(Long Island, NY) The Seventh Squad reports an arrest for Burglary on Wednesday, December 02, 2015 at 12:30 P.M. in Massapequa.

According to detectives, Desmind K. Yarborough, 23, a resident of a group home located at 3 Camp Road, removed and hid a gold necklace from a male victim, 58 years of age, another resident of the home. Yarborough was placed under arrest without incident and transported to the Seventh Precinct for processing.

Nassau County Police reports the arrest of Desmind K. Yarborough, 23, for Burglary on Wednesday, December 02 in Massapequa. Photo Credit: NCPD.

During the investigation it was discovered that on Sunday, October 25, 2015 the defendant forced his way into a locked room of a male, 46 years of age, also a resident of the home, and removed two Casio keyboards.

Yarborough is charged with Grand Larceny 4th degree and Burglary 2nd degree. He will be arraigned on Thursday, December 3, 2015 at First District Court in Hempstead.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

EPA Grants will Fund Additional Water Quality Testing & Personnel

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced today the Suffolk County Department of Health Services was awarded $337,000 in grants by the United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to bolster the Peconic Estuary Program.  The Suffolk County Legislature voted unanimously on December 1^st  to accept and appropriate the funding.

“As we continue to reclaim our water in Suffolk County, we must be proactive and vigilant against the various pollutants and factors that continue to threaten our waterways, particularly the Peconic Estuary,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.  “I commend the EPA for their continued support and advocacy to help maintain the Peconic Estuary as it is one of the few estuaries across the country to be considered of national significance.”

“I’ve worked with the Peconic Estuary Program for many years, in my role as an elected official from Southold Town as well as a county legislator,” said Legislator Al Krupski, whose district includes the portions of the Peconic River and Peconic Bay.   “The work PEP does is critical to the health of the estuary and the economy of the East End.  Without EPA funding, the mission of PEP would be seriously hampered.”

The grants will help to provide funding for water quality personnel, including a marine biologist, chemist and boat operator.

In addition, the funding will provide resources to produce a nitrogen load reduction cost assessment and will be leveraged with County funding of various water quality and wastewater treatment projects throughout the region – including the re-opening of shellfish beds, kelp aquaculture feasibility studies, pilot programs for alternative discharge for decentralized wastewater, pilot programs for vegetated gravel recirculating filtered wastewater treatment systems and more.

Under the conditions of the grant, the funding must be utilized by September 2017 and Suffolk County will provide matching funds toward water quality monitoring programs and projects funded through the Suffolk County Water Quality Protection and Restoration Program.

This latest funding is part of Suffolk County’s Reclaim Our Water initiative, which includes securing nearly $400 million in funding for the largest expansion of sewers in Suffolk County since the 1970s, and the release of the 2015 Suffolk County Comprehensive Water Resources Management Plan that provides critical recommendations on how to manage and protect the region’s water supply.

For more information on the County’s Reclaim Our Water initiative, visit www.suffolkcountyny.gov or www.facebook.com/stevebellone.

(Long Island, NY) Another mass shooting has occurred in America, this time with over twenty victims, at least fourteen of whom are dead, at the Inland Regional Center, a facility for people with developmental disabilities in San Bernadino, CA.  Our thoughts are with the families of the dead and injured.

President Obama is right – these shootings are becoming sickeningly routine. The easy availability of guns in our country, the NRA’s hysterical fear-mongering to whip up gun sales and a supine Congress that has utterly failed to enact laws that will save lives, has condemned us to a daily onslaught of gun violence, that kills and injures nearly 120,000 Americans every year.

The blood of these and the countless other innocent victims who have been terrorized and devastated by our raging gun violence epidemic is on the hands of Congress. Each American should call their representatives today to demand they act to stop the senseless slaughter, and vote them out of office if they fail us again.

New Yorkers Against Gun Violence is a statewide advocacy group working to reduce gun violence through advocacy and education designed to encourage action, influence public opinion and lead to policy change. With a primary focus on New York State, the organization also advocates at the local and national levels for sensible gun laws, policies and practices that protect New York State residents from gun violence.

• Web:  www.nyagv.org    
• Twitter: @NYAGV1       
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/nyagv

Bill authorizes $750,000 in infrastructure improvements for Copiague Commons

(Long Island,NY) The Suffolk County Legislature has authorized the use of up to $750,000 for infrastructure improvements that will support Copiague Commons, a planned affordable housing project in downtown Copiague. Conifer Realty and the Community Development Corporation of Long Island will partner to construct the development.

The legislation, passed yesterday, affirms that Copiague Commons meets the requirements of the Suffolk County Affordable Housing Opportunities Program, through which capital bond proceeds are appropriated for infrastructure improvements associated with affordable housing projects. The county money may be used toward improvements such as sidewalks, curbs, lighting, draining, residential parking, utilities, sanitary systems and landscaping. The money must be repaid to the county after 30 years.

“Quality affordable housing must be at the heart of any effort to revitalize a downtown,” said Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory, whose legislative district includes Copiague. “I commend the County Executive for his commitment to making this project a reality, as communities cannot thrive if people cannot afford to live in them. Copiague is full of both promise and potential, and I look forward to welcoming the first residents who will call Copiague Commons home.”

Copiague Commons will replace an existing industrial building at 54 Railroad Ave. with two four-story multifamily apartment buildings containing 90 one- and two-bedroom units. Seventy-one of the units will be marked as affordable units for households earning 60 percent or less of the Area Median Income (AMI), and 18 units will be affordable for households earning 100 percent or less of the AMI.  The remaining unit will serve the on-site maintenance superintendent.

“Investments in our communities that assist in creating affordable housing opportunities are in the best interests of all Suffolk County residents,” stated County Executive Steve Bellone. “Increasing our housing stock will provide opportunities for our young people to remain on Long Island and assist in reversing the brain drain that has plagued our region for many years. This project will put people to work and provide the much-needed framework for vibrant downtowns right here in Suffolk County.”

Additionally, Presiding Officer Gregory will hold a press conference this Friday at which he will announce the award of a $100,000 Downtown Revitalization grant from Suffolk County to the Copiague Chamber of Commerce for high visibility crosswalks and streetscape improvements. Gregory will be joined by Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre, who will be announcing the award of a $100,000 grant from New York State’s Aid to Localities Fund to the Town of Babylon. The money will be used for streetscaping, parking improvements and façade renovations throughout Copiague. County Executive Bellone will also attend.

(Long Island, NY) Today, Governor Andrew Cuomo directed the State Department of Public Service to design and enact a new Clean Energy Standard mandating that 50 percent of all electricity consumed in New York by 2030 come from clean and renewable energy sources. This process will ensure that utility companies provide 50 percent of customers’ power from solar, wind, hydroelectric or other renewable sources in just 15 years.

Heather Leibowitz, Director of Environment New York, issued the following statement:

“Governor Cuomo’s announcement puts New York right where it should be—at the front of the pack. The new Clean Energy Standard will dramatically expand the amount of our electricity generated by renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar energy, and accelerate New York’s transition away from polluting fuels. This means cleaner air for families, less global warming pollution, more stable electricity bills, and a stronger economy.

“New York has the resources to do this. We can put solar panels on rooftops and over parking lots, and we can build wind farms off of our coasts. Now the governor is providing the political will to get the job done.

“The Governor’s action is particularly timely. This week, world leaders are gathered in Paris to negotiate a global agreement to curb global warming pollution. New York is showing the world what must be done. As the third-largest economy in the United States, our leadership matters.

Governor Cuomo deserves praise for creating an ambitious and achievable standard for expanding New York’s use of clean energy. We look forward to working with Governor Cuomo’s office to bring the Clean Energy Standard to fruition.”

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police have arrested a Patchogue man for robbing TD Bank in Medford on November 30.

Utilizing video surveillance as well as Crime Stopper tips, Pattern Crime Unit detectives identified the suspect as Steven Alejandria and he was subsequently arrested on December 2.

Suffolk County Police have arrested a Patchogue man for robbing TD Bank in Medford on November 30. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

The subject entered TD Bank, located at 1806 Route 112, at 9:58 a.m. on December 2 and passed a note that threatened violence and demanded cash. The teller complied with the man’s demands and gave him cash from the drawer.

Alejandria was charged with Robbery 3rd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument.

Alejandria, 35, is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on December 3.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino (R,C,I-Sayville) is announcing a district-wide toy, food and coat drive that will benefit families in need throughout the 7^th Assembly District. From today until Wednesday, December 16, Garbarino will be collecting these items at his office and a host of other collection sites.

“This holiday season, I encourage everyone to give thanks for their blessings by giving to those in need. Charity and caring for the less fortunate is a responsibility that we all share as a society,” said Garbarino. “I’m proud to host this holiday toy, food, and coat drive to benefit those less fortunate. Too many of those in our community, from our children’s classmates to families down the road, lack the resources to have an enjoyable holiday and it is essential that we do everything we can to make their lives a little easier this year.”

Garbarino encourages Long Island residents to donate any spare coats, non-perishable food items and toys untilDecember 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the below locations in the boxes that have been wrapped with holiday paper:

• Assemblyman Garbarino’s District Office
  859 Montauk Hwy, Suite 1
  Bayport, NY 11705
• The Town of Islip Building
  401 Main Street
  Islip, NY 11751
• County Legislator Tom Cilmi’s Office
  96 East Main Street, Suite 5
  East Islip, NY 11730
• Senator Phil Boyle’s District Office
  69 W. Main St, Suite B
  Bay Shore, NY 11706

International Music Program for Adults Comes to the East End – Program Commences Wednesday, February 3, 2016

(Long Island, NY) East End Arts is pleased to announce that it will soon be presenting The New Horizons Band program, the first of its kind on the East End of Long Island. This program provides adults ages “50 or better” who have little or no instrumental experience with the opportunity to learn new skills and/or advance their skills and play concert band music in an ensemble of like-minded life-long learners. The New Horizons Band program was founded 25 years ago by Professor Roy Ernst, the Music Education Department Chair at Eastman School of Music, one of the top music schools in the United States. The New Horizons Bands program has grown to over 215 groups, more than 9,000 participants across the world on three continents, and sponsors numerous summer band camps in North America.

The program will commence on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 with rehearsals taking place every Wednesday morning from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Peconic Community Center located at 970 Peconic Lane in Peconic, NY. Throughout the 15-week semester, the ensemble will rehearse under the baton of the music director who will soon be announced. Tuition is a $100 monthly fee per participant. Advance registration is required and is managed by the East End Arts School, located at 141 E. Main Street, Riverhead, NY. For more information and to register, visit http://www.eastendarts.org/school/classes.html/event/2016/02/03/-new-east-end-arts-new-horizons-adult-band-program-begins/112516.

Students may bring their own instruments or rent from Music & Arts in Riverhead, NY, which will be presenting a “petting zoo” meeting to try out various instruments in January 2016. The date of the information meeting will soon be announced.

There are many benefits to playing music at any age. Music is a complex activity that helps in memory and motor skills and the coordination of the senses. Music combines physical, mental and social engagement which in turn promotes healthy aging. Music benefits our brain to keep developing it, to keep it active.

Professor Roy Ernst, the founder of the New Horizons program stated: “Playing music in groups supports good mental and physical health, besides being an unending source of joy.”

East End Arts New Horizons Band Planning Committee members are Diane Giardi, East End Arts Education Director; Marianne Lewidge, a New Horizons Band founding member; Sussane Jansson, a music enthusiast; Joseph Albanese, Manager of Music & Arts in Riverhead, NY; Daniel Cohen, Manager of Music & Arts in Riverhead, NY; and Gene Lamendola, East End Arts School music faculty.

About East End Arts

East End Arts is a multi-award winning 501(c)3 not-for-profit arts organization serving the five East End towns of Long Island, NY since 1972, and operates a School of the Arts, an Art Gallery, and presents a variety of events and programs to promote the arts year-round. East End Arts is committed to building and enriching community through the arts by way of education, support, advocacy and inspiration. Each year, East End Arts: exhibits 22 gallery shows in at least three locations, showcasing our community’s talent, which provides presenting opportunities for roughly 800 artists in all disciplines; offers over 150 educational art, music, and theater programs as well as private music instruction to our region year-round, serving over 800 children and adults annually; presents over 15 events to celebrate the regions’ rich artistic background; provides professional development and resources for both emerging and established artists through workshops, cultural arts forums and access to resources through social media and the web serving over 7,000 individuals; promotes local artists and musicians through education, presentation and community initiatives; and, presents programs for very low or no fee. To learn more about East End Arts, visit http://www.eastendarts.org/. In addition to visual arts class and workshops, the East End Arts School also has over 200 students each semester privately studying voice, piano, drums, violin, guitar, and band and orchestral instruments, as well as music composition. Limited scholarship opportunities are available. For more information about private music instruction, visit http://www.eastendarts.org/school/private.html.

For more information, contact Diane Giardi, Education Director at the East End Arts School: 631-369-2171 or dgiardi@eastendarts.org.

East End Arts, established in 1972, is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit arts organization, and operates a School of the Arts, an Art Gallery, and presents a variety of events and programs to promote the arts year-round. Proceeds from all events, sales, classes, donations, and memberships benefits the mission and commitment to building and enriching our community through the arts by way of education, support, advocacy, and inspiration.

(Long Island, NY) Class was in session November 30 as Assemblyman Chad A. Lupinacci (R,C,I-South Huntington) toured a pair of highly specialized Western Suffolk BOCES schools located in the 10th Assembly District.

At the Republic Airport in Farmingdale, Lupinacci was given a first-hand view of Wilson Tech’s hands-on, career- and college-ready curriculum for aviation science/flight, aircraft technology, criminal justice, certified personal training and nurse assisting for high school and adult students.

Assemblyman Chad A. Lupinacci toured a pair of highly specialized Western Suffolk BOCES schools located in the 10th Assembly District. Photo Credit: NYS.

During the tour, Lupinacci was shown aircraft used by students for flight lessons; laboratories where aircraft engines are repaired; and nursing and personal training classrooms. Successful completion of these programs give students a significant leg up on their higher education pursuits or military service, as well as an opportunity to directly enter the workforce in an array of fields.

Later in the day, Lupinacci traveled with administrators to the James E. Allen Elementary School in Dix Hills. There, he met with members of the staff who serve the school’s diverse student population through the use of multiple educational modalities, personalized attention to student needs, cutting-edge technology and physical therapy.

“Western Suffolk BOCES provides highly specialized educational services which are fine-tuned to meet a student’s individual needs,” Lupinacci said. “Whether preparing young people for the workforce or enhancing the lives of children with special needs, the talented educators and staff at these facilities make their schools a valuable community resource.”

(Long Island, NY) Yesterday afternoon the Republican majority in the House of Representatives once again demonstrated that its tough talk on terrorism is just that – talk.

With an opportunity to close the loophole that allows those on the FBI’s Terrorist Watch List to legally buy guns, every House Republican – including the NY State delegation – punted, refusing to allow a vote on H.R. 1076, the bipartisan King-Lofgren Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act. By blocking the vote, House Republicans showed that their allegiance to the NRA and the corporate gun lobby is stronger than their duty to ensure the safety and security of the American people.

The Terrorist Watchlist loophole has allowed more than 2,000 terrorist suspects to purchase firearms over the last 11 years. During that time, more than 90% of those on the Watchlist who set out to purchase a firearm have been able to do so.  Leah Gunn Barrett, NYAGV Executive Director, said, “With yesterday’s vote, House Republicans have failed in their sworn duty to protect public safety. These are the same members who have opposed allowing Syrian refugee families into this country on the spurious grounds that they are terrorists. The irony is that they apparently see nothing wrong in allowing suspected terrorists already in the country to walk into any gun store and legally purchase any firearm, including a military-purposed assault rifle.”

Barrett continued, “Closing this dangerous loophole is a no-brainer. Protecting Americans from suspected terrorists is not a partisan issue. All Americans must demand that Congress stop its shameless pandering to the craven firearms industry and allow this bill to not only come to a vote but to pass.”

New Yorkers Against Gun Violence is a statewide advocacy group working to reduce gun violence through advocacy and education designed to encourage action, influence public opinion and lead to policy change. With a primary focus on New York State, the organization also advocates at the local and national levels for sensible gun laws, policies and practices that protect New York State residents from gun violence.

• Web:  www.nyagv.org    
• Twitter: @NYAGV1       
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/nyagv