Notations 21 Exhibiting at Art League of Long Island April 21 thru May 26

(Long Island, NY) The Art League of Long Island is pleased to present in the Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery an exhibition celebrating the aesthetic and graphic beauty of contemporary illustrated musical scores.

In 1969, composer, philosopher and musical innovator John Cage compiled a book called Notations, which contained examples of musical scores by some of the most innovative composers of his time: Leonard Bernstein, Luc Ferrari, Igor Stravinsky, the Beatles and many others. Acting as an introduction for the public to new and experimental notational concepts that were starting to emerge at the time, the book became an instant classic.

Julie Dassaud Interferences 2008

Expanding upon the original book, the Notations 21, compiled by Theresa Sauer, is a modern compendium, anthology and touring exhibition that derives its inspiration from Cage’s seminal work. Today, thousands of new composers are continuing to create scores that are graphic in nature, liberated from the traditional staff, and rivaling the best visual art in their aesthetic value. The book profiles the scores of over 160 composers from around the world, each one using a unique or graphical notation style. These spectacular and fascinating creative visual pieces not only make for exciting music but inspiring visual art as well.

The gallery is displaying upwards of 60 pieces, some original to the Notations 21 book, and others more recently incorporated into the exhibit. The artwork may be made by visual artists looking to create music, or composers looking to create visual art. At their core, the pieces speak to avant-garde notions of collaboration, intuition, imagination, improvisation, time and space, in each case stretching the limits of what we can communicate in symbols.

Notations 21 Project
April 21 – May 26, 2013

Sunday, April 21, 2-3pm Free
Lecture and musical interpretation of illustrated scores
Lecture by Theresa Sauer, musicologist, educator and composer
Interpretive performances on guitar by Christopher Scher

Sunday, April 21, 3-5pm Free
Reception, with musical performance by Hypnosmoothie www.hypnosmoothie.com

American-Italian Cancer Foundation Announces Free Breast Cancer Screenings Throughout Queens

(Long Island, NY) Today, the American-Italian Cancer Foundation announced they will be holding NO-COST Breast Cancer Screenings in Queens during the month of March.

Women, over the age of 40, can call 1-877-628-9090 in order to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Friday, March 1
Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center
6200 Beach Channel Drive
Arverne, NY 11692 (near entrance)
(9am-5pm)

Sunday, March 3
Office of Council Member Dan Halloran
166-08 24th Road
Whitestone, NY 11357
(10am-5pm)

Wednesday, March 13
Queens Health Center
(Community Healthcare Network)
9704 Sutphin Blvd
Jamaica, NY 11435
(10am-5pm)

Thursday, March 14
Queens County Civil Court
89-17 Sutphin Boulevard
Jamaica, NY 11435
(9am-5pm)

Saturday, March 23
Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, Maspeth Branch
66-14 Grand Avenue
Maspeth, NY 11378
(10am-5pm)

Sunday, March 24
Multi Diagnostic Services
139-16 91st Ave
Jamaica, NY 11435
(10am-5pm)

Saturday, March 30
Kalusugan Coalition
39-04 63rd Street
Woodside, NY 11377
(10am-5pm)

Sunday, March 31
Consulate of Ecuador
67-21 Roosevelt Avenue
Woodside, NY 11377
(9am-4pm)

Statement of Jeff Seyler, President and CEO, American Lung Association of the Northeast

(NEW YORK, NY) – In response to today’s action by the U.S Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirming the judgment of the U.S. Southern District Court in the case brought against the City of New York by U.S. Tobacco Manufacturing Company, LLC and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Brands LLC, Jeff Seyler, President and CEO of the American Lung Association of the Northeast released the following statement:

“The Lung Association applauds today’s decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Second Circuit which affirmed the decision by the U.S. Southern District Court upholding New York City’s historic law limiting the sale of flavored tobacco products.

“Today’s decision is important because New York City and other local governments must have the ability to enact laws that will protect the health of their residents.

“The tobacco industry’s products flavored like candy, liquor and fruit are clearly designed to appeal to our youth. The City’s law restricting the sale of these products is critical to our continued effort to save the next generation from forming an addiction that can kill them.

“In upholding the decision made by the U.S. Southern District Court and denying the summary judgment the tobacco companies sought, the court made it clear that local laws regulating the sale and distribution of tobacco products are not preempted by the federal Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

“We thank Mayor Bloomberg, the New York City Council, Commissioner Farley and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for their continued efforts to improve the health of New Yorkers.”

About the American Lung Association of the Northeast
The American Lung Association of the Northeast is part of the American Lung Association, the oldest voluntary health organization in the U.S. Established in 1904 to combat tuberculosis; our mission today is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. The focus is on air quality, asthma, tobacco control, and all lung disease. The American Lung Association in the Northeast serves CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI and VT. www.LungNE.org

State Announces myBenefits Website Now Available in Eight Languages

(Long Island, NY) The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) today announced that New Yorkers can now check their eligibility and apply for certain benefits in eight different languages at myBenefits.ny.gov. In addition to English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Haitian Creole and Russian, OTDA has now made the myBenefits site available in Italian and Korean.

“Every New Yorker who is in need of work supports should be able to easily obtain information about what assistance is available and how to access it,” said OTDA Acting Commissioner Kristin M. Proud. “Governor Cuomo has made it a priority for New York State to have crucial documents and resources available to New York State residents in languages other than English.”

In October 2011, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order No. 26 requiring that “vital documents” be translated into the “six most common non-English languages spoken by individuals with limited English proficiency in the State of New York.”

The myBenefits website serves as an Internet portal for New York State’s families and community partners to connect with benefits, services and work supports. Anyone can quickly and easily check potential eligibility for a number of work supports and other programs, by providing basic household information. Since 2008, more than 900,000 myBenefits pre-screenings have been completed. myBenefits offers access to 17 programs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Temporary Assistance, and Medicaid.

Anyone can apply electronically for SNAP through myBenefits. To date, over 330,000 SNAP applications have been submitted via myBenefits.

myBenefits can be accessed by clicking here. www.mybenefits.ny.gov

Good Samaritan Hospital Hosts Wellness Symposium

(West Islip, NY) – Good Samaritan Hospital is hosting a wellness symposium, “A Healthy Serving of Knowledge,” offered through its Good Sam University Free Community Lecture Series, on April 4, 11:30 am to 3:00 pm at Captain Bill’s Restaurant in Bay Shore. Admission is free but pre-registration is required. The format features two workshops, with a choice of topic, on maintaining a healthy balance through diet, exercise and stress management. Workshops are followed by lunch and keynote presentation by Chef Keith DiLauro, a graduate of the French Culinary Institution in New York City, along with WCBS-TV health reporter Katie McGee.

Because every body is different, not every diet will work for every person. Together with Katie McGee, Chef Keith will explain the concepts of bioindividuality and discuss the importance of creating a personalized diet plan. Learn how to conduct a pantry purge, get rid of harmful food items and replace them with more healthful alternatives. He will also discuss how to be a smart shopper by selecting seasonal, local, fresh and organic foods and those that are minimally processed.

Workshop topics include:

• “Weight Loss: What Works? Myth vs. Fact” —Uncover the truth about diet foods and find out which plans work and why including a discussion on surgical options for weight loss.
• “Read It Before You Eat It” —Make sense of those tricky food labels and learn the best food choices you can make in every aisle.
• “Eat To Live, Don’t Live To Eat – A Lesson in Healthy Parenting”— Learn how to reduce child’s chances of developing weight-related health issues.
• “Stress Management & Your Body”—Indulge in a taste of mind and body practices such as deep breathing, Tai Chi, and guided visualization.

The program will conclude with a cooking demonstration and tasting of Chef Keith’s delicious and healthy fare.

For more information and to register for your workshops, call (631) 376-4444 or visit www.good-samaritan-hospital.org.

Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center is a 537-bed (including 100 nursing home beds), voluntary, not-for-profit hospital located in West Islip. The medical center, which has more than 4,500 employees and almost 900 physicians on staff, had nearly 30,000 patient admissions and more than 95,000 emergency department visits in 2011. Good Samaritan is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island. Visit the website at www.good-samaritan-hospital.org.

Good Samaritan provided more than $43 million in community service and charity care in 2011. The medical center supplies residents with the tools necessary to maintain good health. This includes community lectures, screenings, health fairs and other community programs and services.

Basilica of Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary Presents New Series; “Faith & Belief in Modern Times with Father Michael Vetrano” 1st Talk – What the Papal Legacy Means to the Church, Monday, March 18th 7:30

(Long Island, NY) On Monday March 18th at 7:30 pm, Father Michael Vetrano, Pastor of the  Basilica Parish of Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary, 168 Hill Street,  Southampton, New York 11968 will conduct the first presentation in a new series  entitled “Faith and Belief for Modern Times”.

Father Michael Vetrano, Pastor of the Basilica Parish of Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary

The topic of the first presentation is  “What the Papal Legacy Means to the Church”, a most timely subject that will  look at the effect on the Church following the Pope’s recent decision to give up  the Chair of St Peter.

On February 11,2013, Pope Benedict XVI  announced that on February 28, 2013, he would resign as supreme pontiff due to  his advanced age and deteriorating health and that a conclave would be convened  shortly thereafter to elect a new pope.

The resignation of Benedict XVI is historic not only because resignations  of popes have been rare in church history, but also because it raises questions  of the meaning of the papacy itself. As the world awaits the choice of a new  pope, the evening will focus on the evolution of the papacy, some historic  moments which have shaped our understanding of leadership in the church and a  chance to discuss whether what Pope Benedict’s decision might mean for the  future of the worldwide Catholic community.

Father Michael Vetrano will conduct  this first in a series of presentations planned on the problems and opportunities for believers in the modern world.

For more information call 631-283-0097  or by email sacredheartsjm@optimum.net or visit www.shjmbasilica.org

School Tax Relief Program (STAR) provides tax relief for local homeowners; Deadline March 1

(Long Island, NY) With Friday’s deadline fast approaching for residents to apply for the School Tax Relief Program (STAR), Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,WF,I-Huntington Station) is reminding local residents about the assistance the program can provide homeowners. The STAR program is available for owner-occupied primary residences on either the Basic STAR or Enhanced STAR levels.

“The STAR program provides residents with valuable tax relief during these fiscally challenging times,” said Lupinacci. “While the state no longer provides a check to residents, the savings can still be seen in your school tax bills. I strongly encourage homeowners who may be eligible for the program to apply, and especially encourage those who will be turning 65 this year to contact their local assessor to find out more about the Enhanced STAR program before March 1.”

Residents who own their primary residence, which is a one-, two- or three-family house, condominium, cooperative apartment or mobile home and earn less than $500,000 a year are eligible to apply for the Basic STAR program. There is no age limit for Basic STAR and residents do not need to reapply each year, unless they move to a new primary residence.

Residents who turn 65 at any time during the year 2013 may be eligible for the Enhanced STAR exemption. In addition to being 65 or older, you must own property that you use as your primary residence, and the total annual adjusted gross income minus the taxable amount of IRA distributions of all the owners of the property must be $79,050 or less, based on 2011 income tax returns. If you meet these qualifications, you must complete a separate application for Enhanced STAR and include a copy of your 2011 income tax return.

Additional information is available for the Town of Huntington by contacting:

Assessor’s Office
100 Main Street
Huntington, New York 11743
Phone: (631) 351-3226
http://huntingtonny.gov/department_details.cfm?ID=26

Applications are available for the Town of Babylon by contacting:

The Department of Assessment
200 East Sunrise Highway
Lindenhurst, NY 11757
Phone: (631) 957-3014
http://www.townofbabylon.com/DocumentCenter/View/128

Online applications are available through The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website.

The STAR Program is administered by each town assessor’s office. Homeowners may acquire and file applications between January 1 and March 1. The amount of the STAR benefit is set each year by the state and is based on the type of property owned and may vary from year to year.

A.G. Schneiderman Leads Multi-State Coalition Defending Voting Rights Act Against Constitutional Challenge; New York, California, Mississippi And North Carolina Argue Law Provides Important Protections For Minority Voters And That Compliance Poses No Undue Burden Or Cost On States; Schneiderman: My Office Will Always Stand Up To Protect And Enforce One Of Our Nation’s Most Important Federal Civil Rights Laws

(WASHINGTON) – The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Wednesday in a case challenging the constitutionality of a core provision of the Voting Rights Act. In a friend-of-the-court brief, New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman led a four-state coalition to argue that the Court should reject the constitutional challenge to the law given the important role that the Voting Rights Act plays in blocking and deterring voting discrimination. The brief was filed jointly with California, Mississippi and North Carolina in the case of Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder.

The constitutional challenge brought by Shelby County, Alabama takes aim at the Section 5 preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act. The preclearance provision requires certain jurisdictions, including several covered counties in New York, to submit new voting changes for federal review to ensure that they were not adopted with a discriminatory purpose, and will not negatively impact minority voter participation.

“The Voting Rights Act stands as one of Congress’s greatest legislative achievements and its protections remain vital to ensuring that all voters have equal access to the democratic process,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “The preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act helps eliminate discriminatory voting laws and practices before they can take root. Most importantly, the benefits afforded by the law far outweigh the minimal burden on covered jurisdictions. While we have seen progress, the protections afforded by the Voting Rights Act clearly remain necessary in the states where the law applies, including New York.”

Shelby County argues that Section 5 is no longer required and claims that Congress exceeded its powers when it reauthorized the law in 2006. Shelby County also argues that the law is intrusive on states and argues that its protections are no longer necessary in the 16 states where the law applies. Attorney General Schneiderman, along with Mississippi, North Carolina and California, provide a stark contrast to Shelby County’s contentions, asserting that Section 5 is an appropriate exercise of Congressional power and a carefully tailored tool that applies in those parts of the country where the law’s protections remain most necessary. In addition, the brief presents the important practical perspective and experience of the covered jurisdictions subject to Section 5 and notes that compliance with the law has historically and continues to pose little burden or cost on the states.

According to the brief, “The Section 5 preclearance process has helped bring about tremendous progress in the covered jurisdictions and continues to be a vital mechanism to assist Amici States in working to achieve the equality in opportunities for political participation that is a foundational principle of our democracy.”

In 2006, Congress conducted extensive hearings to determine whether the law’s requirements remained necessary, compiled a record of ongoing discrimination throughout the covered jurisdictions and voted overwhelmingly by a margin of 98-0 in the Senate to renew the law. The preclearance provision applies to Kings, Bronx and New York Counties and has provided important protections for minority voters in New York State. The law also applies to the State of Mississippi, and parts of both North Carolina and California, among other states.

The case was handled by Special Counsel to the Solicitor General Steven Wu, Deputy Solicitor General Cecelia Chang and Solicitor General Barbara D. Underwood.

A copy of the states’ brief is available online at: www.ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/press-releases/2013/

Good Samaritan Hospital Appoints Director of Infection Prevention

(West Islip, NY) – Kathy DiBenedetto, RN, has been appointed Nursing Director of Infection Prevention and Control for Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center.

Kathy DiBenedetto, RN

DiBenedetto brings more than 30 years experience as a registered nurse, including 17 years as a critical care nurse. In her new role as director, DiBenedetto will assist the Senior Vice President for Nursing in the management of prevention and control of health care associated disease transmission. Previously, she was Infection Preventionist at New York Hospital Queens in Flushing.

As nursing director, her responsibilities will include oversight of organization-wide surveillance, communicable disease reporting, environmental monitoring for infection prevention and control risk and educational in-service activities that support the infection prevention and control program.

DiBenedetto earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees of science in nursing from Long Island University. In addition, she is certified in Infection Prevention and Control and president- elect of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) of Long Island. She resides in Massapequa Park with her husband, Lorenzo, and their three children.

Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center is a 537-bed (including 100 nursing home beds), voluntary, not-for-profit hospital located in West Islip. The medical center, which has more than 4,500 employees and almost 900 physicians on staff, had nearly 30,000 patient admissions and more than 95,000 emergency department visits in 2011. Good Samaritan is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island. Visit the website at www.good-samaritan-hospital.org.

Good Samaritan provided more than $43 million in community service and charity care in 2011. The medical center supplies residents with the tools necessary to maintain good health. This includes community lectures, screenings, health fairs and other community programs and services.

Nassau Bar’s Free Seminar Explains the Divorce Process on March 18, 2013

(Mineola, NY) – Continuing its well-known reputation of providing timely information and the newest laws and procedures affecting Nassau residents, the Nassau County Bar Association, the largest suburban bar in the country, is presenting a free community seminar on “Divorce in New York State: Breaking the Ties That Bind” on Monday, March 18, 7 p.m. at NCBA’s headquarters, 15th Street at the corner of West Street in Mineola.

Leading matrimonial attorneys will explain issues including how to choose an attorney, financial issues, negotiating a settlement, the new no-fault grounds for divorce, child custody and support, spousal maintenance, and more.

The speakers include attorneys Marjorie G. Adler, Garden City; Lewis C. Edelstein, Garden City and Martha Haesloop, the principal law secretary to Hon. Hope Zimmerman, Supervising Judge, Supreme Court, Matrimonial Part.

Reservations are required for this free event by calling the Nassau County Bar Association at 516-747-4070.

This public seminar is another in a series of free NCBA services provided to the community.

Founded in 1899, the Nassau County Bar Association, with a membership of nearly 6,000 private and public attorneys, judges, legal educators and law students, is the largest suburban bar association in the country. The Bar demonstrates its commitment to the community by offering a variety of services for the public, including lawyer referral services, mortgage foreclosure, Superstorm Sandy recovery and senior citizen clinics, mentoring, judicial screening, public education programs and support for the Volunteer Lawyers Project, which provides much-needed free legal services for the indigent of Nassau County. The WE CARE Fund, the NCBA’s charitable arm, assists children, the elderly and others in need, through countless projects and donations.

For more information call 516-747-4070, email infor@nassaubar.org, or visit www.nassaubar.org.