agreement Means That Half Of All New Taxis Will Be Accessible Within Six Years; Schneiderman: This Agreement Is An Important Step To Ensuring Equal Access To Taxis For All New Yorkers

(NEW YORK) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today applauded New York City’s agreement to dramatically increase the number of accessible cabs. The agreement, which settles a class-action lawsuit brought by advocates for the disabled, means that half of the city’s 13,000 yellow cabs will be accessible to people with disabilities by 2020.

“This agreement is an important step to ensuring equal access to taxis for all New Yorkers, including those with disabilities. Its implementation would also meaningfully address issues under investigation by my office. Upon approval of the accessibility rule, which should not impose new burdens on riders or drivers, my office will consider the suspension of our investigation into taxi accessibility issues.”

Because only a fraction of medallion cabs are wheelchair accessible, Attorney General Schneiderman’s Civil Rights Bureau has been reviewing accessibility requirements under the Americans With Disabilities Act. The bureau sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation in relation to this investigation. The letter can be reviewed here.

Collins to Address School Officials, Parents, Coaches and Youth Agency Representatives on Issues Surrounding Performance Enhancing Drugs and Today’s Teen Athletes

(Mineola, NY) Rick Collins, the nation’s foremost legal authority on performance enhancing drugs and supplements, and anabolic steroid law, will be addressing the topic of teens and steroids at an important Long Island forum taking place on December 10th.  Collins will be a featured speaker at a very timely event on the importance of smart decision making in youth today, where he will be leading a workshop addressing the issues involved with anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs and teen athletes.

The conference, “Smart Decisions: Helping Youth Survive in Today’s World”, is being presented by the Long Island Youth Safety Coalition — the organization formed by Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice in response to the dangers facing teenagers today, and comprised of local school districts, youth groups, substance abuse treatment organizations and law enforcement agencies dedicated to keeping Long Island’s youth safe from destructive decision-making.  The Coalition offers periodic island-wide forums on critical topics and provides a forum for discussions and information exchange.  Collins previously spoke at the Coalition’s well-attended Sports Safety Conference held last April, and has been asked back due to the continued interest in his insight into the important topic of anabolic steroid law and performance enhancing drugs and teenagers.

As part of this important conference, Collins will be leading a session titled “Your Kids on Steroids” —  addressing an audience comprised of school officials, representatives from youth agencies, concerned parents and all who engage with youth.  His presentation will cover everything from an overview of anabolic steroids and dietary supplements to the prevalence, motivation, medical risks – and legal consequences – of teen anabolic steroid use and the issue of performance enhancing drugs in sports today.

The Smart Decisions Conference, which will take place on Tuesday, December 10th from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., is open to the public and geared for anyone who works with teens today, as well as parents interested in attending this important forum.  Registration information for the conference can be found at www.liyouthsafetycoalition.org.  The conference will be taking place at Hofstra University.

In addition to Collins’ presentation about teens and performance enhancing drugs, the conference will  feature a number of key presenters, workshops and resources to address important strategies to help today’s youth make the right decisions when it comes to critical issues, including cyber-bullying and Internet safety, distracted diving, and underage alcohol / prescription drug abuse, among other topics.  The conference will feature keynote speaker Judith Kaye, who served as Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals for 15 years, who will speak on her campaign for school reform.  In addition, the conference will feature a special Youth Panel comprised of youth leaders from the region to address a number of key issues facing teens, including substance abuse and cyber-bullying.

For more information about Rick Collins and Collins, McDonald and Gann, visit www.cmgesq.com.  For more information about the Smart Decisions Conference, or to register online, visit www.liyouthsafetycoalition.org.

(New York, NY) The New York State Board for Historic Preservation recommended the addition of 33 properties, resources and districts to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

“I applaud the owners and stewards of these historic properties for taking part in New York’s preservation efforts,” said Rose Harvey, Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. “Placing these landmarks on the State and National Registers of Historic Places is an important tool in their long-term survival and helps communities embrace their history and culture.”

State and National Register-listing can assist property owners in revitalizing the structures, making them eligible for various public preservation programs and services, such as matching state grants and state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits.

The State and National Registers are the official lists of buildings, structures, districts, landscapes, objects and sites significant in the history, architecture, archeology and culture of New York State and the nation. There are 90,000 historic buildings, structures and sites throughout the state listed on the National Register of Historic Places, individually or as components of historic districts. Property owners, municipalities and organizations from communities throughout the state sponsored the nominations.

Once the recommendations are approved by the state historic preservation officer, the properties are listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places and then nominated to the National Register of Historic Places, where they are reviewed and, once approved, entered on the National Register.

STATE REVIEW BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS

Albany County

The Albany Felt Company Complex, Menands – the well-preserved 1902 paper mill was home to the world’s leading maker of heavyweight industrial felt, critical to paper manufacturing at a time when most of the country’s paper was made in the region due to the proximity of wood sources in the Adirondack forests.

Building at 44 Central Avenue, Albany – built ca. 1817 at the intersection of two major overland transportation routes at a location known in the early 19th century as Robison’s Point, the commercial building functioned for more than a century as a grain and feed warehouse and store.

Bronx County

St. Anselm’s Roman Catholic Church Complex, Bronx – completed in 1917, this excellent example of an uncommon Byzantine style church building, with an attached parochial school, was modeled after the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul and built to serve a large German immigrant community.

Port Morris Ferry Bridges, Bronx – constructed in 1948 at the 134^th Street ferry terminal, the structures were used to hoist ferry boats in and out of the water to assist embarking and disembarking passengers, and built primarily to serve a jail, hospital and emergency veterans housing on Riker’s Island and North Brother Island.

Erie County

Houk Manufacturing Company, Buffalo – constructed between 1910 and 1930, the complex was the country’s first and largest manufactory for the large scale production of wire wheels for automobiles.

Franklin County

Northbrook Lodge, Paul Smiths – developed beginning in 1919 on Osgood Pond, the camp represents the wealth and prestige of its original owners, the McDougald family of Montreal, Canada, who like many others of their stature, developed seasonal properties in the Adirondack region in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Jefferson County

John Losee House, Watertown – built c.1828 for Revolutionary War veteran John Losee, the limestone house exemplifies the traditions of stone building construction in the Black River area.

Kings County

Crown Heights North Historic District, Brooklyn – the district boasts some of Brooklyn’s most vivid streetscapes, with distinctively designed and crafted rowhouses, townhouses, two-family houses, freestanding houses, flats, and apartment houses spanning from the mid-late 19th century to the early-mid 20th century.

Madison County

“Hilltop,” Dorothy Riester House and Studio, Cazenovia – constructed in 1959-60, the building incorporates elements of sculptor Dorothy Riester’s artistic background, including the sculptural concrete fireplace wall, textured barn board interior walls, and a sand cast wall with embossed patterns and imbedded trinkets.

Monroe County

Romanta T. Miller House, Wheatfield – built 1869-1870 for successful farmer, Civil War Veteran and town assessor Romanta Miller, the distinctive brick home was a statement of a family’s evolution from its pioneer beginnings in the early 19th century to that of wealthy estate owners by the turn of the 20th century.

New York County

The New York Bible Society Building, New York – constructed in 1920-1921 (now the Swedish Seaman’s Church), the neo-Gothic building was home to the second-oldest Bible society established in the United States, providing free Bibles to individuals living in and passing through New York and its harbor.

North Presbyterian Church, New York – the Gothic Revival style church was built in 1904-1905 to accommodate its original congregation in addition to the expected influx of new residents moving to Washington Heights with the completion of a new subway line.

Pioneer Schooner, Pier 16, New York – built in 1885 in Delaware to carry bulk cargos and commodities on the rivers and bays of the Mid-Atlantic, the Pioneer is the only surviving example of a small iron sloop or schooner in the United States.

South Village Historic District, New York – the row houses, tenements, industrial lofts, churches, and other buildings reflect the changing character of life in New York over a period of almost 150 years, since the first affluent Protestant families settled in the area’s newly constructed row houses in the early 19th century.

Niagara County

First Presbyterian Church, Niagara Falls – constructed in 1849, the late Gothic Revival church with Romanesque Revival features is the second oldest church and one of the oldest surviving buildings in Niagara Falls.

Onondaga County

Bellevue Country Club, Syracuse – this outstanding, intact example of a returning nines course, completed in 1916, was designed by renowned golf course architect Donald Ross, a Scotsman considered a master course designer from golf’s “Golden Age” of design.

Odd Fellows Lodge and Temple, Syracuse – built in 1887 by the Syracuse branch of the fraternal organization Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

South Salina Street Downtown Historic District Expansion, Syracuse – the nomination will expand the previously listed South Salina Street Downtown Historic District (2009) to encompass the commercial core of Syracuse during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Courier Building, Syracuse – built in 1844, it was a commercial building with public hall (Frazee Hall) where public gatherings were held, including an infamous speech by Daniel Webster in support of the Fugitive Slave Law; it also housed the Syracuse Courier newspaper, and the Syracuse Moose Club.

Ontario County

Geneva Downtown Historic District, Geneva – the historic commercial epicenter for Geneva was established in the late 19^th and early 20^th century close to the shore of Seneca Lake along the current Seneca, Exchange and Castle Streets, taking advantage of transportation routes offered by the network of canals connected to Seneca Lake.

Orange County

The New York, Ontario & Western Middletown Station, Middletown – built 1892-93 in the Richardsonian Romanesque style and augmented in 1904 and again in 1920, the building served as a passenger station for the O&W line, as well as the principal offices of the O&W Railroad.

Queens County

Rockaway Courthouse, Rockaway Beach – constructed in 1931 at a time of rapid development of Rockaway Beach, the high-style courthouse served as a local Municipal and Magistrate’s Court for thirty years, closing when New York City consolidated its courthouses in 1962.

Sohmer & Co. Piano Factory, Queens – completed in 1886, the German Romanesque Revival style factory was headquarters of an important piano producer that helped contribute to the popularity of pianos in the 19th and early 20th centuries and was part of the late 19th century industrial development of Long Island City.

Temple of Israel Synagogue, Rockaway Beach – built in 1921 to replace an earlier synagogue that was destroyed by fire, Temple of Israel served a robust Jewish community and is representative of the 20^th century shift in synagogue design throughout the region to the Classical Revival style.

Rensselaer County

Howard-Odmin-Sherman Farm, Pittstown – the 19^th century farmstead includes a house built in 1860 along with  a carriage barn, a grain house and another small outbuilding, a bank barn with 20^th century additions for a dairy herd, a two-story hen house, and a turkey coop, all surviving in an intact rural setting.

Troy Waste Manufacturing Co., Troy – constructed in 1908 as warehouse and office space for Troy Waste Company, one of the city’s leading “shoddy” companies, which processed rags or scraps of existing fabric in short loose fibers for the city’s textile industry.

Van Zandt, Jacobs & Company, Troy – built in 1896 at the height of the collar and cuff industry in Troy, the Romanesque Revival mill was occupied by textile companies for nearly a century.

Rockland County

Shadowcliff, Upper Nyack – this example of high-style Neoclassical residential architecture remains largely as built in 1921; since 1957 it has served as the headquarters of the American branch of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, an internationally recognized group established at the dawn of the First World War.

Saratoga County

Jonesville Cemetery, Clifton Park – the important example of a rural picturesque cemetery was designed in 1864 by Burton A. Thomas, a land surveyor, civil engineer and landscape architect credited with the design and layout of 25 cemeteries.

Schenectady County

Glenville District No. 5 Schoolhouse, Glenville – known as Green Corners School and built around 1825, the one-story, gable roofed building functioned as a public school for first through eighth grades until it closed in 1946, when enrollment declined due to the increase in centralized school districts.

First Unitarian Society Church, Schenectady – completed in 1961, the church is an exceptional example of modern architecture designed by nationally known architect Edward Durell Stone, and is notable for its central meeting space under a forty-foot dome.

Steuben County

Henry C. Myrtle House, Bath – designed in 1876-79 according to the elegant, artistic ideals favored by late 19th century Victorians, the Myrtle House is an intact representation of a rural working-class farmhouse in the popular Italianate style.

Martin Quick House, Bath – built in 1877-78 for Erie Railroad executive Martin Quick, the fashionable Italianate style residence is representative of the lifestyle of a member of the emerging white-collar professional class at the close of the 19th century.

DFS Approves Banks Headquartered in the North Country, Hudson Valley, and New York City to Convert from Federal to State Charter; 11 Banks Have Now Converted from Federal to State Regulation since Formation of DFS in 2011

(New York, NY) Benjamin M. Lawsky, Superintendent of Financial Services for the State of New York, today announced that the Department of Financial Services (DFS) has approved three additional banks to convert to New York State charters. With today’s announcement, a total of 11 banks will have converted from federal to state regulation since DFS’s formation in 2011.

The three banks that are converting to state charters as part of today’s announcement are Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association in the North Country, The Mahopac National Bank (whose new name will be Mahopac Bank) in the Hudson Valley, and Metropolitan National Bank (whose new name will be Metropolitan Commercial Bank) in New York City. The effective dates of all three conversions will be December 31, 2013.

Superintendent Lawsky said, “We are seeing an increasing number of banks covert to New York charters, which is a trend we expect to continue. As a state banking regulator, we are accessible, responsive, and familiar with the needs and local markets of New York’s community banks.”

Banks are able to choose to operate under federal or state charters. The banks converting to state charters had been regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

Additional information about the banks converting to state charters is included below.

Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association

Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association, founded in 1892 in Gouverneur, New York, serves a primary market area of southern St. Lawrence county and northern Jefferson and Lewis counties. The bank focuses on residential mortgage loans secured by one-to-four family residences. Its total assets are approximately $144 million.

Charles C. Van Vleet, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association, said: “The conversion of our charter to a New York State chartered savings and loan association is consistent with and promotes our community banking focus.”

The Mahopac National Bank

The Mahopac National Bank, founded in 1927 in Mahopac, New York, is a full service commercial bank that operates 15 banking offices in Putnam, Dutchess and Westchester counties.  The bank’s total assets are approximately $980 million.

Gerald Klein, President & CEO of The Mahopac National Bank, said: “We are excited to become a state chartered bank consistent with our affiliate banks, The Bank of Castile and Tompkins Trust Company. This move will allow for a more consolidated regulatory process and local focus which fits with our community bank model.”

Metropolitan National Bank

Metropolitan National Bank, established in New York City in 1999, engages in general lending and deposit activities, principally for middle-market businesses with annual revenues of $100 million or less and real estate entrepreneurs with a net worth of $5 million or more. The bank has total assets of approximately $625 million.

Mark R. DeFazio, President and CEO of Metropolitan National Bank, said: “Our Board of Directors has determined that the Bank’s conversion to a New York state-chartered commercial bank will best position the Bank in continuing to execute our business strategy and to compete in the New York market. The conversion process with the NYSDFS has been seamless. The NYSDFS has shown great enthusiasm and they are truly in touch with the nuances and opportunities of our market. We look forward to benefiting from the insight and oversight of two locally focused regulators. This is an exciting new chapter for the Bank, our customers, depositors and the communities we serve because it is consistent with and promotes our community banking focus.”

(Long Island, NY) On December 05, 2013, The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced the recipients of the 2013 New York State Historic Preservation Awards. Established in 1980, the State Historic Preservation Awards are given each year to honor excellence in the protection and rejuvenation of New York’s historic and cultural resources.

“The historic preservation awards recognize the efforts and achievements of individuals, organizations, and municipalities that make significant contributions to historic preservation efforts across the state,” State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said. “This year’s awards demonstrate the outstanding commitments, hard work, and strong partnerships that have made preservation an important tool for community renewal, economic development, and job growth in New York State.”

The awards were announced at a ceremony held in the visitor center at Peebles Island State Park in Waterford. This year’s award recipients include:

Buffalo Neighborhood Preservation Initiative

Thanks to the outstanding commitment of local residents, neighborhood organizations, and city officials, a group of Buffalo’s largest and most significant residential and commercial areas have been listed on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places, including the Allentown Historic District Expansion, portions of the Black Rock neighborhood, Elmwood Historic District West, the Hamlin Park Historic District, and the University Park Historic District. The nominations were initiated by dedicated local sponsors, including the Allentown Association, the Black Rock-Riverside Good Neighbors Planning Alliance, the Hamlin Park Community and Taxpayers’ Association, the St. John’s-Grace Episcopal Church and Richmond-Ashland National Register Historic District Initiative, the City of Buffalo, the State University at Buffalo, and Clinton Brown Company Architecture. The nonprofit organizations Preservation Buffalo Niagara and the Preservation League of New York State also played key roles in supporting these projects. This citywide initiative is one of the largest, most comprehensive historic resource identification and recognition efforts in Buffalo’s history and awards were presented to all those who contributed to these important projects.

USS SLATER and the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum, Albany

The USS SLATER is the only World War II era destroyer escort still afloat and has become one of the finest naval ship exhibits in the country, drawing thousands of visitors to Albany’s riverfront. Built in 1944, the Slater is a CANNON class destroyer escort that served in United States Navy during World War II. Decommissioned in 1947, the Slater was transferred to the Greek Navy in 1951 and used for training and patrols. It was deactivated in 1991 and threatened with disposal. Fortunately, the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association, a nationwide organization dedicated to recognizing the importance of destroyer escorts and those who served on them, came to the ship’s rescue. The Greek Navy donated the ship to the association, which raised money to bring it to New York and established the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum to take charge of its restoration. The project’s great success is a testament to the effectiveness of the museum as well as the commitment of its volunteers. In addition to being an educational asset, the Slater has become an important patriotic symbol, honoring all those who serve the country in the military, especially the United States Navy. The award recognizes Executive Director Tim Rizzuto and the dedicated members of the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum for their outstanding contribution to the restoration and interpretation of this nationally significant warship.

City Pier A and the Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority, New York City

The award recognizes the Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority for its outstanding contribution to rescuing and restoring City Pier A, the oldest surviving pier in New York City. The pier was originally constructed in the mid-1880s to house the city’s Department of Docks and the police department’s harbor force. Thanks to the authority’s remarkable leadership and with the expert oversight of its project team, including the architects at H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture, the pier has been rehabilitated and made ready for new and exciting uses. The project included extensive foundation repairs, exterior restoration, and interior renovations combined with the installation of new floors, an elevator and staircase, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. The completed work sets the stage for the next phase of the project. The authority has executed a lease agreement that will allow the building to be renovated, with the help of the federal historic preservation tax credit program, for restaurant and special event use, infusing this prominent landmark with new life and vitality. The authority has also transformed the pier’s riverfront deck into a spectacular public promenade, providing local residents and visitors access to one of lower Manhattan’s most scenic vantage points.

Rochester Free Academy, 13 South Fitzhugh Street, Rochester

The rehabilitation of the Rochester Free Academy building in downtown Rochester by George Traikos and his company, Fitzhugh Associates, has transformed a vacant and deteriorated historic property into a vibrant commercial and residential complex. Built in the early 1870s as the city’s first high school, the academy is a particularly fine example of High Victorian Gothic architecture. This remarkable rehabilitation project, which was assisted by the federal historic preservation tax credit program, has not only returned one of Rochester’s architectural gems to active use, but also represents significant private investment in revitalizing and rejuvenating the core of the city’s central business district. This high profile project promises to infuse new life and vitality into the surrounding neighborhood as well as stimulate further local redevelopment efforts. The award honors Mr. Traikos and his project team for revitalizing this distinctive local landmark for contemporary use.

Williamsburgh Savings Bank, 175 Broadway, Brooklyn

Built between 1870 and 1875, this well-known local landmark was designed by renowned New York City architect George B. Post in the grand Beaux Arts style and preserves one of the most monumental public spaces in New York City from the post-Civil War era. The soaring banking hall is a work of art, featuring rich materials, exquisite decoration, and the intricately painted interior of the building’s cast iron dome, which rises 110 feet above the floor. The award recognizes the outstanding vision, commitment and hard work of property owner and developer Juan Figuero, who has transformed the vacant and deteriorated landmark into a breathtaking, one-of-a-kind venue for special events. The multi-million dollar rehabilitation project, which combined private funds with federal historic preservation tax credits, included essential repairs as well as extensive restoration work. A small army of preservation experts and traditional crafts people worked together to return the building to its original grandeur—and the results are very impressive. The bank building’s rebirth is extraordinary and promises to stimulate revitalization efforts in the surrounding community.

Rock Island Lighthouse State Park, Fisher’s Landing, Thousand Islands Region

The first lighthouse on Rock Island was built in 1847 to help guide ships traveling through a narrow section of the St. Lawrence River. In the 1880s, a new iron lighthouse was constructed at the center of the island and a new keeper’s house was built. During the early 20th century, the tower was relocated to the water’s edge to improve visibility. The station closed in the 1950s after more than a century of service. In the 1970s, the property was transferred to the Thousand Islands State Parks Region and listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. During the 1980s, area residents Manny and Vicki Jerome led a local volunteer effort to maintain the lighthouse and, later, the Rock Island Lighthouse Historical and Memorial Association was established to help to preserve the property. This year, the Thousand Islands State Parks Region completed a comprehensive rehabilitation of the complex. The keeper’s house has been restored; its main floor features exhibits and the second floor has been refurbished for special events. The Rock Island Lighthouse State Park fully opened in June and a new Friends of Rock Island Lighthouse was established. The award recognizes all those involved in this remarkable project, including Manny and Vicki Jerome; Mark Wentling of the Rock Island Lighthouse Historical and Memorial Association; and Kevin Kieff, Regional Director of the Thousand Islands State Parks Region, and his dedicated staff, for their commitment to returning the lighthouse complex to its former glory and making it accessible to the public.

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 179 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by 60 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.

Proceeds from First AFTEE (All For The East End) Concert August 19, 2013 at Martha Clara Vineyard in Riverhead.

(Southampton, NY) All For The East End (AFTEE) and concert founding sponsor Bridgehampton National Bank(BNB) today presented checks to the Long Island Community Foundation, AFTEE East End Fund and to WPPB radio.

Kevin O’Connor, President and CEO of BNB, along with outgoing AFTEE president Myron Levine distributed proceeds from the AFTEE Presents Nile Rodgers Dance Party that was held this past summer on August 19, 2013 at Martha Clara Vineyard in Riverhead.  This sell out event had the goal of raising funds and awareness for the not-for-profit Community of the five East End, Long Island towns.  Nile Rodgers and Chic along with special guests AVICII and Adam Lambert had the crowd dancing in the fields.

L-R:  Claudia Pilato, BNB and AFTEE Executive Board; Kevin O’Connor, CEO, BNB; David Okhorn, Director, Long Island Community Foundation; Dr. Wally Smith, WPPB; Myron Levine, AFTEE Executive Board; Bob Edelman, Dan’s Papers and AFTEE Executive Board

AFTEE organizers said the concert raised over $70,000 with approximately $50,000 going directly into the LICF fund to be used for grant applications. $5,000 goes to WPPB Radio, as the founding non-profit organizing entity. A small amount of funding will be used towards planning next year’s event.   Additional funds are expected to be raised in the next few months from the auctioning of two guitars signed by the concert performers.  A third guitar, signed by both Roger Waters and Sting, as well as Nile Rodgers and his team, will also be part of the auction.  “We expect the guitars to contribute significantly to the fund,” said Jim During, AFTEE Executive Board Member.  That auction will take place early 2014.

“I consider the AFTEE concert a tremendous success, said David Okhorn, director of the Long Island Community Foundation. Especially for a first time event.  It is unusual for an event of this size and complexity to make any money in year one. The fact that AFTEE was able to produce an event that brought the community together, focused attention on the local non-profits, and at the same time seed the fund …that is quite an accomplishment.”

The LICF expects to begin accepting grant applications from not-for-profits in the five East End towns in the first quarter of 2014.  Currently, the application process is being put in place, an advisory board with representation from each of the five East End towns is being formed, and the information will be made available in the next 60 days on both the AFTEE and the LICF website.

Bonnie Grice, WPPB

AFTEE organizers have already begun planning for 2014.   “The success of projects like this are not possible without the generosity of sponsors,” commented Myron Levine. “ Our success today is directly attributable to the leap of faith they took on a brand new venture, and we thank them and hope they will join us again next year.”

In addition to Bridgehampton National Bank (BNB), the founding and presenting sponsor,  others included: Austin & Williams Advertising, Ben Krupinski Builders , Cablevision, Cook Maran & Associaties, Dan’s Papers, Martha Clara Vineyards, Norsic and Sons, Pure Insurance, Sothebys, Tate’s, Tanger Outlets and Weber + Grahn as well as  the Eastern Long Island Hospital Foundation, Peconic Bay Medical Foundation,  Riverhead Building Supply, the Long Island Community Foundation and  Southampton Hospital Foundation, the Suffolk Theater, Hamptons Event Management, Hamptons Creative Group, Southwest.com, CBS Interactive and media sponsors Hamptons.com, WALK Radio, Long Island Radio Group, Hamptons Magazine and Hamptons Real Estate Showcase.

ALL FOR THE EAST END is a 501(c)(3) non-profit establishment whose primary purpose is to raise awareness of the role not-for-profit organizations play in making the east end of Long Island one of the most desirable places to live in the world and to establish a fund of new money that they will have access to through a grant process.  The Long Island Community Foundation will manage and administer the disbursement of funds obtained through AFTEE’s efforts. There are over 1,075 registered 501(c)(3) organizations in the east end towns.