(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Pattern Crime Unit detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who robbed a Brentwood bank earlier this month.

A man entered Capital One Bank, located at 340 Washington Ave., on August 1 at approximately 9:50 a.m. and handed the teller a note demanding cash and threatening the use of a gun. The teller complied with the robber’s demands and the suspect fled the bank on foot.

Suffolk County Police are seeking the public’s help to identify the man who robbed a Brentwood bank earlier this month. Photo Credit: SCPD.

The man was described as black, in his middle to late 30s, approximately 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall with a medium build and a beard. He was wearing a navy blue hat and sunglasses.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Fourth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating suspects who used stolen credit cards to make numerous purchases.

Suffolk County Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying suspects who used stolen credit cards to make numerous purchases. Photo Credit: SCPD.

On Wednesday, July 1, numerous credit cards were stolen from a victim in St. James. On July 2, a Hispanic man and a Hispanic woman used the victim’s credit cards to purchase gift cards at Target, located at 2975 Horseblock Road, Medford at approximately 3 p.m.

A Hispanic man and woman used the stolen credit cards to purchase gift cards at Target in Medford. Photo Credit: SCPD.

Later the same day, at approximately 5 p.m., the same subjects purchased perfumes and beauty products using the stolen credit cards at JC Penny located at the South Shore Mall, 1701 Sunrise Highway, Bay Shore.

The same subjects purchased products using the stolen credit cards at JC Penny located at the South Shore Mall. Photo Credit: SCPD.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who used a stolen credit card at two gas stations in May.

Suffolk County Police are seeking the public’s help to identify the man who used a stolen credit card at two gas stations in May. Photo Credit: SCPD.

A credit card was stolen from a vehicle after it was towed following an accident on May 14. The credit card was used at two gas stations on Route 347 in Smithtown on May 19 and May 23.

The stolen credit card was used at two gas stations on Route 347 in Smithtown on May 19 and May 23. Photo Credit: SCPD.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

(Long Island, NY) The Second Squad reports the arrest of a Hicksville man for a Burglary that occurred on Tuesday, August 4, 2015 at 2:25 a.m. in Hicksville.

According to detectives, Second Precinct Officers responded to the Metro PCS store located at 55 Broadway where they were informed by the owner an unknown subject had shattered the front window and removed fifty of cell phones. After reviewing the store security a description of a white Ford econoline van was broadcast over the radio.

Nassau County Police reports the arrest of Edmanual Collado Velez, 28, of Hicksville for a Burglary that occurred on Tuesday, August 4, in Hicksville. Photo Credit: NCPD.

A Second Precinct officer observed the vehicle travelling on West John Street and attempted to make a traffic stop. The vehicle fled westbound towards Prospect Avenue. A short time later the van was observed travelling on the south service road where it crashed into a guardrail near Jericho Turnpike.

Edmanual Collado Velez, 28, was seen fleeing on foot from the vehicle. He was discovered nearby and placed under arrest. The proceeds were recovered from the vehicle.

Collado-Velez is charged with Burglary 3rd degree, Criminal Possession of a Stolen Property 4th degree, Operating Motor Vehicle Unlicensed. He was arraigned on Wednesday, August 05, 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.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police on Wednesday, August, 5 arrested a man for robbing a Centereach bank in June.

Utilizing video surveillance as well as Crime Stoppers tips, Pattern Crime Unit detectives identified Joseph DiSclafani, 48, of Centereach, as the man who robbed the People’s United Bank, located at 1919 Middle Country Road on June 26.

Suffolk County Police on Wednesday, August, 5 arrested Joseph DiSclafani, 48, of Centereach for robbing a Centereach bank in June. Photo Credit: SCPD.

After identifying DiSclafani, Pattern Crime Unit detectives placed him under surveillance and he was subsequently arrested today without incident.

On June 26, DiSclafani entered the Peoples United Bank, located at 1919 Middle Country Road, approached a teller at approximately 11:30 a.m. and presented a note demanding cash. The teller complied and DiSclafani fled on foot.

DiSclafani was charged with one count of Robbery 3rd Degree and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on August 6, 2015.

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.

Advances in Lighting, Heating and Cooling, Materials and Power Management Will Help New York State Grow its Cleantech Economy and Enable Customers to Take Control of Energy Costs

(Long Island, NY) The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) awarded support for 11 innovative advanced building technologies as part of the Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) strategy to increase energy efficiency in buildings and grow businesses throughout New York State.

Buildings use approximately 60 percent of energy consumed in the state, so technologies that can lower energy use have a significant long-term impact on the environment while bolstering job creation and economic growth.

Support for advanced buildings innovation aligns with NYSERDA’s proposed Clean Energy Fund, an essential component of REV that will pursue new methods of attracting private investment in clean energy in New York, increase the use of clean energy technologies, and stimulate significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The technologies receiving awards through NYSERDA’s Advanced Buildings Program are all in the research and development (R&D) stage.

“These building R&D projects continue New York State’s focus on cleantech innovation to drive the scale of clean energy required to achieve REV objectives,” said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO of NYSERDA. “Under REV, Governor Cuomo is building a clean, resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers, and energy efficiency is an effective way to allow residents and businesses to take control of their energy costs.”

Through this competitive program, NYSERDA is partnering with manufacturers, research scientists, building owners and property managers to develop and accelerate the commercialization of new energy-efficient technologies. Support is provided for technologies throughout all stages of the product development process, from concept to commercialization, field installation and evaluation.

Proposals selected for funding ranged from studies and proof-of-concept research to product development and demonstration projects. Specific areas of interest included construction materials and strategies, heating and cooling systems, solid-state lighting, demand response and smart buildings.

Funding for the final round of this program is still available. For more information see nyserda.org/pon2606.

The following are descriptions and funding awards for each project selected in this round.

Capital Region

• Lower-cost LED materials — Good light LLC (Albany)
• Smart Building Energy Management System for the Zero Energy Nanotechnology (ZEN) Building – SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) (Albany)
• Field testing of LED fixtures with different lighting control strategies to guide users — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lighting Research Center (Troy)

Central New York

• Greater efficiency in building cooling — Optimized Thermal Systems Inc. (Syracuse)
• Heating system that also generates power — Syracuse University (Syracuse).

Finger Lakes

• Brighter LED lighting systems — OLEDWorks LLC (Rochester)

Long Island

• LED technology for controlled environments — Autronic Plastics Inc. d/b/a Clear-Vu Lighting (Central Islip).

New York City

• Developing metrics to increase use of building automation systems — CUNY Institute for Urban Systems (NYC)
• Developing affordable, net-zero manufactured homes — The Levy Partnership Inc. (NYC)
• Integrating smart battery storage with solar power for multlifamily building — Bright Power Inc. (NYC)

Statewide

• Self-powered heat pump to increase building resiliency — Gas Technology Institute (Statewide)

About Reforming the Energy Vision
Under Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision, New York State is spurring clean energy innovation and attracting new investment to build a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers. Reforming the Energy Vision encompasses groundbreaking regulatory reform to integrate clean energy into the core of our power grid, redesigned programs and strategies to unlock private capital, and active leadership in deploying innovative energy solutions across the State’s own public facilities and operations. Reforming the Energy Vision will enable a dynamic, clean energy economy operating at a scale that will stimulate opportunities for communities across the state to create jobs and drive local economic growth, while protecting our environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. Successful initiatives already launched as part of Reforming the Energy Vision include NY Sun, NY Green Bank, NY Prize, K-Solar, and a commitment to improve energy affordability for low-income communities.

To learn more about Reforming the Energy Vision, please visit http://www.ny.gov/programs/reforming-energy-vision.

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

(Long Island, NY) The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) selected EAC Network’s NYC Mental Health Diversion Program as one of four peer-to-peer learning sites as part of the National Criminal Justice/Mental Health Collaboration Learning Sites Program.

The 2015-2016 Mental Health Court Collaboration Learning Sites were selected by the CSG Justice Center and the BJA as examples of successful collaborations between the criminal justice and mental health systems that provide a range of effective responses to people with mental illnesses who are involved with the criminal justice system. These four sites have shown an ability to provide guidance to other jurisdictions interested in starting or expanding collaborations between criminal justice and mental health systems, as well as a commitment to advancing the field.

In particular, EAC Network’s NYC Mental Health Diversion Program is a singular model of Clinically Informed Judicial Supervision for pre-trial and pre-sentenced defendants with mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders, brought to scale across four boroughs of New York City, and implemented as both centralized (i.e. Mental Health Court) and de-centralized (i.e. throughout the courthouse).  Also a CSG/BJA Learning Site, EAC Network’s Bronx Mental Health Court has enjoyed collaborating with jurisdictions across the country and overseas.  The expanded program will provide visitors with the chance to learn a clinical approach to diversion decision-making, the challenges and opportunities of implementation of the system in different jurisdictions, the advantages and disadvantages of centralized and de-centralized diversion, and the potential for making the most of all of the above through a single administrative and clinical structure.

Criminal Justice/Mental Health Collaboration Learning Sites work with the CSG Justice Center and BJA to share their expertise with other agencies across the country. The 2015-2016 learning sites will, for example, host jurisdictions interested in learning more about their programs, answer questions from the field through phone, email, and online training sessions and work with the CSG Justice Center to develop resources that help advance the field.

In addition to EAC Network’s NYC Mental Health Diversion Program, the three other 2015-2016 Criminal Justice/Mental Health Collaboration Learning Sites are:

• Bonneville County (ID) Mental Health Court
• Dougherty County (GA) Superior Court Mental Health and Substance Abuse Division
• Ramsey County (MN) Mental Health Court

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said, “For more than two decades, my office has supported EAC/NYC TASC in diverting non-violent, drug-addicted and mentally ill individuals from the criminal justice system and assisting them in seeking treatment as an alternative to incarceration. NYC TASC has been among the leaders in the field of alternative sentencing services for many years and I am pleased that the Council of State Governments selected them as a National Learning Site.”

For more information on EAC Network, a not-for-profit human service agency serving over 68,500 individuals across Long Island and New York City through 70 programs that protect at-risk children, support senior citizens, help people with mental health and substance abuse problems, educate people seeking financial independence, assist individuals who are under or unemployed, mediate disputes, and work with families in crisis, visit www.eac-network.org.

For more information on the Criminal Justice/Mental Health Collaboration Learning Sites Program, a collaboration between the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a division of the Office of Justice Programs in the U.S. Department of Justice, please visit www.csgjusticecenter.org/mental-health/learning-sites.

Now through August 30

(Long Island, NY) Bay Street Theater is pleased to announce a premium ticket package offer which includes premium seats and a picnic supper from Topping Rose House, the Hamptons first full-service, luxury property, during the run of GREY GARDENS, now through August 30. GREY GARDENS stars Rachel York and Betty Buckley, with book by Doug Wright, music by Scott Frankel, and lyrics by Michael Korie. Michael Wilson directs. For the premium ticket package, or for regular tickets, call the Bay Street Theater Box Office at 631-725-9500 or online at www.baystreet.org.

This exclusive offer features a limited number of premium seats available for purchase with a delicious boxed picnic supper from Topping Rose House. Tickets will include a Premium seat to Grey Gardens, boxed picnic supper, a beverage: cocktail, wine, beer (21 and over), or soda, water, and a Bay Street Theater hat. Enjoy your meal in Bay Street’s beautiful courtyard or lobby. A set menu is available and no substitutions will be possible. Please check dates and menu offerings below. Meals will be available prior to the show, starting at 5:30 pm for a 7 pm curtain and 6:30 pm for an 8 pm curtain.

• August 11-16:
  Seared Rare Sesame Encrusted Tuna
  House made Focaccia, Asian Slaw, Vegetable Chips
• August 18-23:
  Smoked Chicken Club
  Sour Dough Bread, Candied Black Pepper Mayo, Garden Greens
• August 25-30:
  House Made Mozzarella & Sun Dried Tomato
  Rosemary Olive Bread, Marinated Mushrooms, Basil Pesto

Topping Rose House brings understated elegance and a commitment to personalized service to Bridgehampton, New York.  The grounds of the 22-room property, from owners Bill Campbell and Simon Critchell, encompass a beautifully restored 1842 Greek revival mansion which serves as the Main House alongside striking contemporary structures including guestroom Cottages, the Studio and a restored Barn, both available for private events.

Open year-round, the property includes a restaurant, wellness facilities and a one-acre farm. At the restaurant, the menu focuses on the seasonal, farm-to-table ingredients from the property’s farm, in addition to goods from local farmers, ranchers and day-boat fishermen providing the freshest and finest quality.  The restaurant is open daily serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch. Topping Rose House provides guests with a thoughtful and personalized experience and each guestroom is equipped with Frette linens and top-of-the-line electronics. The walls of the hotel are adorned with famous artworks curated by Winston Wächter Fine Art in New York City.

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is a year-round, not-for-profit professional theater and community cultural center which endeavors to innovate, educate, and entertain a diverse community through the practice of the performing arts. We serve as a social and cultural gathering place, an educational resource, and a home for a community of artists.

(Long Island, NY) The Major Case Bureau reports the arrest of an Inwood man on Wednesday, August 05, 2015 at 8:00 am in Inwood.

According to detectives, The FBI Long Island Child Exploitation Task Force consisting of detectives from the Nassau County Police Department Crimes Against Property Squad, FBI Agents, and Suffolk County Police Detectives arrested Levorn Mays Jr. 25, and who is a registered level one sex offender at his residence without incident Wednesday, August 05, 2015 at 8:00 am.

Nassau County Police reports the arrest of Levorn Mays Jr. 25, of Inwood, on Wednesday, August 05. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

The Long Island Child Exploitation Task Force along with the assistance of Federal Prosecutors from the Eastern District Investigators determined that defendant Mays who has prior arrests for possession of child pornography in Nassau County had uploaded child pornography to his personal Gmail and Dropbox accounts. Defendant Mays was last arrested on a similar charge by Crimes Against Property Squad Detectives on March 11, 2015 and was currently out on bail.

Levorn Mays Jr. is being federally charged with Title 18 USC 2252 Distribution of Child Pornography. He was arraigned on Wednesday, August 05, 2015 in The United States District Court in Central Islip.

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.

Event to Promote Unity

(Long Island, NY) The seventh annual “Play for Peace” soccer tournament, hosted by Suffolk County 7th District Legislator Robert Calarco, will be Saturday, August 8 at the soccer fields in Medford Park. Leg. Calarco created the event to unify the community following the 2008 murder of Marcelo Lucero, an immigrant from Ecuador who was killed in Patchogue.

The tournament will consist of 12 teams of about 20 players per team. Although the team slots are filled, anyone is welcome to come and watch the tournament. The event begins with an opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m., and the games will start at 10 a.m.  Pastor Matthew Greco, a former collegiate soccer player and pastor at Medford Assembly of God, will be delivering the invocation.

“The diversity of the players involved, as well as the sense of community the event creates, reflects the tournament’s purpose: to unite the community,” said Leg. Calarco.

“This tournament is proof of the kindness and compassion that define Suffolk County,” said DuWayne Gregory, Presiding Officer of the Suffolk County Legislature. “I commend these players for participating in something larger than themselves.”

The New York Cosmos soccer team will hold a soccer clinic for children ages 12-17 at 1 p.m. Professional players will help the children develop their skills. Pre-registration is required and spots are limited. For more information visit the New York Cosmos website.

The event was supported by five corporate sponsors (Gershow Recycling, Bridgehampton National Bank, SC PBA, TriTec Development Corp. and Brookhaven Memorial Hospital) and 12 team sponsors (Latin Fashion Salon, Dahlia Fashions, Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers, YMCA, St Francis de Sales, Davis Park Ferry, Hope for Immigrants, Bravo Supermarket, Zippy Shell, Rudi’s Bar & Grill, North Shore Youth Council and Suffolk Federal Credit Union). The Patchogue-Medford Youth Soccer League, a partner in the event, helped organize the tournament and donated its fields for gameplay.

More than 20 volunteers from a variety of local churches and organizations, including the Church of the Nazarene in North Patchogue and St. Francis de Sales in Patchogue Village, will help coordinate the event.

Medford Park is located on Sipp Avenue in Medford, just north of East Woodside Avenue. Last year’s tournament was held at the same location.

For more information, call Leg. Calarco’s district office at (631) 854-1400.