Panepinto: “This increase will aide the the support system our students, parents and teachers need”

(Long Island, NY) Senator Marc Panepinto (D-Buffalo) released the following statement in response to Governor Cuomo’s proposal to invest $100,000,000 in struggling Upstate New York schools:

“All students are entitled to a quality education. But too often those in high need districts are denied that opportunity. Governor Cuomo’s proposed $100,000,000 in aid will help to relieve the Buffalo Public School District and others of their financial burden. While there is still considerable work to be done to restore the full Gap Elimination Adjustment funding owed to our schools, the Governor’s decision is an essential step in the right direction. This increase will aide the support system our students, parents and teachers need. With only a few short days to pass this legislative package, I am calling on my fellow lawmakers to do right by our schools. It is imperative that we provide our students with a quality education now and lay the groundwork for their future. I commend Governor Cuomo for his commitment to their success.”

Senator Panepinto represents the 60th Senate District, which includes parts of the City of Buffalo as well as communities in both the Northtowns and the Southtowns of Western New York.

 

Aug. 24

(Long Island, NY) Former Suffolk County Police Commissioner, Deputy County Executive and Community College Executive Dean John C. Gallagher will be honored by the Suffolk Community College Foundation at its 32nd Annual Golf Classic.

The proceeds from the Golf Classic will support need and merit-based scholarships, emergency student loans and quality academic enrichment programs for Suffolk County Community College students.

John Gallagher. Photo Credit: SCCC.

This year’s golf classic will be played on Monday, August 24, 2015 at the Hamlet Golf and Country Club in Commack.  Registration includes 18 holes of golf, access to the driving range and putting green, golf cart, lunch, a cocktail reception and awards dinner.

“Early Birdie” registration is only $250 per golfer, $960 per foursome with payment received by July 24, 2015.  Registration is $275 per golfer and $1,100 for a foursome after July 24.

Register for the Golf Classic at the Foundation’s website at www.sunysuffolk.edu/golf .

Questions? Call the Suffolk Community College Foundation office at (631) 451-4458; or via e-mail at Golf@sunysuffolk.edu .

About John Gallagher
John Gallagher headed the Suffolk County Police Department – the nation’s 12th largest suburban department – for seven years, 1997-2004. John is a graduate of the FBI Academy’s prestigious National Executive Institute and was a guest lecturer at the Academy.  The FBI published his research paper about the link between extremists within Islamic politics and religion in its National Academy Associate Magazine. When John retired from the police department in 2004, the County Executive awarded him the Suffolk County medal of Honor, the County’s highest honor, and the Suffolk County Community College Board of Trustees renamed the police academy on its Grant Campus, The John C. Gallagher Suffolk Police Academy.

Prior to becoming Suffolk’s top cop, Gallagher advised the Suffolk County Executive, Robert Gaffney, about public safety issues from 1992 – 1997 as a deputy county executive and from 1974 to 1980 John served as executive dean of Suffolk County Community College’s Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood.
John has also been a senior vice president at St. Francis Hospital and been appointed to a number of boards by the New York State Governor.

Huntington Chamber of Commerce Plans Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony, Special Open House Party Event

(Long Island, NY) Three days of music, food and drink will mark the grand opening in Huntington Village of Len Marks Photography and Jim Savalli’s Live in the Village magazine. The celebration begins with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, June 16, at 5:30 p.m. That night, the event will run until 9:00, and continue Wednesday and Thursday, June 17 and 18, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Len Marks. Photo Credit: Len Marks.

Marks’ and Savalli’s Huntington Village business neighbors are sponsoring the festivities and providing food and drink. They include Meehan’s, Porto Fino, Honu  and F.H. Riley’s restaurants, Kiss My Cake Dessert Shoppe,  and Shoreline Beverage. Local musicians will play each night in Marks’ studio and Savalli’s offices. The Paramount will give away tickets for upcoming performances.

Len Marks, a specialist in business portraits and performing-arts head shots, says “My clients want striking portraits and head shots that show the world who they are. Many people think they have to go to New York City. We offer that same level of skill, quality and service you expect in the city – and the same polished, sophisticated work – at our studio in Huntington.”

Marks said his approach is to make clients comfortable, to make the photo shoot fun: “I’m playful. I ask people about themselves. When they talk, their personality starts to reveal itself.” When he gets a client to relax, “they reveal their essence, who they really are. That’s exactly what you and your clients want their portrait to do. A great photograph gives the world a sense of who you are. Not just someone in a dress or a suit, but a person with a unique story.”

Marks has been in business since 1989. In addition to corporate and performing-arts portraits, he also creates product images and photographs fund-raising events. His services range from makeup and hair to graphic design and printing services. Marksalso operates a studio in Long Island City, Queens, to serve New York City clients.

$100 Million Fund Needed but Timing and Targeting Suggest Linkage to Private School Tax Credit

(Long Island, NY) Governor Cuomo announced in Yonkers today that he is proposing a $100 million fund for upstate schools “in crisis.”  The funds will be available for schools “North of the Bronx” according to the Governor.

“After five years in office, Governor Cuomo for the first time has acknowledged that New York State schools are in crisis and that more funding is essential to address the problem,” said Billy Easton,Executive Director for the Alliance for Quality Education. “His $100 million proposal is welcome relief for Yonkers and other schools north of New York City, but not nearly enough to address the crisis he has created. Apparently it required poll numbers catching up with parents who have been pointing to the growing crisis for years in order for Governor Cuomo to admit a crisis exists in our schools. The solution is in fully funding the $5 billion owed under the Campaign for Fiscal Equity to resolve the crisis statewide; instead Governor Cuomo has aggressively focused his energies on pushing for a costly taxpayer subsidy for private schools and their donors.”

“We are pleased that Governor Cuomo said the funding is not tied to his private school tax credit at the Yonkers event and we hope that is true because the funding for Yonkers and other schools is vital and should be adopted. Nonetheless, the Governor made the subtle link by acknowledging that the $100 million would be ‘mutually agreed upon’ with other unresolved issue—none of which has received more of his attention than the tax credit. The ploy is obvious—he is offering $100 million for urban schools in upstate districts represented by Assembly Democrats. He is trying to sweeten the pot to secure Assembly votes in support. But it must stand on its own merits, there is no room for a quid pro quo.”

(Long Island, NY) More than 2 years after Superstorm Sandy affected Long Island, many are still recovering from the damage and preparing for the possibility of another destructive storm. To mark the beginning of hurricane season and make sure South Shore communities are prepared for a disaster, the Long Island Volunteer Center and Neighbors Supporting Neighbors, through the generous support of State Farm, will be hosting an Emergency Preparedness Festival from 10 am- 1 pm on Saturday, June 20^th.

Open to the public, the primary purpose of the festival will be to prepare attendees for a disaster with an emergency kit building, trivia, a scavenger hunt, kid’s activity table, relay race, and informational tables from local organizations and disaster groups across Long Island. Some of the organizations involved include The Health and Welfare Council Long Term Recovery Group, Sustainable Long Island, the BeesWell Project, EmPower Solar, LI Cares, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Babylon Auxiliary Police, PKAD Architects, Babylon HAM Radio Operators, the American Red Cross, and Catholic Charities (which will be there with information about their new DART program that focuses on post-Sandy mental health and emergency preparedness).

At 10 am the event will kick off with opening words from elected officials and a presentation on the ABC’s of NY Rising by PKAD Architects. At 10:30 an Emergency Preparedness Scavenger Hunt will begin, the Go Kit Relay Race will begin at 11:30, at 12:15 there will be a raffle drawing, and the day will conclude with another presentation from PKAD Architects on the ABC’s of NY Rising. Prizes will also be distributed throughout the day to attendees that answer our emergency preparedness trivia questions.

This event will also include music and participation from local restaurants with food and gift card raffles. All attendees will leave with an emergency kit and some take home information about making a family communication plan, what items to put in a go-kit, and some of the steps to better prepare one’s family for a disaster.

State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 18,000 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve over 82 million policies and accounts – nearly 80 million auto, home, life, health and commercial policies, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 41 on the 2014 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.

The Long Island Volunteer Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, all-volunteer agency working to provide support to, and promote and advocate for, volunteer service on Long Island. We help individuals, families, and groups find volunteer opportunities with partner organizations through our website. LIVC has been assisting with the coordination of volunteers to effectively meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations affected by Superstorm Sandy.

Neighbors Supporting Neighbors is a non-profit organization led by Kim and Judy Skillen that is dedicated to transforming Neighborhoods by building the community’s strength. They are first responders with immediate disaster relief kits and food after disaster strikes and having been assisting the Babylon community with rebuild efforts since Superstorm Sandy hit.

If you have any questions contact Elisabeth Muehlemann at 854-608-7369 or elisabethmuehlemann@longislandvolunteercenter.org. The festival will be fun and informative for members of all Long Island communities so we hope everyone will come out with their friends and families.

(Long Island, NY) “No matter how hard we try to avoid it, every person has to address the issue of independent living as they undergo the aging process,” said Senator Kemp Hannon (R-Nassau).  “The growing awareness of the benefits of staying in your home as long as possible are widely recognized.”

Senator Hannon is inviting all Sixth Senatorial District residents to attend his “Aging In Place” seminar at the Farmingdale Public Library (116 Merritts Road, Farmingdale) on Tuesday, June 30, from 7:00–8:30 pm. Reservations for this event are required and can be made by visiting kemphannon.com or by calling Senator Hannon’s Community Office at 516-739-1700.

“Here in New York, the population aged 65 and over is projected to be almost 3 million, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services,” said Hannon.  “That is a steady increase, expected to continue, and we are working very hard to offer support services and information to help you stay in your home as long as possible.”

Featured topics include:

• Defining Programs: What is available to me?
• Obtaining Coverage for Home Care
• Locating Accredited and Licensed Senior Living
• Medicare, Medicaid and Medigap Eligibility
• Adult Day Care – Social Model vs. Medical Model

(Long Island, NY) Nassau County Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves will join Nassau County PBA President James Carver in honoring a Nassau Police Officer and two Advanced Medical Technicians (AMTs) as “Cop of the Month” on Monday, June 15, 2015 at 1:00 pm at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola, NY.  

In December of 2014, the Third Precinct received a call about a woman who was pregnant and in premature labor.  Upon arrival at the scene, the woman was found to have already delivered, and the newborn was blue in color, not breathing and with a very low and almost non-existent heartbeat.  Police Officer Michael Siarkowicz of the 3rd Pct. and AMT personnel Matthew Beshlian and Ryan Makovy began CPR on the newborn and continued during transport to the hospital.  Upon arrival at the hospital, the newborn was breathing, it’s color improved and had a stronger and increased heart rate. Due to the efforts of these men the newborn survived.

The Nassau Police PBA and the Nassau County Legislature awards its “Cop of the Month” distinction to Nassau County Police Officers and first responders for their superlative and outstanding efforts in the line of duty.

WHEN:

• Monday, June 15, 2015 at 1:00 PM

WHERE:

• Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building
  1550 Franklin Avenue, Mineola, NY

Class also includes officers from nine other agencies

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Edward Webber will preside over the Suffolk County Police Academy graduation ceremony on June 15 at Stony Brook University.

The recruits, who have completed 26 weeks of academy training, have received more than 1150 hours of instruction on topics including law, emergency medical training, defensive tactics, domestic violence, mental illness, firearms, crash management and emergency driving. Twenty-nine of the Suffolk County officers have prior law enforcement experience and 11 have military backgrounds.

Along with the 65 Suffolk County Police Department officers, the graduation ceremony will include 24 new officers who will work for the following departments: Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Riverhead Town Police Department, SUNY Stony Brook Police Department, Southold Town Police Department, Southampton Town Police Department, New York State Attorney General’s Office, Northport Village Police Department, East Hampton Village Police Department and East Hampton Town Police Department.

What:

• Suffolk County Police Recruit Graduation

When:

• Monday, June 15 at 11 a.m.

Where:

• Staller Center for the Arts
  Main Stage Theatre
  Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook

(Long Island, NY) Peconic Landing is proud to announce that its interactive art accessibility program “Art Without Barriers” has been named one of LeadingAge New York’s 2015 Innovations of the Year.

The award distinguishes organizations that use creative problem solving to improve the quality and access of services for seniors, according to the advocacy group website. It was presented to Peconic Landing June 9 by LeadingAge president/CEO James W. Clyne, Jr.

“This award recognizes programs that stand out because of their creativity, vision, success and ability to replicate,” said Clyne.   “Art Without Barriers goes beyond helping seniors, it caters to people of other abilities.”

“Art Without Barriers” is designed to ensure people of all visual, hearing and mobile abilities have the opportunity to enjoy art. Made possible by Peconic Landing’s Resident Art Committee and grant funding provided by the Mattituck Lions Club, the program features an interactive tour of Peconic Landing’s sculpture garden which is home to 18 different works of art displayed across campus.

Peconic Landing is proud to announce that its interactive art accessibility program “Art Without Barriers” has been named one of LeadingAge New York’s 2015 Innovations of the Year. Photo Credit: Peconic Landing.

Guests of different abilities have the option of using descriptive audio narration available via a free smartphone download, large print or braille catalogues, as well as easy access to the garden by way of cleared foot trails to improve the tour experience.

“People from all over the world, from as far as China, have engaged with the program and downloaded the descriptive audio to enjoy,” Dominic Antignano, Peconic Landing’s cultural arts curator. “That means a lot to us, that people are connecting Peconic Landing with culture and the arts.”

The award was presented to Peconic Landing June 9 by LeadingAge president/CEO James W. Clyne, Jr. Photo Credit: Peconic Landing.

Art descriptions adhere to standards set by the American Foundation for the Blind. Visitors are also invited to touch the sculptures to get a sense of their texture and design. (Click here for an informational video about the program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9DUUCXnTCw)

“This program allows us to connect with our residents, but also members of the greater community,” said Robert J. Syron, president/CEO of Peconic Landing. “This award winning program provides greater access for all to enjoy culture and the arts.”

The award distinguishes organizations that use creative problem solving to improve the quality and access of services for seniors, according to the advocacy group website. Photo Credit: Peconic Landing.

Through the program, Peconic Landing has formed relationships with the Suffolk Independent Living Organization, Suffolk County’s Office for People with Disabilities, the New York State Commission for the Blind and the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, helping it to understand the needs of those with visual impairments.

Audio narratives are available as free downloads to any smartphone from Peconic Landing’s own iTunes channel. For more information or to schedule a guided tour please contact Dominic Antignano at (631) 477-3800 ext. 229.

LeadingAge New York is a not-for-profit advocacy group representing more than 600 retirement communities throughout the state. It also represents an estimated 150,000 professionals serving more than 500,000 New Yorkers annually.

Peconic Landing is an innovative, not-for-profit CCAC-CARF-accredited continuing care retirement community (CCRC) located on the waterfront in Greenport, N.Y., on the North Fork of Long Island. Among its long list of achievements, Peconic Landing is the only equity-based LifeCare community in the state of New York. It is a member of LeadingAge and LeadingAge New York and embraces a healthy, active lifestyle infused with a sense of exploration, creativity and generosity of spirit.

(Long Island, NY) Musician Tom Manuel, President and Curator of The Jazz Loft announced today a very special benefit and awards brunch will be held to honor legendary drummers in the jazz world, as well as educators and “rising stars.” The event will take place at Latitude 121 Restaurant in the Stony Brook Village Center on Sunday, June 26 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and will include memorabilia on display from The Jazz Loft collection.

Jimmy Pirone circa 1961. Photo Credit: WMHO.

A “Performance Legend Award” will be given to celebrated musicians Percy Brice, Jimmy Pirone and Charlie Busterna whose credits include performing with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Harry Belafonte and Sarah Vaughan; the “Educator Award” will go to Ed Balsamo who has been a prominent musician and educator for over 40 years; and Glen Chiarello, currently a music performance major at LIU Post, will receive a “Rising Student Star Award.”

A three course menu will be offered with a complimentary Bloody Mary or Mimosa.  Tickets are $40 per person and space is limited.  They can be purchased at Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s Educational & Cultural Center at 631-689-5888.

The Jazz Loft is a not for profit organization located at 275 Christian Avenue, Stony Brook with a planned opening for this summer.  Its mission is to unite this dynamic, American-born music with future generations through performance, education, preservation and advocacy. There are already over 9,000 items planned for the space.  Many of them are from family members of jazz greats generously offering these treasured possessions for the public to enjoy.  To donate or for further information contact 631-463-6413 or visit wmho.org.