(Long Island, NY) Second Squad detectives report the arrest of a Forest Hills man for a Robbery that occurred on Friday, May 22, 2015 at 1:30 am in Westbury.

According to detectives, while taking photographs outside the Viana Hotel & Spa, 3998 Brush Hollow Road, a 35 year old female was approached by an unknown male who forcibly struggled with the victim for her cell phone. After successfully gaining control over it he fled the scene on foot.

Nassau County Police report the arrest of David Nourmand, 32, of Forest Hills, for a Robbery that occurred on Friday, May 22, in Westbury. Photo Credit: NCPD.

The hotel manager reviewed video surveillance of the incident and recognized the subject to be a patron of the hotel. He was identified as David Nourmand, 32, of Forest Hills.

Nourmand returned to the hotel around 2:30 pm that day and was placed under arrest after 911 was contacted and police arrived at the scene.

A subsequent investigation by detectives revealed that Nourmand was also the subject involved in incident at 1:20 am that morning where he forced, with his vehicle, a taxi cab with patrons inside to pull over and stop on Wolverhollow Road in Upper Brookville. Nourmand then approached the taxi, verbally identified himself as a police officer and demanded identifications of those inside stating, “We are looking for a killer.” When asked by the occupants to see his police identification, Nourmand ran back to his vehicle and fled the scene.

The defendant is charged with Robbery 3rd Degree and Criminal Impersonation 2nd Degree. He will be arraigned in First District Court, Hempstead on Saturday, May 23, 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.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police Pattern Crime Unit detectives are investigating a robbery that occurred on Friday, May 22, at a bank in Holbrook.

A man entered Chase Bank, located at 991 Main St., at 2:23 p.m., approached a teller and displayed a note demanding cash. The teller complied and gave the suspect cash from the drawer. The man fled on foot south in the parking lot.

Suffolk County Police are investigating a robbery that occurred on Friday, May 22, at a bank in Holbrook. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

The robber is described as white, approximately 6 feet tall, 35 to 40 years old with a thin build. He was wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses, a gray shirt and blue jeans.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

(Long Island, NY) The Major Case Bureau reports the details of a bank robbery that occurred on Friday, May 22, 2015 at 1:33 pm in Westbury.

According to detectives, a male black subject in his 20’s, 6’ tall, wearing a dark jacket, gray hoodie, sunglasses and blue jeans, entered the Capital One Bank located at 2350 Stewart Avenue and verbally demanded money from the male teller.

Nassau County Police reports the details of a bank robbery that occurred on Friday, May 22, in Westbury. Photo Credit: NCPD.

The subject fled on foot across Stewart Avenue heading northbound on Cowl Lane to Choir Lane with an unknown amount of U.S. currency. There were 7 employees and 1 customer present at the time of the robbery. No injuries were reported.

Detectives request anyone with information regarding the above crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers 1-800-244- TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

(Long Island, NY) Mattituck Resident, George Solomon was honored by the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad with their Humanitarian of the year award, at the Annual Fundraising Gala held at the Crest Hollow Country Club, in Woodbury. George has received nine Paul Harris Fellows for his work in Rotary, and was honored with the Service Above Self Award and the Citation for Meritorious Service from Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation.

George’s projects have included bringing clean water and solar energy to Nan Sema and Anse-à-Galet, two small villages located on the small island of La Gonave, off Haiti’s coast.  He has written numerous grants for medical and dental missions, and has been the liaison between the Rotary Clubs of Haiti and several NGO’s working for the health and wellbeing of the Haitian people.

Pictured L-R : Micheline Lerebours Dole, MD, MPH, President, MHE Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad, NY Chapter; fellow honoree and GOL board member, Florence Marc-Charles; Rob Raylman, Executive Director Gift of Life International (also honored); George Solomon and Paul Nacier, MD, Gastroenterologist, Kingsbrook Jewish Hospital. Photo Credit: Haitian Physicians Abroad.

George accepted a seat on the Board of Rotary’s Gift of Life International in 2009, which is made up of 72 Gift of Life programs around the world.  He has been involved with several Global grants in 20 different countries and has made trips to Haiti, Hungary, Dominican Republic and El Salvador to secure life saving heart operations for children in need.  His work in Haiti led to the formation of Kado Lavi, the new Gift of Life Haiti, where 185 open heart surgeries have been successfully performed in the last four years.  George is presently a member of the Rocky Point Rotary Club and served as District Governor of Suffolk County from 2008 – 2009.

(Long Island, NY) Courtney Meringer, Director of Medical Staff Services at Eastern Long Island Hospital, has been selected to receive the prestigious Laura Goodale Award for 2015.  Courtney will be presented with the award at a dinner held in her honor at the Soundview Restaurant in Greenport on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 from 6 pm to 9 pm.

The Laura Goodale award, established in 1986 by lifelong ELIH supporter Carl E. Vail, Sr. and the Rotary Clubs of Southold and Greenport, is given in the spirit of Laura Goodale, a former ELIH nurse with a 42 year service record that was so extraordinary, it won her recognition as the ‘Florence Nightingale’ of the North Fork.

Each Rotary Club will make a contribution to Eastern Long Island Hospital as a tribute to Courtney for her dedication and commitment to the healthcare profession.

Courtney, who resides in Mattituck, has been at ELIH since 2007.  “Courtney is a valued member of the healthcare team, whose work directly impacts patient care,” states D. Patricia Pispisa, Vice President Patient Care Services.

“Courtney’s rapport with physicians and allied health professionals is essential to the operations of the Medical Staff Services department and is an integral part of patient safety at the hospital.  She remains focused on making sure the all practitioners meet the highest standards and guidelines for quality and excellence established by the Joint Commission.”

(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,I – South Huntington) recently partnered with the Catholic University of America’s Men’s Lacrosse team to hold a season-long clothing drive to benefit the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Over 50 articles of clothing were donated.

Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci with Legislative Aide Brian Finnegan, who is a Catholic University alumni and lacrosse player. Photo Credit: NYS.

“I want to thank Catholic University’s Men’s Lacrosse team for their efforts to provide clothing to those who protect our great nation,” said Lupinacci. “As we celebrate Memorial Day this weekend, it’s important to take a moment to remember those who have sacrificed so much for us. I thank Head Coach Brooks Singer and each member of the program for taking the initiative to make a difference in our community. I encourage all residents of the Huntington area to honor those brave men and women who have answered the call of duty.”

(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,I-South Huntington) accompanied by Assemblyman Andrew Raia (R,I,C-East Northport) and Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, honored fallen Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers at the ‘Tree of Life’ Memorial in Albany.

Left to right: Andrea Golinsky, Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci, Robert Franz, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and Assemblyman Andrew Raia. Photo Credit: NYS.

“EMS members work around-the-clock to assure our families are in good hands in moments of crisis, and it’s important to recognize their services and sacrifices,” said Lupinacci. “We are fortunate to have some of the best EMS members right here in New York State, and I was glad to see several dedicated Long Island EMS members make the trip to Albany for this event as well.”

(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Chad A. Lupinacci (R, C, I – South Huntington) recently attended the Ronald Reagan Republican “Gipper Award” ceremony. This ceremony is held annually to honor the conservative Republican who epitomizes the qualities of President Ronald Reagan. Lupinacci gathered with local elected officials to deliver the award to Congressman Lee Zeldin (NY-01) at The Larkfield in East Northport, New York.

Left to right: Assemblyman Andrew Raia, Congressman Lee Zeldin, Islip Town Councilman John C. Cochran Jr., Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci. Photo Credit: NYS.

The ceremony also highlighted the efforts of other elected officials, including Huntington Town Councilman Eugene Cook, Islip Town Councilman John C. Cochran Jr. and Lori Trentacoste for lifetime achievement. Below are Lupinacci’s remarks from the ceremony.

“We are gathered here today to commemorate President Ronald Reagan, while also honoring those who have followed in his footsteps during their life of public service. Congressman Lee Zeldin, this year’s ‘Gipper’ recipient, is a true inspiration to us all and I am proud to have worked with him during his tenure with the New York State Senate.

“Congressman Lee Zeldin is devoted to helping our country, New York State and all residents of Long Island. As a veteran, he serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Veterans Affairs – two fitting committee assignments – and is committed to supporting our veterans while on active duty and later in life.

“Tonight, we have several local leaders who are also committed to serving our communities. There is no one who is more dedicated in his efforts than Huntington Town Councilman Eugene Cook. As the Assemblyman for New York State’s 10^th District and a lifelong Huntington resident, I am proud to call Councilman Cook a friend and I thank him for his diligent service to the people of Huntington.

“In closing, I would just like to thank the Ronald Reagan Republican Club for their constant support. Your efforts to support transparency in government, fiscal responsibility and the Republican Party platform in Huntington do not go unnoticed. Each of you truly help make Huntington a better place for all.”

Hofstra and Adelphi each receive $250,000 to support training programs for personnel serving young children with special needs

(Long Island, NY) U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice announced today that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded $250,000 to Hofstra University and $250,000 to Adelphi University to support programs that will prepare graduate students to serve young children with special needs. The $250,000 grant will cover the first year for each program, and it is anticipated that both programs will receive the same amount of funding each year for a total of five years. Both grants were provided through the Department of Education’s Personnel Preparation program, which helps address needs for qualified special education personnel and ensure that those personnel have the skills and knowledge needed to serve children with special needs.

The grant awarded to Hofstra University will support the Hofstra Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Professionals (HECIP) program to prepare highly-qualified teachers to support young children with disabilities and their families. Through the program, 51 college graduates will be recruited for a dual certification master’s degree program in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education and will be trained to serve young children with special needs.

The grant awarded to Adelphi University will support the Infant Mental Health and Developmental Practice (IMH-DP) project, an interdisciplinary program to prepare graduate students to become IMH-DP specialists who will serve young children with special needs. IMH-DP integrates a university-based, credit-bearing program into the curriculum of social work, school psychology, mental health counseling and speech language pathology, and will result in 40 highly qualified IMH-DP specialists.

“These programs will ensure that educational and health professionals get the training, knowledge and skills they need to help children with special needs succeed throughout their lives and achieve their full potential,” said Rep. Kathleen Rice. “This federal funding allows the programs to get off the ground and get started, and I’ll work to ensure they get the funding they need each year to continue their important work.”

“Providing outstanding teaching to students with disabilities is extraordinarily important and this award will allow us to support highly-qualified teachers to help fulfill this need,” said Dr. Herman A. Berliner, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Hofstra University.

“There is strong evidence that social-emotional development and specifically the formation of secure relationships lay the foundation for learning and competence in young children. This award will support the implementation of the innovative, cutting-edge program to amplify and fortify the preparation of early childhood professionals. It is our plan that this program will be permanent at the close of the award,” said Dr. Gayle D. Insler, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Adelphi University.

(Long Island, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman released the following statement on today’s decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which affirmed the federal district court decision granting New York’s motion for a preliminary injunction against defendants Actavis plc and Forest Laboratories LLC.

“Today’s appeals court decision is a sweeping victory for consumers and Alzheimer’s patients. Our lawsuit and the court’s injunction protect competition and prevent Actavis from coercing Alzheimer’s patients into taking drugs they do not want in order to charge them monopoly prices. The litigation brought by my office sends a clear message: Drug companies cannot illegally prioritize profits over patients. My office will continue to protect New Yorkers from anticompetitive practices by drug manufacturers.”