HALF HOLLOW HILLS Copyright © 2015 Long Islander News
Online at www.LongIslanderNews.com
VOL. 17, ISSUE 19
NEWSPAPER THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015
2 SECTIONS, 40 PAGES
MELVILLE
Fighting Kidney Disease, One Selfie At A Time By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandergroup.com
A Hills East freshman was recognized by a member of the House of Representatives for her campaign that harnesses the power of social media to raise money and awareness for her brother and others suffering from a rare form of pediatric kidney failure. Congressman Steve Israel (DHuntington) honored Sydney Levine, who founded the “Stand Up and Be Counted Challenge” to find a cure for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and Nephrotic Syndrome. FSGS is the leading cause of kid-
ney failure in children and afflicts her 11-year-old brother Matthew. To fight back, she turned her cell phone and those of thousands across the world into a fundraising tool. Starting March 1 – which is Kidney Awareness month – Levine decided to give Matthew a birthday present. Along with her friend Parker Siegel, whose brother Owen has Nephrotic Syndrome, Levine made a video, challenging others to take a video or a selfie and post it with the hashtag #SUBCselfie to a social media platform. Then, with the missive, “keep the party going,” the poster challenges five friends to (Continued on page A17)
Congressman Steve Israel honors Hills East student Sydney Levine at LIU Post June 6. Levine founded the “Stand Up and Be Counted Challenge” in the battle against kidney disease. She is pictured with her brother, Matthew, who battles FSGS, a degenerative kidney disease.
TOWN OF HUNTINGTON
SPOTLIGHT
Marc Maron’s Maronation Tour A13
Cook Nabs Conservative Line By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandergroup.com
Huntington Republicans and Conservatives, who had butted heads earlier this month over endorsements, appear to have found common ground, reaching an agreement that gives Independence Party member Gene Cook three lines on the ballot in his re-election bid. Last week, Huntington GOP chair Toni Tepe said she and Conservative chair Frank Tinari reached an agreement in which incumbent Cook will receive the Conservative line, while Conser-
Inside This Issue: Hills Teens Performs At L.I. Pride, A13
vative District Court Judge Marian Tinari, who was previously supported by the town Democratic committee, will be crossendorsed by the Republicans. “Both of us agreed that both individuals – Gene and Marian – are well-qualified,” Tepe said. In addition to Tinari, who is Conservative chairman Frank Tinari’s wife, and Cook, the Huntington Conservatives are running attorney Michael Helfer for town board, and have crossendorsed Democrat Ester Bivona for Receiver of Taxes and Republican Jo-Ann Raia for Town Clerk.
r e m m u S
Prior to striking a deal, Tepe had said Helfer’s candidacy would preclude Republicans, who were seeking a unified Republican-Conservative slate, from cross-endorsing endorsing Marian Tinari. Now, the Republicans-Conservative alliance means a third line for Cook -- placing the councilman on firm footing as he seeks his second four-year term on the town board -- and an unopposed race for Marian Tinari. Huntington Democratic Committee Chair Mary Collins said that “nobody’s happy” with (Continued on page A17)
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