(Melville, NY) The Commercial Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island (CIBS) will host “Meet the Associates Annual Meeting & Award Presentations,” Thursday, November 7, 2013 at Carlyle at the Palace, 1600 Round Swamp Road, Plainview, NY, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The cocktail reception will include member and associate member networking and the presentation of industry-related recognition awards.

For reservations, please e-mail Christine Majid at cmajid@cibs-li.com. Admission is free for CIBS members and associate members and is $100.00 for non-member guests.

For more information, please visit www.CIBS-LI.com

Awarded Harry Chapin Food Bank with a $734,930 Grant to Continue Superstorm Sandy Recovery Efforts and Address Future Disaster Preparedness

(Long Island, NY) New York State has awarded Long Island Cares, Inc. – The Harry Chapin Food Bank with a $734,930 grant as part of a $200 million Superstorm Sandy Social Services Block Grant program aimed at supporting human service organizations, including food banks that are actively involved in disaster relief and recovery efforts.

The grant will enable the organization to expand freezer capacity in its warehouse by 9,000 additional cubic feet, construct a larger cooler, support two community-based assistance centers in Freeport and Lindenhurst and enable Long Island Cares to increase its inventory of non-food related products that families still need as they rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the 2012 storm.

The grant to Long Island Cares, Inc. will enable the organization to expand the freezer capacity in its warehouse by 9,000 additional cubic feet allowing the regional food bank to store more frozen products including meats, poultry, fish and other products in the event of a future crisis. In addition, the food bank will construct a larger cooler in order to refrigerate additional fresh produce, milk, other dairy products and more when needed. The grant will also support Long Island Cares’ two community-based assistance centers in Freeport and Lindenhurst, which continue to serve thousands of families recovering from Superstorm Sandy along Long Island’s south shore communities. Lastly, the funding received will enable Long Island Cares to increase its inventory of non-food related products that families still need as they rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the 2012 storm.

Long Island Cares, Inc. recently implemented Phase Two of its disaster recovery efforts by revisiting the more than 14,000 people that were assisted during the first year following Sandy. The additional funds provided through the social services block grant will insure that these services continue at least through the end of 2015 and perhaps further as a result of corporate and private donations that continue to be received.

Long Island Cares’ Executive Director Paule Pachter met with Governor Andrew Cuomo on October 16 to thank him for the additional support from New York State and described some of accomplishments that the organization has made in assisting local families and communities in need. “We’re extremely grateful to Governor Cuomo and the state legislature and the Department of Health and the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery for this additional support towards the work of the regional food bank,” said Pachter. “There are many wonderful organizations on Long Island that are also being supported through this state block grant and we look forward to collaborating with them as well because it’s all about helping people put their lives back together in a meaningful way.”

About Long Island Cares, Inc.
Long Island Cares, Inc. – The Harry Chapin Food Bank is Long Island’s first food bank: serving the hungry on Long Island since, 1980. Long Island Cares brings together all available resources for the benefit of the hungry on Long Island and provides emergency food where and when it is needed, and sponsors a wide variety of innovate direct service programs that help families achieve self-sufficiency. The organization was founded by the late singer, Grammy Award winning songwriter and social activist Harry Chapin in response to the growing issue of hunger on Long Island. It is continued today by his wife and partner Sandy Chapin, a dedicated Board of Directors and talented staff working out of their 35,000 square foot facility in Hauppauge and their storefront hunger assistance centers in Freeport and Lindenhurst. Long Island Cares is a member agency of the Food Bank Association of New York State and Feeding America. Long Island Cares, Inc. is recognized by the NYS Department of Health and the USDA as the regional food bank for Long Island.

(Rockville Centre, NY) Village of Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X Murray joined owner Lisa Nohs for the grand opening of Lockers4Laundry, a 24/7 dry clean and wash-and fold business.  The swipe-card and locker-based service allows customers to drop and pick up their laundry and shoes at any time.

Village of Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray and owner Lisa Nohs (centered) cut the ribbon on the new addition to the Villages downtown shopping area, Lockers4Laundry.

“I look forward to having Lockers4Laundry apart of our thriving downtown,” commented Mayor Murray.  “This new business offers our residents and visitors a new convenient technology-based laundry service.”

Customers gain access to the storefront kiosk, located at 270-A. Merrick Road in Rockville Centre, by first registering their credit card on the company’s website and swiping the card to unlock the front door, which is under 24-hour surveillance.

Customers can place an order with smartphones or an iPad mounted in the store, texting Locker4Laundry with the number of the locker where they leave their garments, or using the app of the store’s software provider, DropLocker. Customers who drop off clothes enter any four-digit code to lock the locker.  Once the laundry is completed and returned to the kiosk, customers receive an email and a text notifying them that their laundry is ready for pickup, as well as their new locker number and four-digit pin code. Each returned bag bears the customer’s name and a barcode.

Over $600 Worth in Fish Found in Restaurant

(Long Island, N.Y.) A Babylon pizzeria owner was served misdemeanor charges Sunday after he was caught by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) with 60 pounds of striped bass that he was illegally selling in his restaurant.

According to Captain Timothy Huss, on October 16, 2013, State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) ECOs began investigating an anonymous tip stating a village of Babylon resident and pizzeria owner was illegally selling striped bass. ECOs set up surveillance at the business of Mr. Frank Genovas to determine any validity to the tip. That evening, ECOs observed an employee at the pizzeria, Franchesco’s Pizzeria in Babylon, bringing a large striped bass into the restaurant from the back lot. ECOs proceeded to conduct an inspection of the restaurant and located three untagged striped bass in a cooler and 23 pounds of fillets in portion sizes located in a separate cooler. ECOs interviewed Mr. Genovas and employees regarding the origins of the fish and also noted the night’s special entrée was locally caught bass.

A total of 60 pounds of untagged striped bass worth more than $600 were seized by the ECOs and donated to Long Island Cares Charity.

“DEC establishes fishing limits and fish food laws to protect fish populations and ensure the food people are consuming is safe and sustainable,” said DEC Region 1 Regional Director Peter A. Scully. “When individuals overfish their recreational limit, they not only deplete the fishing stock, but take advantage of those commercial fishermen who play by the rules.”

Mr. Frank Genovas, 53, of Babylon was cited for four misdemeanor level commercialization charges including:

• Possessing untagged striped bass;
• Taking striped bass without a commercial striped bass permit;
• Failing to have a food fish license; and
• Possessing striped bass fillets in a retail establishment without maintaining the associated fish carcass.

Each charge carries a penalty of up to $5,000 and/or up to one year in jail.

Mr. Genovas is scheduled to appear at the 1st> District Court in Islip on Dec. 11, 2013.

All persons taking striped bass commercially are required to possess a commercial fishing license. Licensees are issued a limited number of tags and are required to file harvest reports for each fishing trip. This system allows DEC to account for the number of fish taken commercially and properly manage the species which has been threatened by low population numbers in the past.

Individuals spotting illegal activities are encouraged to call DEC’s Environmental Conservation Police at (631) 444-0250 during business hours, and 1-877-457-5680 or 1-800-TIPP-DEC at all other times to report suspected illegal activities.

(Long Island, N.Y.) Melville-based H2M architects + engineers is pleased to announce the launch of its new website at www.h2m.com.  Launched on October 28, the firm’s new home on the Web offers a contemporary look and a streamlined, user-friendly design.

The website is an improved resource for company information, news, and career opportunities and features quick and easy access to H2M’s blog and social media pages.  The enhanced and expanded “projects” section is a dynamic gallery of past work, featuring dozens of project histories with specifications and photos.  A new “sustainability” section highlights the firm’s green design efforts and offers information about sustainable design and LEED accreditation.

To see the new website, please visit www.h2m.com.

About H2M
H2M is a full-service consulting and design firm offering the expertise of more than 270 architects,  engineers (water supply, civil/site, structural, M/E/P, wastewater and environmental), planners, designers, inspectors, surveyors and scientists. H2M meets the challenges associated with buildings and infrastructure and has been serving various markets throughout Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut for 80 years. 

For more information, please visit www.h2m.com.

Plainview/Old Bethpage Library on November 12 (1pm to 3pm)

(Long Island, NY) “Statistics show that 34% of parents in the United States don’t know their child’s exact height, weight and eye color,” said Senator Kemp Hannon (R-Nassau). “When a child is reported missing, time can be the greatest adversary. Possessing up-to-date photos and important information about one’s child are important proactive measures a parent can take to assist law enforcement should a child disappear.”

To assist parents in this endeavor, Senator Hannon is proud to host the “Operation Safe Child” ID program at the Plainview/Old Bethpage Library on November 12, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, in conjunction with the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office. Families who participate will receive a free, walled-sized ID card containing a child’s name, biographical information (date of birth, age, gender, height, weight, hair and eye color) and a fingerprint image of both index fingers.

“The card is created in under two minutes,” said Hannon. “It can be carried in a wallet or purse.”

Interested parents can also choose to store the fingerprints, basic biographical information and photos of children – this information may be critical in the event of a lost or missing child. The storage of the information is entirely voluntary and requires the express written consent of a parent legal guardian.

Should the parent wish to share the information, it would be digitally recorded and stored in a state database; in the event the NYS DCJS (the agency which stores the information) receives a missing child report, the fingerprints of that child could then be used to help in the return of the missing child.

For more information, please call Senator Hannon’s Community Office at 516-739-1700, or E-mail Senator Hannon at hannon@nysenate.gov.

(New York, NY) The NAACP today condemned a federal appeals court for granting a stay that will block implementation of changes to New York City’s stop-and-frisk program, and also for removing Judge Schira Scheindlin from the case.

NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous:

’Stop-and-frisk’ policing is nothing less than the largest racial profiling program in the country, and Judge Scheindlin was right to rule it unconstitutional. No matter the outcome of this appeal, the people of New York City have already voted to reform the program despite the best efforts of Mayor Bloomberg. Legalized racial profiling has been discredited and will ultimately be relegated to the dustbin of history.”

NAACP Criminal Justice Director Dr. Niaz Kasravi:

“This is a disappointing roadblock in the effort to fight profiling on New York City’s streets. Judge Scheindlin’s decision responded to vast amounts of evidence that the NYPD profiled based on race, ethnicity, LGBT-status, and faith. We will continue to fight until we end bias-based policing in New York City and across the country.”

New York NAACP and New York City NAACP President Hazel Dukes:

“Communities of color across New York City have been discriminated by law enforcement for far too long. We have fought too long and too hard to stop fighting now. We will continue to demand protections for our civil and human rights.”

Earlier this summer, in Floyd, et al. v. City of New York, et al, Judge Schiendlin ruled that the NYPD violated the Constitution in the way it carried out its program of stopping and questioning people. She assigned a federal monitor to help the police department change its policy and training program.

In August, the New York City Council voted to override Mayor Bloomberg’s veto of the Community Safety Act, a bundle of legislation that bans racial and religious profiling, establishes an NYPD Inspector General Office, and provides greater protection against unlawful search and seizure.

New York City appealed the case, and this afternoon the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it would stay the decision, as well as Judge Scheindlin’s remedies.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities.  You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our five “Game Changer” issue areas here.

Silvia Kuper Required To Make Full Restitution, Resign Her Position As Head Of Non-Profit School And Accepts Bar Against Any Future Service As Director Or Officer Of A New York Nonprofit  Schneiderman: My Office Has Zero Tolerance For Nonprofit Executives Who Abuse Their Position For Personal Gain

(New York, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that his office has obtained a $240,000 agreement to resolve its investigation into self-dealing by Silvia Kuper, the Executive Director and a member of the board of directors of Therapy and Learning Center, Inc.  The Attorney General’s investigation into the Brooklyn not-for-profit corporation, which provides pre-school and early intervention services for special needs and non-special needs children, found that Kuper used $220,000 in school funds to pay for online personal counseling services and exorbitant leases on a series of luxury Audi A-8 sedans registered in her name. The total amount to be paid by Kuper includes full restitution of the $220,000 in improper charges and $20,ooo to defray the costs of the Attorney General’s investigation.

“It’s sad any time my office finds evidence of self-dealing by those who work in and lead New York’s important not-for-profit sector organizations. But charging personal expenses on the backs of children, particularly those with disabilities, is beyond the pale,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “Ms. Kuper will be required to repay hundreds of thousands in charitable dollars she stole for herself, and she’ll be permanently barred from running any New York charity – whether a school or any other organization that serves New Yorkers.”

The settlement requires Kuper, 53, of Manhattan, to resign her positions as the Executive Director and a board member of TLC, which enrolls approximately 140 students and employs 75 staff members, and bars her from any future service as an officer or director of any New York not-for-profit organization. Pursuant to the settlement, TLC will reconstitute its board of directors and, in coordination with the State Department of Education, adopt additional governance reforms and strengthen its internal controls.

Attorney General Schneiderman’s Charities Bureau found that, from 2007 to 2010, Kuper, who oversaw the charity’s finances, used TLC’s corporate American Express card to charge over $130,000 in fees at several websites that provided her with personal counseling services which had no legitimate business purpose. With her knowledge, these services were paid for from the organization’s checking account.

The investigation also determined that, between 2007 and 2012, Kuper leased a series of Audi A8 4.2 Quattro sedans in her name and made lease payments of approximately $1,300 per month, all with organization funds. Although Kuper was authorized to lease a car by TLC’s board, she abused that authority by leasing an unreasonably expensive car entirely inappropriate for the head of a state-funded not-for-profit preschool – and to the detriment of the school. The leases resulted in the wasting of $90,000 in the pre-school’s funds.

By engaging in this conduct, the investigation found, Kuper misused her position as an officer and director of TLC to benefit herself at the expense of the organization, breached her fiduciary duties to TLC, and violated New York State law by failing to properly administer charitable assets.

Under the $240,000 settlement, Kuper will pay $220,000 in restitution and $20,000 to defray the costs of the Attorney General’s investigation.  Of the restitution fund, $77,000 will be held in escrow pending a determination by the State and City Departments of Education whether either agency was overbilled by TLC as a result of Kuper’s improper expenditures.

The investigation of this matter was conducted by Assistant Attorney General Michael Torrisi under the supervision of Charities Bureau Enforcement Section Chief David Nachman, Executive Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice Alvin Bragg and First Deputy for Affirmative Litigation Janet Sabel.

(Greenport, NY) The Auxiliary at Eastern Long Island Hospital has earned the prestigious distinction of Auxiliary of the Year. The award, presented by the Health Care Association of New York State (HANYS), recognizes auxiliaries statewide for outstanding achievement and community service.

Auxilians Showcase the “Auxiliary of the Year” Award at the Annual Afternoon Tea   Pictured (l-r): Paul J. Connor III, President/CEO; Thomas E. Murray Jr., Chairman Board of Trustees; Helen Latham, Auxiliary President; Dora DiFrancesco; Helene Fall, Second Vice President; Toni DeMeo, Volunteer Services, Chair; Alice Roggie, First Vice President; Biricim Miller and Connie Connor, TWIGS, Chair.

Raising over $350,000 for patient services at year’s end, the ELIH Auxiliary continues to enrich the lives of others.  These dedicated men and women are the first to lend a hand at health screenings, blood drives and flu shot clinics.  In addition to transporting patients, aiding visitors and assisting clerical staff, ELIH Auxilians are equally committed to advocacy, keeping local, state, and federal officials informed with timely letter writing campaigns.

“The ELIH Auxiliary’s dedication is so inspiring,” notes Thomas J. Murray, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Trustees. “Recent initiatives have included a car seat identification program for new mothers and grandmothers as well as participation in the local Farmer’s Market helping to share information about health and nutrition.”

HANYS established the Auxiliary of the Year Award to recognize the many ways that auxiliaries strengthen New York’s health care system. They serve as valuable links between their communities and the facilities they serve.  Eastern Long Island Hospital is proud to pay tribute to all of the volunteers and auxilians who devote their time and talents to their community hospital.

(Long Island, NY) The Art League of Long Island is hosting a free Cabaret Concert for the Holidays on Saturday, December 21 at 8:00pm.  Great musical entertainment, wine, cheese, and holiday cheer will be served up in the Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery, featuring the instrumentation and vocals of Janice Buckner with Ben Boecker on backup keyboard.

Janice Bucker is an interpretive stylist and songwriter offering a festive cabaret celebration of song.  She is known for her exceptional voice, her musical creativity, and the outstanding quality of her voice. From ballads, blues and Broadway to original pieces, Janice accompanies herself on acoustic and electric guitars, and acoustic and electric basses.

Janice began her career as a balladeer in England and traveled through Europe and Greece, returning to the states as an interpretive stylist and songwriter. She toured throughout the United States and abroad with performance highlights including two European tours, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the QE II Ocean Liner, the Reichold Center for the Performing Arts in the Virgin Islands, the Whitney Museum and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Janice studied songwriting with Holly Near, improvisational singing with Bobby McFerrin, music improvisation with David Darling (cellist, Music for People & Paul Winter Consort), Sign Language with Bernard Bragg (co-founder National Theatre of the Deaf) and drumming with Olitunji.

Ben Boecker, an accomplished baritone, musical/director, composer, and lyricist has studied voice for nine years with Metropolitan Tenor Anthony Dean Griffey, pioneering voice scientist Jeanette LoVetri (the founder of Somatic Voicework and the Voice Workshop), Matt Shepherd Smith (NYU), and Ron Meixsell (Long Island Vocal Guru). He works frequently with schools and community theaters in NY and on Long Island. Ben most recently made his equity debut as a music director with Open Hydrant’s “Dani Girl” in October, and will next be working with Valley Stream Central High School on their production of “Godspell!”   As a singer, Ben most recently appeared at the TADA Performing Arts Center in New York City—with “Ex*rcise This: The Musical.”  He has performed on Broadway in the chorus of the Irish Repertory’s Gala Benefit of Camelot, and off-Broadway as a soloist in the World Premiere of Philip Springer’s “Trunk Songs.”

The event is free and open to the general public.  The Art League is located at 107 East Deer Park Road in Dix Hills.  For more information call (631) 462-5400 or visit www.artleagueli.org.