(NEW YORK, N.Y.) Awareness for Autism is looking to further educate through a live Rock Concert fun filled family day. Appearing will be guest speakers, elected public officials, a speaker from Autism Speaks and more.

A portion of the funds raised will be donated to Autism Speaks.

July 20th 2013 event.

BRING YOUR FAMILY OUT TO ENJOY A DAY AT THE PARK. THERE WILL BE A LIVE PERFORMANCE BY ROCK STAR URICA ROSE.
IT IS A FREE EVENT, SO PLEASE COME OUT AND ENJOY THE CONCERT!

Music by DJ SUAVE LUCIANO, Dancers, and don’t miss the fashion show of the hottest 2014 trends by AMBONISYE.

The event will take place at Forest Park in Woodhaven, Queens in the bandshell.

A portion of funds raised will be donated to Autism Speaks. Please help us further spread the awareness.
Press inquiries / credentials contact : kanderson617@gmail.com (subject line Press 7/20/2013)

About Autism
Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders – autism spectrum disorders – caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by communication difficulties, social and behavioral challenges, as well as repetitive behaviors. An estimated one in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum – a 78 percent increase in six years that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis.

About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed more than $195 million to research and developing innovative resources for families. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 100 cities across North America. On the global front, Autism Speaks has established partnerships and related activities in more than 40 countries on five continents to foster international research, services and awareness.

To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit AutismSpeaks.org.

Press Inquiries /Credentials : kanderson617@gmail.com
Fax: 516 717 3377

Comptroller Uses Government Office to Play Politics

(Long Island, NY) Former Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman responded to a baseless attack by current Comptroller George Maragos over the county’s living wage law. Weitzman helped pass the county’s first living wage law and has received the endorsement of most major labor unions and the Working Families Party, in part for his support for working class families in Nassau County.

“This is another shameful attempt by George Maragos to deceive the public and distract from his failure to protect Nassau County’s taxpayers,” said Weitzman. “George Maragos should spend less time launching petty, partisan political attacks from his official government office and spend more time explaining to taxpayers why the county’s bond ratings have been repeatedly downgraded on his watch.”

About Howard Weitzman, CPA
In 2001, Howard Weitzman became the only CPA ever elected to the office of Nassau County Comptroller after a 30 year career as a healthcare financial executive. He was subsequently re-elected to a second term in 2005. During his eight years as Comptroller, Howard Weitzman played a central role in the financial rescue of Nassau County. Under Howard’s leadership, the office of Comptroller became a national model for transparency and accountability while at the same time developing a reputation for groundbreaking audits, independence and integrity. A graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School and Queens College, Howard is the former Mayor of Great Neck Estates, where he and his wife resided for 35 years and raised three children. He is currently a resident of North Hills.

The Small Business Assistance Program and S.J. Edwards, Inc. set to present Health Care Seminars for Small Businesses

(Freeport, New York) The Small Business Assistance Program and S.J. Edwards, Inc. will be presenting two seminars entitled – “Health Care Reform/The Affordable Care Act and the Impact on Small Businesses”.

The Seminars will be held at the Freeport Recreation Center 130 Merrick Road, Freeport, New York 11550.

Date: Wednesday, June 19,
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (Breakfast Included)

Date: Wednesday, July 24th
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Attendees will be able to get answers to question like – Can I find affordable health insurance for my small business? Can federal health reform help reduce my business health insurance cost? What are my rights and responsibilities as an employer? Other topics include: TAX CREDITS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT OFFER HEALTH INSURANCE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES** A SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH OPTIONS PROGRAM (SHOP) EXCHANGE**

**These provisions of the Affordable Care Act are estimated to save New York small businesses 5-22 percent in health care costs

Call Bonita Clark at (888) 512-7175 RSVP Today! SPACE IS LIMITED!
Fax to Bonita Clark at (516) 706-0293 or Call (888) 512-7175
E-mail address: bonita.clark@sjedwards.com

For more information and complete registration details you may email us at bonita.clark@sjedwards.com call us at 516.706.0293

(New York, NY) In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, record drought in many states, and wildfires in Colorado, Pres. Obama has announced he will unveil a climate action plan on Tuesday designed to cut the carbon pollution fueling global warming and advance clean energy solutions. Environment New York and many other organizations applauded the announcement.

“New York is already paying a price as global warming fuels more damaging storms and dangerous heat waves,” said Eric Whalen, field organizer with Environment New York. “Protecting our children from even more devastating consequences requires bold leadership. President Obama realizes this and we hope his plan will truly begin to safeguard our children’s future.”

One aspect of the plan that Environment New York and others will be watching closely is how it addresses carbon pollution from power plants. Despite being the largest sources of the carbon pollution fueling global warming, power plants have no federal limits on the amount of carbon pollution they can spew into our air. The president’s plan could take a pivotal step toward changing that.

“President Obama’s climate plan should clean up the largest global warming polluters and advance clean energy solutions, to help protect New Yorkers and future generations from more severe weather and other consequences of global warming,” said Whalen. “In addition to cleaning up carbon pollution from power plants, we will look for the president’s plan to advance energy efficiency measures and expand renewable energy—two critical steps toward getting the nation on track to a truly clean energy future.”

New Yorkers have voiced support for Pres. Obama’s action, and more than 3.2 million Americans submitted public comments last year in support of the president setting limits on carbon pollution from power plants. Numerous organizations and opinion leaders from New York have spoken out in support as well, including Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

Left unchecked, global warming is likely to result in everything from more intense storms to more unhealthy air days here in New York. Scientists have warned that time is short to make the necessary cuts in carbon pollution to protect future generations from the worst consequences of global warming.

Cities and states across the country have been successfully implementing climate action plans and renewable energy solutions. For example, Governor Andrew Cuomo recently strengthened New York’s leading global warming program, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). These programs have helped cut carbon pollution, and paved the way for Tuesday’s plan for federal action from Pres. Obama.

“Environment New York, and our thousands of members and supporters stand ready to assist the president in taking ambitious steps to cut global warming pollution,” concluded Whalen.

Environment New York is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization. Our professional staff combines independent research, practical ideas, and tough-minded advocacy to overcome the opposition of powerful special interests and win real results for New York’s environment. As part of Environment America, we fight to protect our air, water, and open spaces here in New York, in state capitals across the country, and in Washington, D.C.

(Hauppauge, NY) The Empire State Carpenters Apprenticeship Committee (Zone 12) will conduct a recruitment from July 2, 2013 through July 1, 2014 for five carpenter apprentices, State Labor Commissioner Peter M. Rivera announced today.

Applications must be obtained and submitted in person at the Empire State Carpenters Apprenticeship Committee, Carpenters Training Center, 270 Motor Parkway (2nd ramp), Hauppauge, NY, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, excluding legal holidays, during the recruitment period.

The Committee requires that applicants:

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must be a high school graduate or have a General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.) – must provide transcripts of courses and grades prior to indenture.
• Must sign an affidavit stating he/she has the physical ability to perform the work required of a carpenter, which includes:
  • Constructing, erecting, installing, and repairing structures and fixtures of wood, plywood, and wallboard using carpenters’ hand tools and power tools.
  • Following established safety rules and regulations, and maintaining a safe and clean environment.
  • Shaping or cutting materials to specified measurements using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
  • Assembling and fastening materials to make framework or props using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins, or glue.
  • Building or repairing cabinets, doors, frameworks, floors, and other wooden fixtures used in buildings, using woodworking machines, carpenters’ hand tools, and power tools.
  • Erecting scaffolding and ladders for assembling structures above ground level.
  • Installing structures and fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, trim, and hardware, using carpenters’ hand and power tools.
  • Working on scaffolds and in confined spaces.
  • Working under conditions of inclement weather: rain, snow, cold, heat, direct sunlight.
  • Performing constant repetitive motions.
  • Climbing and working from heights.
  • Lifting items over 50 pounds.
  • Standing and stooping for prolonged periods of time.
• Must be a resident of Nassau or Suffolk counties for at least six months.
• Must have a driver’s license and/or reliable means of transportation to and from various job sites and related instruction.
• Must be prepared to take a math and measurement computation test at the time of application.  If an applicant should not pass the entrance test, it does not disqualify him/her from consideration.
• Must join the union and be willing to sign and comply with an Indenture Agreement, if accepted into the program.
• Must be willing to attend related instruction for one-week periods (once per year for four years) at an Empire State Carpenters Regional Training Facility.
• Must pass a post-offer drug test, paid for by the sponsor.  If applicant tests positive, he/she cannot reapply for one year.
• Must provide military transfer card or discharge form DD-214, if applicable.
• Must participate in an interview, if eligible.

For further information, applicants should contact their nearest New York State Department of Labor office or the Empire State Carpenters Apprenticeship Committee at (631) 952-9555.

Apprentice programs registered with the Department of Labor must meet standards established by the Commissioner.  Under state law, sponsors of programs cannot discriminate against applicants because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or marital status.  Women and minorities are encouraged to submit applications for apprenticeship programs.  Sponsors of programs are required to adopt affirmative action plans for the recruitment of women and minorities.        

Comptroller George Maragos requests updated legal opinion to determine if County employees are being treated fairly

(Mineola, NY) Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos received a notice from the President of the County’s largest union (CSEA local 830) indicating that the Living Wage policy, established under the Suozzi and Weitzman administration in 2007, is “hypocritical and potentially illegal.” Comptroller Maragos has asked for an updated legal opinion to determine if the affected part-time and seasonal employees deserve the Benefits Supplement Rate.

The CSEA pointed to the fact that the current Living Wage Law requires County vendors to pay their employees a minimum hourly rate plus a benefits supplement rate if no health insurance is provided. Under the Suozzi-Weitzman Administration, however, the policy exempted County part-time and seasonal employees from the provision of the Living Wage Law due to the CSEA’s collective bargaining agreement.

As of August 1, 2012 the Living Wage is $14.91 an hour without benefits or $13.11 with health benefits. Payroll records show 591 County employees are currently paid $13.11 an hour and do not receive health benefits due to the legal opinion from 2007 that interprets the law as exempting part-time and seasonal County employees.

“The prior administration determined that County part-time and seasonal employees were exempt from the Living Wage Law and thus could be denied the same minimum wage rates as private employees working under County Contracts,” Comptroller Maragos said. “My office has the responsibility to enforce the Living Wage Law equitably by conducting periodic audits of vendors and I understand the CSEA concerns.”

In keeping with his commitment to ensure that the Living Wage Law is fairly enforced, Comptroller Maragos has requested an updated opinion from the current County Attorney as to whether the County part-time and seasonal employees should continue to be exempt.

Connect with Nassau County Comptroller Maragos Online: http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Comptroller/index.html

(Rockville Centre, NY) — Patrick M. O’Shaughnessy, DO, MBA, FACEP, CHCQM, has been appointed senior vice president for medical affairs and chief medical officer (CMO) for Catholic Health Services (CHS).  Beginning in 2006, Dr. O’Shaughnessy served as assistant director of emergency medicine for St. Charles.  Later, he became director of emergency medicine for St. Catherine of Siena, eventually being promoted to CMO for the Smithtown hospital.

Patrick M. O’Shaughnessy, DO, MBA, FACEP, CHCQM,

“Dr. O’Shaughnessy brings a solid background in health care,” said President and CEO Alan Guerci, MD.  “His experience in electronic medical records, physician hospital organizations and clinical service line development will be invaluable.”

Prior to joining CHS, Dr. O’Shaughnessy held physician and faculty appointments at Beth Israel Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Hackensack University Medical Center and The Valley Hospital in New Jersey.  He earned his medical degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and his master’s in business administration, with honors, from Adelphi University.  Dr. O’Shaughnessy is board certified in emergency medicine and health care quality and management.

Dr. O’Shaughnessy was a physician member of the Suffolk County Heroin and Opiate Task Force, which developed policies to stem drug abuse and monitor prescription opiate abuse in the county. A stout believer in education; he developed an informative EMS educational series for local EMS providers to help educate on best practice pre-hospital guidelines.

He lives in St. James with his wife, Mia, and daughter, Brooke.

Catholic Health Services is comprised of six hospitals, three nursing homes, a regional home care and hospice network, and a community based agency for persons with special needs.  Almost 17,500 employees and 4,600 credentialed physicians work within the CHS system.

Weekend a chance for kids of all ages to enjoy Long Island’s great fishing

(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,WF,I-Huntington Station) is reminding residents that the upcoming weekend, June 29-30, is free fishing weekend in New York State. During the weekend, anglers of all ages may fish without a license in any of New York’s fresh water lakes, rivers and streams.

“The free fishing weekend is chance to grow the sport of fishing and attract non-anglers to this exciting hobby,” said Lupinacci. “Our local waterways are home to incredible fish, from the striped bass to fluke, you never know what you’ll catch in New York’s waters. Hopefully this will be used as an opportunity to inspire the next generation of anglers to get out there and enjoy the tremendous resources we are surrounded by each day.”

The free fishing weekend started in 1991 to allow all people the opportunity to sample the incredible fishing New York State has to offer. Visit the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) “Places to Fish” webpagesfor ideas about where to fish. For more information on free fishing weekend and fishing licenses in New York, visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6091.html.

Schneiderman: In The Absence Of Action By The IRS, My Office Is Ensuring New York’s Political Nonprofits Will No Longer Operate In The Shadows

(NEW YORK) – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today published an op-ed in the Albany Times Union on the growing need to address the proliferation of shadowy, tax-exempt groups serving as vehicles for unlimited and anonymous election spending, also known as “dark money.” The op-ed also discusses Attorney General Schneiderman’s recent adoption of new disclosure requirements for nonprofits registered in New York that spend on elections. The following are excerpts of the article:

ON THE IRS: The scandal embroiling the Internal Revenue Service — involving impropriety and outright abuse of power in its regulation of nonprofits — goes beyond targeting conservative-leaning groups based on crude word searches. It runs counter to the law for the IRS to allow any “social welfare” organization — right, left or center — to spend funds for partisan political purposes, at all.

ON THE TRUE PURPOSE OF 501(c)4 NONPROFITS: The only reason for a wealthy individual or corporation to spend money on elections through a nonprofit front group, instead of a Super PAC, is to take advantage of the fact that nonprofits can conceal their donors.

ON NEW YORK’S NEW CHARITY DISCLOSURE REGULATIONS: After seeing the growth of 501(c)(4) political spending in New York, my office proposed new regulations to require nonprofits that spend more than $10,000 on state and local elections to disclose who funds these efforts and how they spend the money. After a lengthy review process, the new rules went into effect in New York. Many other states — including a number of key electoral battlegrounds — have laws on the books that give regulators the authority to enact similar disclosure requirements.

ON ENCOURAGING ACTION BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: While we cannot control spending in federal campaigns we can, for example, ensure that New Yorkers will know who is paying for attack ads in this year’s mayoral campaign and next year’s race for governor. State action will also expose the scope of the problem of dark money in campaigns, adding to pressure on Congress and the IRS to take action.

The full op-ed by Attorney General Schneiderman can be read here.

A.G. Schneiderman: States Have A Compelling Interest In Promoting Diversity At Their Institutions Of Higher Learning

(WASHINGTON) – The Supreme Court issued a 7-1 ruling today in the case of Fisher v. University of Texas, which vacates the decision of the Fifth Circuit upholding the University of Texas at Austin’s (UT) race-conscious undergraduate admissions policy.

The following statement may be attributed to Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General of the State of New York, regarding the decision:

“We are pleased that today’s decision preserves the vital principle that fostering racial diversity in education is a compelling interest critical to the future of the States and our Nation. While we are disappointed the Supreme Court did not affirm the Fifth Circuit’s decision, we are also pleased that the Supreme Court confirmed that courts should defer to a university’s judgment on the educational benefits of a diverse environment, and made clear that a university need not exhaust other alternatives before considering race in admissions.”

The Court has sent the case back to the Fifth Circuit to determine whether the means UT has chosen to achieve diversity—a combination of a plan that automatically admits the top ten percent of graduating high school students in the State and considers race as one of many factors in admitting other students—satisfies strict judicial scrutiny. The Court’s decision leaves for another day questions about the range of admissions programs designed to achieve racial diversity through means different from UT’s that may be permissible under the Equal Protection Clause.

This past January, Attorney General Schneiderman submitted a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of a bipartisan coalition of 14 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The brief urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the UT Top Ten Percent Law and outlined the important and compelling state interest in achieving the educational benefits of diversity. The brief also noted that the Constitution permits them to consider race as one factor among many in developing admissions policies that foster a diverse academic community and that are tailored to the unique conditions and needs of each state’s particular institutions of higher learning.

States that joined New York on the brief included Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The brief was prepared by New York Solicitor General Barbara D. Underwood, Deputy Solicitor General Richard P. Dearing, and Assistant Solicitor General Simon Heller.

A copy of the brief in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin is available online here.