Half Hollow Hills Newspaper - March 28, 2013

HALF HOLLOW HILLS Copyright © 2013 Long Islander Newspapers, LLC

Online at www.LongIslanderNews.com VOLUME SIXTEEN, ISSUE 3

N E W S P A P E R 2 SECTIONS, 28 PAGES

THURSDAY, MARCH 28 , 2013

DIX HILLS

Trading In Sand Dunes For Shopping Developer plans $100-million, upscale retail center for portion of Mediavilla property jbirzon@longislandernews.com

A builder linked to development at the Americana Manhasset has proposed an upscale retail center for a 38-acre slice of the Mediavilla Farm apple orchard on Jericho Turnpike.

Great Neck-based developer Kouros Torkan, of the Villadom Corporation, hopes to transform the 55-acre property, currently made up of sand dunes, into a two-story, mixed-use center comprised of both retail and professional tenants. The facility will be entirely commercial, although the property is currently zoned residential with a farm exemption.

The developer’s construction will cost approximately $80 million, and the additional work tenants will contribute is estimated at $20 million.

The 55-acre property currently belongs to Solomon Mediavilla. Approximately 43 acres would need to be rezoned, and approximately 10 acres across the property will be preserved as green space. The other half of the prop-

Half Hollow Hills photos/Jacqueline Birzon & Mike Koehler

By Jacqueline Birzon

erty, owned by Solomon’s sister, Mary Pombo, will remain untouched.

Solomon signed a 99-year lease with Villadom that allows him future development rights to his half of the property.

Torkan recently presented his plan to various civic associations, including Preserving Elwood Now, to receive feedback (Continued on page A10)

Great Neck-based developer Kouros Torkan presents his plans for an upscale retail center, which would lie on a portion of the 55-acre Mediavilla property, left.

MELVILLE

Closing On ‘The Club’ Could Happen This Week With planning and court approvals in hand, attorneys say land sales are imminent

By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandernews.com

Huntington’s planning board signed off Wednesday on site plans, pictured, for the BAPS’ new 49,196 square-foot mandir at 25 Deshon Drive – the final piece in a deal that will yield Sweet Hollow Park and The Club at Melville senior community along with the temple.

The transactions needed to allow an affordable senior housing community, Sweet Hollow Park and a new mandir for the BAPS to be built are expected to happen any day now, attorneys for the religious order and Deshon Partners said.

Huntington’s planning board granted final approval March 20 for a site plan for the Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam (BAPS) mandir, to be built on 5 acres of Deshon Partners’ 18-acre parcel located at 25 Deshon Drive. They will share the parcel with The Club at Melville, a 261unit, for-sale, affordable 55-and-over senior community.

The 49,196-square-foot mandir will be two stories (but less than 45 feet) tall and have 220 parking spaces, according to plans filed with the town. Most of the square footage, to the tune of 42,135 (Continued on page A10)

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THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • MARCH 28, 2013 • A3

MELVILLE

Israel To IRS: Back Off On Seniors Argues crackdown on IRA violations hits elderly who make mistakes too hard dschrafel@longislandernews.com

An intensified crackdown on IRA withdrawal and deposit violations by the IRS is hitting seniors too hard for innocent mistakes, Congressman Steve Israel (DHuntington) argued at a press conference Monday.

At his Melville district office, Israel and a panel of financial and legal experts honed in on a penalty incurred when IRA account holders, who use the account to set money aside for retirement tax-free, fail to make required withdrawals from their account after reaching age 70-and-ahalf. That can result in the loss of half of the money that should have been withdrawn, and with no statute of limitations, the penalties can pile up quickly.

“I want the IRS to be very, very aggressive in pursuing cheating and fraud,” Israel said, “but I’m hearing rising concern from my constituents that an innocent error… will expose those seniors to excessive penalties.”

He later noted that 40 percent of Americans have an IRA. Exceeding the IRA contribution cap can result in a 6-percent penalty on the excess, but failing to withdraw at age 70-and-ahalf can trigger the big 50-percent fine.

Israel said IRA account holders under age 50 can contribute no more than $5,500 a year, while those over 50 can contribute $6,500 a year. Anyone over 59-and-a-half

years old may withdraw from their account as penalty-free, taxable income, but once they reach age 70-and-a-half, they must begin withdrawing from their IRA. Jericho-based CPA Seymour Goldberg explained that the crackdown on IRA violations stems from an Oct. 15 report issued by the Major Investment division of the IRS to the U.S. Treasury Department’s inspector general.

In a January letter, Israel urged IRS leaders to step up IRA compliance education, reassess penalties for innocent mistakes, and share with the public details of its plans to increase enforcement. Israel said he has not heard back yet from the IRS. On Monday, Israel reiterated that push, urging the IRS to give seniors an opportunity to fix unintentional IRA mistakes without penalty.

Ron Fatoullah, an elder-law attorney based in Great Neck, said the IRS crackdown on IRA violations could have a dangerous impact on the welfare of seniors.

“This crackdown will affect our frail elderly and their retirement accounts that they hope to rely on as they age,” he said.

“These seniors are not criminals, but rather law-abiding citizens who want to do the right thing, but who are simply not aware of the distribution rules.”

Goldberg recommended distributing a frequently asked questions sheet for consumers to highlight common errors and encouraging closer collaboration with ac-

Half Hollow Hills photo/Danny Schrafel

By Danny Schrafel

Congressman Steve Israel urges the IRS to reconsider a recent crackdown in noncompliance with IRA contribution and withdrawal rules at a Monday morning press conference at his Melville district office. counting and legal professionals so families can avoid IRA and inheritance-related tax pitfalls.

Education, he stressed, is paramount to generating increased compliance.

“The problem is the IRS has problems manpower-wise to deliver the public message,” Goldberg said. “If the IRS can’t deliver, how do you expect the enforcement to go on without people knowing the problem?”

Certified financial planner Henry Montag said additional professional development for attorneys, accountants and financial planners handling IRAs is important as well.

“There’s an awful lot of information here that the professionals aren’t familiar with, let alone the lay person,” he said. “As a result of that, there’s an awful lot of money that could possibly go the wrong way.”

TOWN OF HUNTINGTON

In Support Of Second Train Track Local voices say increased ridership, possible Republic station essential for survival Half Hollow Hills photo/Luann Dallojacono

By Mike Koehler mkoehler@longislandernews.com

An upcoming expansion of the Long Island Railroad’s main line has community members within the southern stretch of Huntington very optimistic.

The LIRR is nearing the end of preliminary planning for their Double Track Project. When completed in late 2018, two full tracks will run from their Farmingdale station to their Ronkonkoma station. Currently just one track runs most of that length.

LIRR Commuter Council Chairman Mark Epstein is a Melville resident who uses the Wyandanch station to commute into New York City. Adding a full second line, he said, would avoid delays from broken trains and allow for more riders.

“People who take the Ronkonkoma line, the single track affects our lives each and every day,” Epstein said.

Melville Chamber of Commerce President Mike DeLuise said many fellow residents of the hamlet use either the Farmingdale or Huntington stations. He believes creating the ability to run more trains into the city could open some congestion on Long Island.

The Double Track Project is a two-phase project that began in 2012. LIRR officials say will double the number of trains between Ronkonkoma and Farmingdale.

Phase I consists of adding a second track north of the current line between Ronkonkoma and Central Islip. When 30 percent of the design is complete next month, LIRR spokesman Sal Arena said

The LIRR’s Double Track Project, which will add a second track between Ronkonkoma and Farmingdale, would have a significant impact on the Half Hollow Hills area. they will issue a design/build contract.

Construction is expected to be complete by September 2016.

Phase II incorporates adding second track from Central Islip to Farmingdale.

That includes adding tracks south of the existing lines, except for the existing double track between Brentwood and Deer Park. Design is expected to begin in 2015 for the second stage, with construction finishing in late 2018.

The project is not expected to require additional land as both phases will use property already within LIRR’s right-of-way.

The price tag for Phase I is $138 million, already funded through the MTA’s 20102014 Capital Program. The cost of Phase II is $297 million, and has not been funded.

Arena said they expect it to be part of the MTA’s 2015-2019 Capital Program.

Epstein said the budget has to be watched carefully to ensure the agency does not overspend.

Meanwhile, the LIRR spokesman said the project will have no direct impact on fares.

Adding more trains and more riders could defray any subsequent increase, Ep-

stein said, while DeLuise argued it may add value to the current service, which he considers overpriced.

“Look at what they charge you now,” the chamber head said.

At the intersection of Dix Hills, Brentwood and Commack, Jerry Wolkoff is still working on his Heartland Business Center.

Wolkoff has spent 10 years trying to turn the 452 acres, formerly the Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center, into a city of high-density residential and commercial property.

The Double Track Project, Wolkoff said, would definitely benefit the future residents of Heartland.

“I think it’d be wonderful for everyone on Long Island. It’ll speed up the time it would take to get into the city and make it much safer and better. I think it’s a wonderful thing,” he said.

The project could also connect with the future Republic station. A popular topic of conversation of late, especially involving Bus Rapid Transit systems along Route 110, Republic was closed in 1986 after track in the area was electrified.

DeLuise and Vision Long Island Executive Director Eric Alexander spoke about the advanced bus system in October as a way to connect the North and South Shores of Long Island through mass transit.

The Double Track Project, Arena said, would provide the LIRR with the necessary infrastructure to service a potential Republic station.

“While such a station is currently not funded at this time, LIRR believes that the (Continued on page 13)

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POLICE REPORT Compiled by Mike Koehler

Food For Thought A history lesson… For all of my non-Jewish read-

It’s Over

Venezuelan rats. They say it was probably destroyed during the lab’s cleaning process. Still, the prospect of no one knowing where a virus with the word for “profuse bleeding” in its name went is not exactly something I want to hear.

ers, Passover took place on Monday and Tuesday. The holiday commemorates the Jews escape from the ancient Egyptians, including the marking of doorposts with the blood of a lamb so the last of the 10 plagues – death of the first-born Egyptian son – would pass Danger, Will Robinson… Although I wonder how over their house. According to some, Christianity’s observance of Maundy Thursday – the observance of the much more dangerous a missing vile of virus is than Last Supper three days before Easter Sunday – has its the stunts Harold Lloyd used to pull in his silent roots in Passover. The Last Supper may have actually comedies. A few of the staff members last week went to the Cinema Arts Centre to been eaten on Passover. Some Muslims also fast see “Safety Last,” the 1923 around the same time in obsersilent film classic with the vance of how Moses and his fol- IN THE KNOW famous scene where Lloyd lowers were saved by the parting WITH AUNT ROSIE hangs from the clock. What’s of the Red Sea. However, their rereally amazing is what Lloyd ligion specifically chooses different dates than the was able to accomplish Jewish holiday of Passover. physically with no green screen to help create any ilMarch Madness… Have you caught the fever? lusions. Like Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, The brackets are out and everyone and their mothers Lloyd did his own stunts, and there was no safety net seem to be talking college hoops. I can hardly keep up in case the worst happened. In fact, he scaled the with the teams I’m supposed to know, let alone all of building and dangled from that clock even without a the other ones. Who’s ever heard of the Creighton Blue right thumb and index finger, both of which he lost Jays or La Salle Explorers? One of the newest teams to performing another stunt years earlier! Talk about the bracket, Florida Gulf Coast, is the first No. 15 seed risking your life for your art. If you saw the film to reach the Sweet 16. Just don’t remind our editor of “Hugo” last year, you saw that main character hang that fact. She’s a Hoya, and Florida Gulf Coast beat from the clock in an homage to “Safety Last,” and that Georgetown on the way, busting many a bracket, in- for sure was computer generated. I hear that Sofia Vergara also hangs from a clock in one of her Diet Pepsi cluding hers. commercials, although I can’t say for sure how real Leave the madness out of it… Has anyone else her stunt was. Either way, I raise my glass (of hot tea, heard the radio commercial for a Long Island eye care due to this not-spring-like spring weather) to those practice that is using the college basketball tournament who do their own stunts, today and yesterday, for our as a promotion? Every 31st patient who comes in for a entertainment. And if you can check out the silent consultation wins a free Lasik procedure. When it movie series at Cinema Arts Centre, the staff here comes to something involving body parts, lasers and/or came back highly recommending it. knives and my vision, I think I’d rather my doctors be ardent fans of something calmer, like golf.

(Aunt Rosie wants to hear from you! If you have

No need to panic… it’s just that there’s a missing vial of deadly virus. Apparently a vial containing hemorrhagic fever disappeared in a Texas research facility over the weekend. Officials say the virus is native to Venezuela, and it can only be transmitted through

Send a photo of your pre-school age child or your favorite pet along with a brief anecdotal background and we’ll consider it for “Baby Faces” or “Pet Faces.” For babies, include baby’s full name, date of birth, hometown and names of parents and grandparents. For pets, please include the pet’s name, age, hometown and breed, if applicable. Send to info@longislandernews.com or mail it to: Baby of the Week or Pet of the Week, c/o LongIslander, 149 Main St., Huntington, NY 11743. Please include a daytime phone number for verification purposes.

comments, ideas, or tips about what’s happening in your neck of the woods, write to me today and let me know the latest. To contact me, drop a line to Aunt Rosie, c/o The Long-Islander, 149 Main Street, Huntington NY 11743. Or try the e-mail at aunt.rosieli@gmail.com)

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Were They Trying To Get In? A Huntington resident called Suffolk County police on March 21 about criminal mischief. Police found a rear window of the home damaged.

Teen Flees Scene In Transformer SUV A motorist called Northport Village police to report being rear-ended along Fort Salonga Road on March 21.

The complainant said a white SUV driven by a male teenager hit the back of his vehicle. Both drivers agreed to pull to the side of the road, but the complainant said the SUV fled southbound on Laurel Road. No damage was observed and the complainant was uninjured, although the case was forwarded to a detective. The complainant said the SUV had a Transformers sticker on the rear driver’s side window.

Hey, That’s Not You! A Brooklyn man was arrested by Suffolk County police on March 20 after he allegedly used a stolen credit card and driver’s license at a Huntington department store. The 45-year-old suspect allegedly bought three watches and a gift card. He was charged with grand larceny, identity theft and possession of a forged instrument, all felonies. Police said the credit card and license belonged to a Connecticut man.

Cops Charge Teen With Assault

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Suffolk police responded to the Cold Spring Harbor LIRR station on March 22 about a theft. The complainant said someone stole a catalytic converter from their 2004 Toyota.

Suffolk police were dispatched to a Centerport home on March 19 about a possible burglary. Somebody entered a 2010 Toyota Corolla through an unlocked door.

An iPod shuffle and cash were stolen.

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A Centerport resident called Suffolk County police to report a theft on March 21. Police found prescription medications and two Mac Pro laptops were stolen.

Suffolk police responded to a Huntington parking lot on March 20 about criminal mischief. The complainant said an unknown person scratched the front and passenger side doors of their 2011 Nissan Rogue.

Arrests After Banquet

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Wonder Where Stolen Drugs Will End Up

That’s A Lot Of Scratching

“They think it’s a better thing, but they’re really fooling themselves if they think they’re not doing both their children and other children a serious injustice by promoting drinking in the home.”

HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER

Suffolk police responded to Huntington Station about possible aggravated harassment on March 22. The complainant said they had been receiving texts and email messages from an ex-employee.

expires

A Dix Hills teenager was arrested for assault on March 19. The 16-year-old allegedly attacked another female at a state-run residential facility in Dix Hills.

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TOWN OF HUNTINGTON

State Cuts Threaten To Disable Services Governor’s proposed 2013-2014 budget includes 6 percent reduction in disability care jbirzon@longislandernews.com

Andrew Holmes, 20, requires 24 hours of professional supervision, seven days a week. A resident of the Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI) Children’s Residential Program in Huntington, he was diagnosed with autism as a toddler. His mother, Ellen, said without the services offered by DDI, her son’s quality of life would be significantly reduced.

Governor Cuomo’s 2013-2014 proposed budget cuts may compromise those services that have given Andrew the tools to succeed in life, proposing a $120-million reduction in aid to the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), and $380 in cuts for Medicaid services that assist the developmentally disabled throughout the state.

The Huntington residential DDI program, based on Little Plains Road in Huntington, offers children ages 5-21 years old the opportunity to receive individualized attention through educational, vocational and social services offered at the facility.

Andrew was mainstreamed into a regular classroom at the age of 6, however he was transferred back to DDI after his aggressive behavior became a problem when functioning at school.

His brother Thomas, 17, is also on the autism spectrum; however his needs are different from those of this older brother. Thomas was also mainstreamed into a regular classroom when he turned 6 years old, and has stayed in an integrated educational setting since.

As a student, Andrew received educational services through DDI, and continued his experience through the CPR program where he has made “fantastic progress.”

“Initially, coming in, he was having up to eight tantrums a day. Now, having one every couple of months, that number has significantly gone down from eight a day, due to the outstanding care and help [he receives] at

DDI,” Holmes said.

Holmes said at his worst, Andrew needs the attention of four aids to calm him down and restrain him during an outburst. Andrew was denied from three other agencies because of the burden of his care, and DDI was the only organization that would accommodate his needs. Due to the severity of his behavior and his size—Andrew is 6’2’’ and weights 300 pounds—his parents do not have the ability to calm him down on their own.

His mother said that when Andrew lived a home, family members suffered injuries due to his increasing temper, resulting in temporary loss of eyesight and broken bones.

The governor’s budget proposal includes a reconfiguration of the Medicaid developmental disability financing system, called the Mental Hygiene Stabilization Fund, to help state agencies and providers withstand a $1.1-billion loss in Medicaid funding.

The state proposes to cover $500 million in losses by having the developmentally disabled provider community absorb a 6-percent reduction.

An excerpt from the proposed 2013-2014 legislative budget states, “OPWDD is seeking authorization from the Federal government to make changes… Without these changes there could be significant negative consequences on the State’s ability to maintain current service levels. To ensure OPWDD delivers the most integrated and cost effective services possible, the budget supports ongoing plans to downsize institutional programs by including resources to fund more integrated and appropriate service opportunities in the community.”

Andrew’s mother fears that should these reductions go through, staffing and quality of services would severely decline at DDI locations across the board.

“It affects quality of life, and presents severe safety issues. It would directly affect the level of staffing right now,” she said. “It’s insensitive… It just baffles us why he would go after the disabled.”

Photo by Ellen Holmes

By Jacqueline Birzon

Thomas and Andrew Holmes hold a poster, rallying against the governor’s proposed 6-percent cutback to services that directly impact the developmentally disabled.

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TOWN OF HUNTINGTON

County OKs First-Ever Energy Drink Laws Legislator Spencer rallies for parent, child education on stimulant beverages Photo by Lora Gellerstein

By Jacqueline Birzon jbirzon@longislandernews.com

Suffolk County is making strides in an effort to prevent energy drinks from falling into the hands of children, after passing a first of-its-kind law Tuesday that addresses educating the public on the dangers of energy drinks.

The three-pronged approach includes prohibiting the marketing and advertising of stimulant drinks to minors under 18, prohibiting the distribution and sale of stimulant drinks to minors in county parks, and educating Suffolk’s youth about the health risks associated with stimulant drinks.

Since early 2012, Suffolk County Legislator William Spencer (D-Centerport) consulted with industry experts, parents, members of the Suffolk County Board of Health and Department of Health Educators to create an education initiative that would empower stakeholders with information.

As a parent to minors and a doctor, the legislator said his resolution was prompted from personal experience.

“This is something I’ve witnessed personally in terms of the presence of companies and messages we see around stores.

The kids are just being inundated with messages now that if you’re tired, don’t sleep, take an energy drink, and I think that’s a really concerning message that has long-term implications,” he said.

Patricia Bishop-Kelly, a Huntington res-

Suffolk County Legislator William Spencer addresses stakeholders at a press conference Tuesday regarding his energy drink education and protection plan. ident and former director of public information and education for the county’s Office of Health Education, said there are parallels between marketing strategies of energy drink companies, and the now de-

funct efforts of tobacco companies that in the past, attempted to market their product to minors.

“It’s being aggressively marketed to kids…very invasive and insidious market-

ing that is similar to the original tobacco marketing... The tobacco void has been filled by stimulant [energy drinks],” Bishop-Kelly said.

According to a Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity study, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that energy drinks “never be consumed by children or adolescents.” The study indicates that the Red Bull energy drink company has over 20 million Facebook followers, 158 million YouTube views per month, and 223,000 Twitter followers, noting 59 percent of Facebook users are between the ages of 10 and 17 and 18 percent of Twitter users are 12-17 years old.

“It’s not about vilifying companies…

It’s really about protecting our most vulnerable, protecting children from a $9-billion industry that spends over $100 million in advertising, and it’s the deceptive message that I’m uncomfortable with,” Spencer said.

Energy drink websites, and overall marketing initiatives, share a common theme of catering to the “benefits” of consumption, which according to Spencer, is inaccurate and potentially dangerous.

“The very concept is with energy drinks; they really play off of increased performance, as if there’s some natural process…but they’re stimulants. We’re making the brain go against its natural needs, and I think we do so at a price,” he said. “There is no reason for a developing mind and body to take these drinks, ever.”

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SOUTH HUNTINGTON

Arrests After Banquet

By Jacqueline Birzon jbirzon@longislandernews.com

Parents of a student at St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington were arrested Sunday for allegedly endangering the welfare of a child after police said a 16-yearold became ill from alcohol poisoning.

According to Captain Christopher Buergold, Suffolk County Fifth Precinct police officers responded to a 911 call in Sayville at 1:33 a.m. Upon arrival, officers said they found at least 25 underage teens partying in an apartment, separate from the main home, following the Junior Ring Banquet held at St. Anthony’s on Saturday night.

Buergold said the one female appeared to be “highly intoxicated,” and was transported to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital for medical treatment. Police said a number of other minors at the party had also consumed alcohol, and officers found evidence of a beer drinking game and shot glasses.

Other students at the party appeared intoxicated, police said. Witnesses—who

Stacie and John Butler were arrested after allegedly letting high school students drink. had not consumed alcohol—told police that large quantities of vodka had been consumed at the party. Buergold said there was no indication as to where the alcohol came from.

Parents of the minors at the party were contacted by police and were picked up from the Sayville home that night.

John and Stacie Butler, both 54, were arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a class-A misdemeanor.

(Continued on page A13)

DIX HILLS/MELVILLE

Driver Killed In Fiery Death

By Mike Koehler mkoehler@longislandernews.com

An off-duty cop was killed when his pickup truck erupted into flames following an accident on the Long Island Expressway early Monday morning.

A box truck and the pickup were headed west near Exit 52, Suffolk County police said, when the pickup was hit from behind. Both trucks erupted in flames.

Robert Fling, first assistant chief for the Dix Hills Fire Department, said the Melville Fire Department responded first.

Unable to find the accident within their jurisdiction, the Melville volunteers found the scene near Deer Park Avenue.

Dix Hills’ paramedic was the first to arrive from the department, followed by Fling. He found the two trucks separated by 150 feet – one on the shoulder and one by the median. The pickup truck was fully engulfed and flames were just beginning to leach from the cab into the storage hold of the box truck.

Dix Hills firefighters extinguished the fire in the box truck while Melville firefighters were already at work on the pickup truck. Fling said he also had the Melville Fire Department take the box truck driver, Eduardo Garcia, of the Bronx, to Huntington Hospital. He had “minor injuries.”

However, the driver of the pickup, identified late on Monday as Joseph Pritchard, 30, of North Babylon, could not be rescued. He was an eight-year veteran of the NYPD. “By the time we got there, the truck was fully engulfed in fire. There was no saving him,” Fling said.

Several passersby tried to pull the driver out, the chief added, with no success.

“The thing was folded up pretty good so they probably weren’t getting the doors open,” he said.

The highway was closed for several hours on Monday. No other passengers were in either truck and no other vehicles were involved.

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Opinion

Sen

d letters to The Editor, : Half Hollow 149 Main S Hills Newspaper, treet, Huntington , New York 11743 or e-m info@long ail us at islanderne ws.com

‘Not the types set up by the printer return their impression, the meaning, the main concern.’

Project Deserves Consideration A developer whose portfolio includes work nothing is currently before the town’s planning on some very upscale properties hopes to build board – it’s not too early to support a project a large retail center on currently undeveloped that would allow an underutilized property to land. Sitting at the crossroads where Dix Hills, generate tax dollars and create jobs. Of course, Huntington and Elwood meet, the property is these benefits come at a price, and we’ll trust comprised largely of sand dunes and abuts the the professionals on the town’s planning staff Mediavilla apple orchards on Jericho Turnpike. to properly evaluate the traffic and environKouros Torkan is principal of Great Neck- mental impacts. based Villadom Corporation, a builder whose It’s not the first ambitious plan for the 38credentials include some high-end properties property. A “smart growth” project mixing reson the Island’s East End as well as ties to Man- idential, retail and office space was widely hasset’s retail mecca, The Americana. thought to be too ambitious, and He has been meeting with area civic EDITORIAL failed to gain traction. And while groups to explain his project, a mixedwe’d like to see more housing – use development that would include retail particularly workforce housing – we also supspaces, upper floor professional office and port commercial development that brings tax medical space, and a good deal of public space. benefits and creates economic opportunities.

Torkan is avoiding the phrase “shopping Town planners, residents and stakeholders can mall,” instead favoring “lifestyle center.” He es- tie up this plan or help to make it a model detimates the project will cost $80 million. velopment that brings in tax revenue. We favor While it’s early to weigh in on the project – the latter.

the energy or the money, don’t.

Because right now, wind is still a faith-based initiative.

BILL GUNDERSON San Diego, Calif.

Money-Saving Solutions

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Wind Energy: A Faith-Based Initiative DEAR EDITOR: Maybe wind turbines would be a good investment if the things actually worked. But they don’t. Not that well.

But a lot of true believers don’t care. They tell us wind is an ideal way to solve global warming. And the only thing standing in its way is the intransigence of dinosaurminded fossil-fuel crowd.

That, and the facts.

Let’s put aside for a moment all the talk about global warming – whether it exists, whether it is man-made, and whether alternative energy will slow it down.

Let’s even forget for a moment that plunging price of natural gas and its increasing popularity as a substitute for coal has reduced carbon emissions to their lowest level in 20 years. And is threatening to make wind power even more economically obsolete.

Let’s talk about what potential investors in wind energy may not know if they rely on the Green Energy Press: Wind turbines don’t

last as long as promised, don’t produce as much energy as hoped, and require more maintenance than anyone imagined.

The Daily Mail recently reported that the University of Edinburgh found for onshore wind, the monthly load factor of turbines – a measure of how much electricity they generate as a percentage of how much they could produce if on at full power all the time – dropped from a high of 24 percent in the first year after construction, to just 11 percent after 15 years.

And that is just for turbines that are working. In America, numbers are hard to come by – another red flag for investors – but as many as 1 in 4 wind turbines just does not work. Some do not even spin.

Others spin, but do not generate electricity, so it is hard to tell by looking at them.

Hawaii provides the favorite example: The 37 turbines at the Kamaoa Wind Farm stood derelict for more than six years after it was discovered that repairs were more expensive than replacements. This is just one of six abandoned wind farms in one of the most wind-ideal places on the planet.

HALF HOLLOW HILLS N E W S P A P E R

Serving the communities of: Dix Hills, Melville and the Half Hollow Hills Central School District.

Founded in 1996 by James Koutsis Copyright © 2012 by Long Islander Newspapers, publishers of The Long-Islander, The Record, Northport Journal and Half Hollow Hills Newspaper. Each issue of the The Long-Islander and all contents thereof are copyrighted by Long Islander, LLC. None of the contents or articles may be reproduced in any forum or medium without the advance express written permission of the publisher. Infringement hereof is a violation of the Copyright laws.

The Altamont Wind Farms in Northern California used to be the largest wind farm on earth. Now it is known as the largest killer of eagles and other raptors. The turbines are shut down for four months a year to protect the birds during their migration.

So much for that pro-forma.

As many as 4,500 wind turbines have been built – and abandoned – in California alone. But as long as the tax subsidies continue, so will the good money continue to chase the bad.

How long can that last? Many of the true believers don’t care.

They even say that making money is no longer the point of being in business. They are free to believe that. But not with my money.

Even so, callers to my wealth management business and syndicated financial talk radio show want to know about the recent uptick in some wind energy stocks; and whether now is a good time to add them to their portfolios.

There may be one million reasons to invest in wind, or install a windmill. Most involve bragging to your friends that you are saving the planet. But if you need

DEAR EDITOR: There’s no shortage of stories about the fiscal crisis many of our New York school districts are grappling with these days. From cuts in school aid to sequestration, not to mention a healthy dose of taxpayer angst, districts from Long Island to Buffalo are walking a tightrope; having to make extremely difficult financial choices while continuing to provide what is most important to all of us – the education of our children.

There’s good news though; real money-saving solutions that do not sacrifice our children’s education or safety. The New York School Bus Contractors Association (NYSBCA) has put forth legislative solutions that could save approximately 20-percent or more in annual transportation costs – savings that could be used to prevent school closings, teacher lay-offs, program cuts and more.

The largest potential savings, contained in Senate Education Budget Bill S.2607-C, allows districts that switch to a private school bus operator to keep unused transportation aid for up to five years for whatever important

educational needs they have.

School districts need every bit of support they can get in exploring this option, and, if they make a change, it’s a great help by allowing them to keep that difference in savings. It’s also an instant savings for the State of New York.

School districts across the state have been able to reduce transportation costs an estimated $200 million a year just by switching to private school bus operators.

For example, Manhasset School District on Long Island, which made the switch in 2005, is now saving over $1 million a year in transportation costs. Yet, many other school districts continue to provide their own busing at a greater expense.

Another proposal put forth by the NYSBCA calls for the elimination of sales taxes on school buses; taxes that are ironically being indirectly paid by school districts and state government through transportation contracts.

The repeal would also apply to parts, maintenance, and fuel.

Learn more at www.nysbca.com.

Both measures are effective, common sense ideas, bringing much-needed fiscal relief to schools and our state, while continuing to provide New Yorkers the safest and most reliable pupil transportation services in the country.

PHIL VALLONE President New York School Bus Contractors Association

Peter Sloggatt Associate Publisher/Managing Editor Luann Dallojacono Editor Mike Koehler Associate Editor Danny Schrafel Jacqueline Birzon Reporters

Ian Blanco Dan Conroy Production/ Art Department

Susan Mandel Advertising Director Marnie Ortiz Office / Legals

Michael McDermott Account Executive

149 Main Street, Huntington, New York 11743 631.427.7000

Green

Guide 2013

• PLANTING SEEDS FOR HEALTHY EATING • GOING GREEN AT HOME • GREENING THE ROADS WITH ELECTRIC CARS • SAVING ENERGY AT THE OFFICE

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• MARCH 28, 2013 • LONG ISLANDER LIFE

Going… Going… Green!

With so many ways to “go green” these days, we find it easy to get lost in the information overload. That’s why sections like our LIfe Green Guide are so important – they give you everything (or almost everything) you need to know, abbreviated and in one place.

In this issue, you’ll find ways to go green in every aspect of your life – at home, at work, in the supermarket, on the road, and even in the hair salon.

It is important to remember that going green isn’t only good for the environment. It is also good for your health, and it can even help you save money.

There’s no better time to adjust your lifestyle for the betterment of yourself and this beautiful world we call home.

Peter Sloggatt Associate Publisher/Managing Editor The official newspaper of the Town of Huntington; Half Hollow Hills School District; Harborfields Public Library District; South Huntington Water District; Cold Spring Harbor School District; Greenlawn Water District; South Huntington School District; Village of Lloyd Harbor; Village of Huntington Bay; and the Centerport, Cold Spring Harbor, Dix Hills, East Northport, Greenlawn, Halesite, Huntington, Huntington Manor and Melville Fire Districts.

Luann Dallojacono Editor Mike Koehler Associate Editor Danny Schrafel Jacqueline Birzon Reporters

Ian Blanco Dan Conroy Production/ Art Department Marnie Ortiz Office / Legals

Susan Mandel Advertising Director Michael McDermott Account Executive

Copyright © 2013 by Long Islander Newspapers, publishers of The Long-Islander, The Record, Northport Journal and Half Hollow Hills Newspaper. Each issue of the The Long-Islander and all contents thereof are copyrighted by Long Islander, LLC. None of the contents or articles may be reproduced in any forum or medium without the advance express written permission of the publisher. Infringement hereof is a violation of the Copyright laws.

newspapers

149 Main Street, Huntington, New York 11743 631.427.7000

LONG ISLANDER LIFE • MARCH 28, 2013 •

LI 3

Going Green In The Refrigerator Photos by Elizabeth Rexer

By Jacqueline Birzon jbirzon@longislandernews.com

When doing your spring cleaning, take the time to consider cleaning out some of the contents in your refrigerator. Experts say that taking a few small steps toward healthy eating habits, such as buying local produce and reading food labels, can be life changing.

Buying organic can be expensive, however there are safe, less costly alternatives to buying USDA 100-percent certified organic products. Huntington’s Elizabeth Rexer, of EARL’s Kitchen Gardens, said consumers should look for products with the “Non GMO Project Verified” label.

Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are foods that have been modified using genetic engineering techniques.

According to Karen Miller, president of the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, farmers will spray their crops with pesticides that will aesthetically enhance the final product, affecting characteristics such as color or size.

“We know that eating foods that are grown and sprayed with pesticides cannot be good for our families at all, no matter how much you wash them. That’s why we should sacrifice now, so they’re not sacrificing later [in life],” Miller said.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a national environmental health research and advocacy organization, publishes an annual guide of the top 12 products consumers should buy organic, and a list of the top 15 products containing the least amount of pesticides after washing them.

The 2012 EWG Shopper’s Guide To Pesticides In Produce identifies the top 12 products consumers should buy organically under their “Dirty Dozen Plus” list, including apples, celery, sweet bell peppers, peaches and strawberries. The top five contenders on the 2012 “Clean Fifteen” list, which are “lowest in pesticides,” include onions, sweet corn, pineapples, avocado and cabbage.

An alternative to buying produce at the supermarket is buying local produce from a

An example of a backyard garden that can yield safe crops with proper care and treatment practices. community farmers market.

“Start with eating local – that has great benefits. Keeping it local and supporting your neighbors is the most important part.

The beauty of farmers markets is you’re standing right there, buying produce from your farmers and asking them what practices they’re using, so you’re aware of what you’re bringing into your home,” Rexer said.

The method of food storage can also have implications for your health.

According to Miller, certain chemicals found in food cans or glass jars, such as Phenol A, plasticizers, Bisphenol A, phthalates and parabens, compromise the endocrine system. Miller urged residents to look inside the can to see if there is a white or grey lining, which indicates the possible presence of a sealant chemical used to increase shelf life. Canned foods are also at risk of heating up when stored in warehouses, or in trucks during transit.

“We’re now seeing that we need to all be a part of this change. Consumers drive the

market… Really simple behavioral changes will drive the market and prices [for organics] will go down,” Miller said.

Getting used to the habit of reading food labels can go a long way, Miller stressed.

“Those slight changes, spending a moment or two reading labels, will reduce the incidence of diseases, like cancer, childhood diseases, learning disabilities – there are a myriad of diseases…

Health is not going to come without sacrifice; it comes when we are educated and making the right choices within our budget,” she said.

Meat and poultry are no exception to the conscious consumer experience.

Centerport resident Erin Zammett Ruddy, who has written extensively on the subject, said to look for meat that says it was raised without antibiotics. If it’s organic, Ruddy said, no antibiotics are used. But she warned that a product labeled as “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean much, since there is no Food and

Naturally grown, organic crops yielded from a local garden can go a long way in making healthy lifestyle choices.

Drug Administration regulation.

Ruddy also said cows and chicken are often fed antibiotics to help them grow, and once humans consume the treated animal, they can become resistant to certain types of antibiotics.

“They are creating a breeding ground for antibiotic resistant superbugs…It’s an unnecessary, un-therapeutic use of antibiotics,” Ruddy said.

According to the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, meat and dairy products contaminated with growth hormones and antibiotics can lead to a variety of complications, such as endocrine disruptions early in puberty and breast cancer.

Rexer said consumers have to be a small part of the solution in order to facilitate large-scale change.

“I don’t think it’s just about consumer’s choice. It’s about world consciousness, and a decision to encourage farming, and to get into the practice of keeping our children and our planet healthy,” she said.

Wash, Cut, Dry, Style And Donate!

Hair salon and spa celebrates Earth Day with fundraiser for clean water

By Nicole Brems info@longislandernews.com

With the snip of a scissor, a local spa will do its part to raise money for clean water in the region.

Spa Adriana of Huntington, along with botanical beauty brand Aveda, has committed to raising $5 million for clean water. The spa will be donating 100 percent of its profits from hair cut services on April 22 to benefit Clean Ocean Action, a local charity that advocates for the health of waterways in the New York and New Jersey area.

“Spa Adriana continually strives to set an example of environmental leadership and responsibility,” said John Vater, owner of Spa Adriana. “For over 25 years we have committed ourselves to the organic trend in hair and skincare. We take pride in our partnership with Aveda and look forward to helping the company in its fundraiser endeavor.”

The Huntington spa is not alone. Aveda salons throughout the world, including Tokyo, Sydney, Moscow, London, and multiple locations throughout America will also be

donating their profits to causes for Earth Month, giving customers a “simple and beautiful way… to care for the environment,” according to a press release by the company.

Since the campaign’s inception in 1999, Aveda professionals in more than 30 countries have collectively raised more than $26 million for support of Earth Month.

Beginning in 2007, Aveda has donated the money raised to organizations working to combat the clean water crisis. To date more than $20 million has been directed to support clean water projects on six continents.

“We believe that good business is responsible business,” Vater said. “It is so gratifying to participate in a program like Aveda Earth Month that allows us to participate in a global initiative that directly benefits the community where we live and work.”

In addition to the money raised for clean water, Spa Adriana and Aveda salons nationwide will jointly attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the most money raised for a charity by haircuts in a 24-hour period.

Spa Adriana in Huntington will donate sales from haircuts on April 22 to clean water organizations.

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• MARCH 28, 2013 • LONG ISLANDER LIFE

Painting Your Home A ‘Greener’ Shade Green advocates recommend unplugging, going non-toxic and recycling LIfe photo/Mike Koehler

By Mike Koehler mkoehler@longislandernews.com

The arrival of the spring for many is a signal to vacuum the carpets, scrub the tub and wash the inside of the refrigerator. But the change in seasons is also an opportunity to extend spring cleaning to the environment.

Both Laurie Farber, executive director of Huntington-based Starflower Experiences, and Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Farmingdale-based Citizens Campaign for the Environment, say electrical devices can be a major drain on both nature and homeowners’ wallets.

“Turn things off you don’t need on. That’s one of the things people forget,” Farber said.

Computers, she added, are a large source of waste. Setting it to sleep mode and turning off the monitor can help, but not as much as powering down the computer itself.

Printers and other devices also have separate power buttons and should only be turned on when in use.

Whether it’s a computer, television, cell phone charger or even an alarm clock, many gadgets are guilty of aiding “phantom energy loss” or “vampire wattage.”

When plugged in, these devices remain partially on in standby mode, not completely powered off and waiting for user input.

Similarly, leaving a phone charger plugged in with no phone or a fully-charged phone attached will continue to draw electricity.

Federal and international laws implemented in recent years have significantly decreased, but not eliminated, the amount of standby power consumed.

“It’s using energy and increasing your electric bill for no reason,” Esposito said.

She also urged homeowners switch as

Using non-toxic cleaners or a simple formula of water and vinegar is a greener way to clean your house. many appliances and light bulbs with their energy-efficient counterparts as possible.

The market for such products is growing as electricity prices rise.

Refrigerators and air conditioners, Esposito added, are the most serious offenders. She said plenty of older, energy-hungry units are still around, especially refrigerators in basements and garages.

“Right now a good window air conditioner goes for $100. You can blow that much in two months if you’re using an antiquated clunker,” Esposito said.

Both directors also urged homeowners to stop using cleaning products containing toxic chemicals. More and more people are discovering unpleasant reactions, they said, while some Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) – gasses emitted from solid or liquid chemicals – can be hazardous to people.

Unplugging chargers not in use is one way to go green and save money in your own home.

Esposito recommends buying non-toxic cleaners. Another growing market, she said, they should be marked clearly as “non-toxic.”

Farber suggested an alternative, using a homemade vinegar cleaning solution – two cups of water with one-quarter cup of vinegar.

“That’ll clean almost anything,” the Starflower director said.

Recycling can also clean up the environment, and local municipalities’ coffers.

When residents place glass, metal and plastic at the curb, it’s separated from the regular garbage. Those recyclables are sold to companies that manufacture new products. Not only does recycling more reduce the amount governments pay for garbage

disposal, but it increases revenue.

Only 25 percent of Long Islanders actually participate in voluntary recycling, Esposito said, compared to 67 percent in Syracuse.

“We can do much, much better,” she said.

Of course the best way to begin the green clean up is to call in an expert. Enter the Town of Huntington’s EECO Homes program. Short for Energy Efficiency and Conversation, this free program helps homeowners understand how to reduce energy consumption. That covers changing light bulbs, installing programmable thermostats or adding solar panels.

Huntington residents can sign up for the 90-minute program on the town’s website or by calling 631-721-1908.

Going Green At The Office

By Nicole Brems info@longislandernews.com

There are plenty of opportunities to reduce your carbon footprint at the office, and even save money in the process. Even small actions can help save or harm the environment.

Switch light bulbs to LED. It is best to switch to a well-made LED light bulb.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program, a well-made LED bulb can last at least 25,000 hours or 22 years based on three hours a day. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that widespread adoption of LED lighting in the U.S. by

Switching to LED light bulbs at the office can save energy.

2027 could save $265 billion, avoid the need for 40 new power plants, and reduce lighting electricity demand by 33 percent in 2027.

Buy green furniture and appliances.

When buying office furniture, look for the Energy Star label. The label indicates that the product was made using less energy than standard models. According to the EPA, a home office that uses exclusively Energy Star equipment can save enough electric to light the whole house for four years.

Imagine what that savings that could turn into for an office building!

Power down. Plug your computer and other electronics into a surge protector that can be turned off. When not in use, set the equipment to go to “sleep” mode, and then when leaving the office, turn off the surge protector. According to Energy Star, activating sleep settings on just one computer can prevent about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

Go paperless. Some companies send off multiple memos a day. Instead of sending a paper copy, send the memos through email.

Through email, the memos are easier to find and can

save paper as well as money. When boxes come into the office, you can reuse them for other purposes. Even there is no need for the boxes in the office, they can also be donated to local nonprofits and schools, which will put them to good use.

Buy recycled goods. When the office does need to buy paper, buy recycled paper.

Paper made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled content is often the same price as regular paper. Other recycled paper products like envelopes, calendars, planners, and stationery are also available. To save more money, many office supply stores now offer refills for ink and laser toner for printers and fax machines. If you don’t want to reuse the cartridges, stores often also accept them empty and will have them recycled.

Recycle. Have recycling bins available for paper and plastic products. Having multiple bins around the office makes it easier for employees to recycle when they are finished with papers or plastic products.

Ridesharing. Whether it is carpooling to work with a coworker or taking public transportation, there are multiple ways to reduce your carbon footprint through ridesharing.

A company in Huntington, EcoTaxi, offers affordable, green transportation. The company has a fleet of eco-friendly hybrid Ford Escapes vehicles, which provide pick-

Carpooling or using mass transit on your way to and from work can reduce the carbon emissions and their impact on the environment. ups from the train station, your home and even offers transportation to local airports.

The company had grown immensely in their first year and the owner, Boris Goldstein, hopes to increase the size of the company in the next few years. Visit www.ecotaxiny.com.

In addition, BOLT bus offers customers the option of taking a luxury bus from the Park and Ride lot off of Exit 49 in Melville, to one of two drop-off destinations in the city, including 3rd Avenue and 40th, and 3rd Avenue and 59th. Pick-up is offered at Lexington and 40th or Lexington and 59th.

The service offers 12 round-trips each day, with service starting at 6:15 a.m. and typically runs until 9 -10 p.m., depending on the day. Visit www.boltbus.com.

With these simple steps employers and employees can help to reduce the carbon footprint they have on the environment.

LONG ISLANDER LIFE • MARCH 28, 2013 •

LI 5

An Electrifying New Road For Drivers New wave of electric cars, plug-in hybrids offer efficiency, creature comforts LIfe photos/Danny Schrafel

Chevrolet broke new ground with the Volt, the first mass-market plug-in automobile, on display in front of Chevrolet of Huntington.

By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandernews.com

When Toyota introduced the Prius in Japan in 1997 (it came to the states in 2000), it was a quirky notchback sedan and the first of its kind – a car that could run on electricity or gasoline. Honda soon followed in 1999 with the first-generation Insight – the first hybrid sold in America, and one that sipped fuel even more frugally than the Prius.

More than 15 years later, these cars have proven to be the forefathers of a new market segment. In 2000, Toyota moved about 5,600 Prii; today, there is a family of four cars, with 126,000 midsize Prius II hatchbacks sold in 2012. The tiny Insight has grown into Honda’s most affordable hybrid in its second generation, and shares floor room space with the hybrid Civic and CR-X sport hatch.

With hybrids well established, automakers are making the move to cars for

Nissan of Huntington sales representative Robert Mitchell, who specializes in the electric Nissan LEAF, plugs in the thrifty green car in their Huntington service department. which electricity is the main, if not only, source of energy. Several are readily available in Huntington dealerships today, with generous federal income tax benefits available to buyers. Depending on options, many of the plug-in and electric

cars carry MSRPs in the mid-to high $30,000 range, depending on option choices.

Nissan, which has largely shunned the hybrid market, decided to leapfrog the hy(Continued on page LI 8)

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• MARCH 28, 2013 • LONG ISLANDER LIFE

BlonDee’s Bistro Sets The Mood Foodie photos/ Danny Schrafel

By Danny & Mike foodie@longislandernews.com

With the flick of a switch, Dena Fenza’s BlonDee’s Bistro & Bar transforms from a homey luncheonette to a sophisticated nightspot.

Dimmed lighting and a few well-placed candles turn the trick impressively, as the restaurant first known as Two Blondes and a Stove made the move to expand to serve Huntington’s late night foodies. Dena’s right-hand men, Colin McGlone and James Funaro, take the wheel of the nighttime operations, while Dena continues to head up BlonDee’s breakfast and lunch hours.

The nighttime menu is mostly formed of small plates designed for sharing at the table. Many items are inspired by Dena’s Italian heritage, like delicious Eggplant Napoleon ($10), an update of classic Eggplant parm that adds sauteed spinach, zesty homemade sauce, and Pecorino Romano and mozzarella cheeses to form a great starter. Duck Puffy Tacos ($13) were another favorite at our table – the puffed taco shells are piled high with Duck au

Pescada Loco balances light and flaky Mahi Mahi against the bold combination of bacon and pistachio.

Poivre and are delightful in their simplicity. Tuna Sliders ($12), paired with a tangy lemon aioli, are another great choice for sharing. Carciofi Fritti ($8) – fried artichoke hearts paired with dipping sauces – are great finger food and a lighter take on fried mozzarella.

Dena said some of her other favorites include the Piatto di Formaggio ($14), a choice of three Artisan cheeses paired with jams, flat bread, dried fruits and nuts; and the pizzette ($11) of roasted pears, Gorgonzola, brie and mozzarella cheeses topped with arugula and a balsamic glaze.

Those keen on a composed plate can choose from a handful of entrees. Pescada

The

Foodie SECTION

Owner Dena Fenza, left, and her server show off a well-dressed tartufo.

Loco ($22) pairs mild, flaky Mahi Mahi with a thick topping of smoky bacon and pistachio for a satisfying dish. Creamy Pasta Toscana ($19), white truffle cream ravioli served with shrimp and crisp pancetta crumbs, is rich without overwhelming the taste buds.

Save room for dessert because BlonDee’s goes all out. Fried Oreos, which are dipped in pancake batter and flash-fried, are gooey morsels you’ve got to try at least once. Classic Italian Tartufo gets dressed up for the occasion, and BlonDee’s offers its Baklava paired with fresh berries. And BlonDee’s Waffle Sundae is a tip of the cap to Classy Coffee, a Clinton Avenue fixture for many years.

BlonDee’s Bistro and Bar 26 Clinton Ave., Huntington village 631-673-1300 blondeesbistro.com Atmosphere: Cozy, romantic bistro Cuisine: Continental small plates Price: Moderate Breakfast/Lunch Hours: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon-Fri; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat-Sun Dinner Hours: 5-11 p.m. WedThurs; 5 p.m.-midnight Fri-Sat; 5-9 p.m. Sunday

Where Diet Meets Delicious Eat Like a greek !

As stated in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Mediterranean approach to diet is the way to go. Join us at Neraki where this way of preparing fresh fish, produce and meats is our way of life.

A UTHE NT IC G REE K CUISINE W HOLE GRILLE D F ISH ME DITER RANEA N SP EC IALTIE S

273 MAIN STREET • HUNTINGTON VILLAGE

631-385-FISH (3474) Neraki.com OPEN TUES-SUN - LUNCH AND DINNER

LONG ISLANDER LIFE • MARCH 28, 2013 •

Side Dish

Easter Specials

By Nicole Brems

DINE HUNTINGTON.COM

By DineHuntington.com Foodie@longislandernews.com

CLUBHOUSE SPECIALS: While The Club-

house (320 W. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington 631-423-1155 www.clubhousesteaks.com) is always special to this group of Foodies, Tuesday and Wednesday nights are extra-special. Wine aficionados should pencil in Tuesday for one-third off their impressive, award-winning wine list.

And on Wednesdays, swing by for their special Peppercorn and Rosemary-crusted Prime Rib au jus ($34). Tell Jeff the Foodies sent you.

ferent in its bakery-cafes: pasta. Guests can now order Tortellini Alfredo, Pesto Saccottini (“purses”), and Rustic Penne Bolognese in two sizes; both include a half salad or cup of soup. Panera has several locations in the Town of Huntington: 345 Main St., Huntington; 160 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station; and 4097 Jericho Turnpike, East Northport.

WELCOME, DOPPIO: If all goes to plan,

Doppio, a promising Italian bistro with roots in Greenwich, Conn., will have opened its doors at 22 Clinton Ave. for their soft opening by the time you read this. Swing by and welcome them to the neighborhood!

GOOD MORNING, NADER: The gang at Nad-

er’s Fish On The Run (217 New York Ave., Huntington 631-423-6300, www.nadersfishontherun.com) will likely be setting their alarm clocks a little bit earlier before long. At least if the “BREAKFAST: COMING SOON” sign out front of the store rings true.

OH THE PASTA-BILITIES: After extensive

testing in regional markets, Panera Bread has introduced something completely dif-

Diners are discovering new pasta-bilities at Panera Bread.

A U T H EN TI C GR E EK C UI S I N E - W H OL E G RI L L ED F I S H M E D IT ER RA NEA N S PEC IAL T IE S

TRY OUR NEW SOUP & SANDWICH LUNCH SPECIALS

$9.95

LI 7

info@longislandernews.com

Going out for Easter brunch or dinner has become a tradition for many families in the Huntington area. With the holiday fast approaching, these restaurants in the Huntington area are ready to serve your family.

If you’re looking to book for Easter Sunday at Jonathan’s Ristorante (15 Wall St., Huntington 631-549-0055), time is running out! From 3-9 p.m. on March 31, Jonathan’s will offer a special a la carte menu for Easter Sunday. The menu includes: Pancetta Corn Chowder ($9), Prosciutto di Parma with Pear, Sweet Gorgonzola and Arugula and Spinach Lasagna Bolognese ($13); Pasta Malfalda ($23), with Portobello Mushrooms and Duck Ragu; Chatham Cod ($29) with Passato di Pomodoro, baby spinach and Mushroom Trifolatti; Lamb Shank Osso Buco ($30) paired with soft Polenta and asparagus; and Torta della Nonna ($9).

Mac’s might be a steakhouse, but it has something for everyone on Easter.

Mac’s (12 Gerard St., Huntington, 631549-5300) will be offering three-course meals, including soup and salad in the first two courses. For the main course, diners can choose from roasted boneless lamb loin for $44.95, dry aged peppercorn crusted sirloin for $49.95 or panseared Chilean sea bass for $42.95.

On Easter Sunday, Piccolo (215 Wall St., Huntington, 631-424-5592) will be offering their regular menu from 4-9 p.m. Appetizers include eggplant rollatini for $12 and Long Island littleneck

clams for $13. The restaurant also offers a raw bar of clams, oysters, crab cocktail and shrimp cocktail.

A family-owned and operated Italian restaurant in the middle of Northport Village, Campari Ristorante (225 Main St., Northport, 631-757-6700) will be offering a prix-fixe Easter brunch. The $15 meal includes one special beverage, one side and one entrée. Special beverages include pomegranate mimosa, Peachy-Grigio, Cappuccino and fresh juice. Main course offerings include lemon and ricotta crepes, smoked salmon on crusty bread with mascarpone, egg, capers, onion and mixed greens with grilled chicken, artichoke heart, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and feta cheese. The special menu will be served 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

On Easter morning, Nocello’s (843 Fort Salonga Road, Northport, 631-262-8565) will be serving brunch, which includes a carving station. Coffee, tea, juice and one cocktail are included. Brunch is scheduled for two seatings, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Can’t make it to brunch? Dinner is set to begin at 3:30 p.m.

Ritz Café (42 Woodbine Ave. #2, Northport, 631-754-6348) will be offering their regular Sunday brunch on Easter from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Entrees include French toast, smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and onions; a spinach, Swiss cheese and sausage omelet; vegetable and goat cheese frittata; and a broccoli and cheddar omelet. All entrees, $12, are served with fresh fruit, homemade muffins, home fries and a complimentary Bloody Mary or champagne mimosa.

If the fish were any fresher, they would talk back.

A UTHE NT IC G REE K CUISINE W HOLE GRILLE D F ISH ME DITER RANEA N SP EC IALTIE S

273 MAIN STREET • HUNTINGTON VILLAGE

631-385-3474 OPEN TUES-SUN - LUNCH AND DINNER

LI 8

• MARCH 28, 2013 • LONG ISLANDER LIFE LIfe photo/Danny Schrafel

Megan Allen shows off a 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid, which gets 44 mpg in both city and highway driving, at Huntington Honda Saturday. The Civic is also available with a natural gaspowered engine, and a plug-in version the Honda Accord is slowly being introduced to the market.

Electric cars arriving (Continued from page LI 5)

brid field by introducing the LEAF hatchback in 2011. The 100-percent electric five-seater has a 100-mile range on a full charge, John LaFrancesca, the general manager of Nissan of Huntington, said.

There’s also no tailpipe because the LEAF creates no emissions.

LaFrancesca said he sells a handful of LEAFs each month, and with available options including leather interior, heated seats, a sophisticated navigation system and back-up cameras, it’s proof that one does not have to give up certain comforts – or the familiar road feel of a gasoline-

powered car – to drive a green vehicle.

“We’ve definitely noticed a lot more interest, especially in the last six to eight months,” he said. “There’s a little bit of fear of the unknown, that’s safe to say.”

Using an after-market 240-volt home charging dock, which starts at about $1,000, owners can charge the LEAF up in less than seven hours and program their car to charge during overnight off-peak hours to reduce electricity costs. The battery is backed by an eight-year, 100,000mile warranty. The CarWings app, available on the two higher trim levels, can direct drivers to the nearest charging station, such as the one at Huntington’s train station. The number is expected to grow to 14,000 nationwide by next year.

Other manufacturers are also coming into the electric car market. Honda is offering a limited run of electric Fit compact hatchbacks, while Ford is offering an electric-powered version of its Focus fivedoor hatch.

Others are focusing on high-efficiency plug-in vehicles that operate as electricgasoline tandems. The best-selling of the bunch is the 98 mpg Chevrolet Volt, and new and recently pre-owned samples of the all-American innovator are for sale at Chevrolet of Huntington on Oakwood Road. Introduced in 2010, the Volt’s lithium ion battery allows about 40 miles of gasoline-free driving before switching over to a small gasoline engine that gets 37 mpg, for a combined 380-mile range at full charge.

Toyota’s Prius, the main benefactor of the mid-2000s hybrid boom, is now available as a plug-in hybrid at dealers like Huntington Toyota. The newest member of the Prius family, the Prius PEV, gets 95 mpg with a full electrical charge. Without a charge, it still gets 50 mpg as a gasoline-electric hybrid.

In recent months, Honda, the other major hybrid-car innovator, has been quietly rolling out a plug-in Accord sedan, which can get 115 mpg running on its electrical charge, according to federal estimates.

Huntington Honda already received one and sold it just about as quickly as it came in, said Business Development Manager Megan Allen.

“They’re not being mass-produced and delivered, but we will be getting them in,” Allen said.

Since making their big American splash in the early 1970s, Honda has always focused on fuel efficiency, Allen said. The dealership offers three hybrid cars and a Civic powered by natural gas.

“The Civic does very well for us. We do have the Insight… it definitely has a following. People who have had an Insight love the Insight,” she said of their hybrid offerings.

Meanwhile Ford’s Energi series of Fusion sedans and C-Max crossovers boast plug-in power and 100 mpg, and will be paired with traditional hybrid versions of the Fusion and C-Max, available at Huntington Ford on Jericho Turnpike.

But no matter how a consumer chooses to reduce his or her fuel consumption, the benefit goes beyond the pump.

“With gas prices the way they are now, that’s something people are focused on.

And the environment – people don’t want to be chugging gas if they don’t have to,” Allen said.

“They love it that they don’t have to get gas anymore, and they feel good that they’re doing something good for the environment,” LaFrancesca said.

LONG ISLANDER LIFE • MARCH 28, 2013 •

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• MARCH 28, 2013 • LONG ISLANDER LIFE

THURSDAY North Shore Civil War Roundtable

The North Shore Civil War Roundtable presents a lecture by historian and author Richard Sloan on “The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln” on April 4, 7 p.m. at the South Huntington Public Library, 145 Pidgeon Hill Road, Huntington Station. 631-757-8117.

Calendar O M M U N I T Y

State Boating Safety Courses

Boating safety classes will be held frequently as the season approaches. A class begins April 4 at the South Huntington Public Library and lasts every Thursday for six weeks, 7-9 p.m. Another begins April 8 at the Harborfields Public Library and lasts every Monday for six weeks, 7-9 p.m.

For a list of additional classes, visit www.usps.org/Neptune or, www.cgaux.org/boatinged/class_finder/index.php.

Trinity Thrift Shop, located in Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 Main St., Northport, holds a bag sale March 1-30. Customers can fill a brown bag with shoes and clothing for $5. Thrift Shop hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Huntington Public Library

Red Is For Passion

First-Time Homebuyer Seminar First-time homebuyers can unlock the secrets to everything they need to know in a crash course on buying a home for the first time, on Tuesday, April 2, 7-9 p.m. at a seminar at the Harborfields Library, 31 Broadway, Greenlawn. Admission is free, but registration is required. Call Housing Help Inc. at 631-754-0373.

SATURDAY MONDAY Easter Party And Egg Hunt

Manor Farm Egg Hunt

Hunt for eggs at Manor Farm on March 30, 1-4 p.m. with Starflower Experiences at Manor Farm, 210 Manor Road, Huntington.

Bring an empty egg carton. Suggested donation: $5/person. Visit the website at www.starflowerexperiences.org.

Cold Spring Harbor Lion's Club Egg Hunt

The annual Lion’s Club egg hunt will be held at the Francis Roberts Community Center, 75 Goose Hill Road, Cold Spring Harbor, on March 30, 10 a.m., rain or shine. Bring a non-perishable food item to help the Huntington Food Council. For more information call John Messina 516-522-0132.

50-Percent Off Thrift Shoppe

Enjoy 50-percent off baby equipment during March at Commack United Methodist Thrift Shoppe, 486 Townline Road, Commack.

Open Tuesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and the first Saturday of the month, 10 a.m.2 p.m. 631-499-7310.

Northport Winter Farmers Market

There’s no need to wait until the weather gets hot to enjoy local produce. An indoor market is held in Northport every Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 27 Main St., through March 30. www.winterfarmersmarketlongisland.com.

Live Music

Live local bands take over Finley's of Greene Street, 43 Greene St., Huntington, every Saturday night at 11 p.m. Join in the fun and food!

SUNDAY Photos With The Easter Bunny

Walt Whitman Shops hosts its annual Easter Bunny Photo Experience through Saturday, March 30 in the Lord & Taylor Court. Sunday, March 24 is Pet Photo Night from 8:30-9:30 p.m.

Huntington Winter Farmers Market

There’s no need to wait until the weather gets hot to enjoy local produce. An indoor market is held in Huntington Station every Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Jack Abrams School Gym, 155 Lowndes Ave., through April 28. www.winterfarmersmarketlongisland.com.

Dix Hills: 55 Vanderbilt Parkway. 631-4214530; Melville: 510 Sweet Hollow Road. 631421-4535. hhhlibrary.org.

• Learn how to brand your start-up business for success with Tommy Spero, owner and creative director of SOUL NYC, as he discusses brand importance for building a successful small business, on Wednesday, April 3, 7 p.m. in Dix Hills.

• Every Wednesday at 7 p.m., meet for friendly English conversation practice. All are welcome, refreshments provided. Call to register: 498-1225.

31 Broadway, Greenlawn. 631-757-4200. harborfieldslibrary.org.

• “Common Ground,” a photography exhibition

by Raymond J. Rothaug, is on display through March 30.

Bag Sale

Bring a basket and six filled plastic eggs for each child you bring to the March 30 egg hunt and Easter party, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Commack United Methodist Church, 486 Townline Road, Commack. 631-499-7310.

Half Hollow Hills Community Library

Harborfields Public Library

FRIDAY

Love the color red and enjoy living it up? The Red Hat women are looking for new members who enjoy going places and making new friends. Their motto: Fun, Frolic and Friendship. 631-271-6470 or flarpp@yahoo.com.

www.elwoodlibrary.org.

• Homework help is being offered for students in grades 3-7 on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. through May 28.

Join In The Musical Fun

Gemini Youth Orchestras will hold an open rehearsal at Candlewood Middle School, 1200 Carlls Straight Path, Dix Hills, on April 1, for Gemini String Orchestra from 5:30-7 p.m. and for Philharmonia from 8-9 p.m. String Orchestra students perform at NYSSMA levels 3-5 and Philharmonia students at NYSSMA levels 5-6. Young musicians are welcome to join the ensembles, and community members are welcome to listen and enjoy. www.gyo.org.

Getting Paid To Talk

On Monday, April 8, Huntington Adult Education, in conjunction with Voice Coaches, will present Getting Paid To Talk, a singleevening, realistic and entertaining introduction to the world of voice overs. Attendees will have the opportunity to record a mock commercial under the direction of a Voice Coaches producer. Registration at least a week in advance is required. For more information or to register, call 631-673-2010. $25 for residents.

Crochet, Crochet

The Long Island Crochet Guild meets at the Halesite Firestation, 1 No. New York Ave., Huntington the first Monday of the month (except September) from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Beginners welcomed. Bring assorted hooks.

Questions: katie1111m@yahoo.com/ 631-427-5373. Next meeting: April 1.

Aging And Saging

Members of an “Aging and Saging” group shares their experiences at The Women’s Center of Huntington, 125 Main St., Huntington, on Mondays (except holidays) from 10 a.m.-noon. $15 members/$10 non-members. 631-549-0485.

See The Light

Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia has organized an exhibit of Huntington Lighthouse artifacts and memorabilia to celebrate its centennial anniversary of The Huntington Lighthouse. The display includes correspondence between the Lighthouse Establishment and Lighthouse Keeper Robert McGlone, and an original painting of the lighthouse, which will be auctioned.

On display in the Town Hall lobby, 100 Main St, Huntington, Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. www.huntingtonlighthouse.org. 631-421-1985.

TUESDAY First-Time Homebuyer Seminar

First-time homebuyers can get a crash course in what they should know on Tuesday, April 2, 7-9 p.m. at a seminar at the Harborfields Library, 31 Broadway, Greenlawn. Admission is

free, but registration is required. Call Housing Help Inc. at 631-754-0373.

Main Branch: 338 Main St., Huntington. 631427-5165. Station Branch: 1335 New York Ave., Huntington Station.

631-421-5053. www.thehuntingtonlibrary.org.

• Seniors can learn about budgeting, money management and credit awareness for postretirement years with Huntington attorney Leslie Tayne on Thursday, April 4, 2 p.m. at the main branch.

• Children in grades K-5 can celebrate April Fool's Day and National Poetry Month with a poetry reading celebrating the wacky tales of Shel Silverstein and a fun craft on Monday, April 1, 6 p.m.

Northport-East Northport Public Library

A game of Military Bridge will be held at Christ Lutheran Church, 189 Burr Road (corner of Burr and Larkfield roads), East Northport, on April 2, 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Raffle baskets will be announced.

Call 631-499-4655.

Northport: 151 Laurel Ave. 631-261-6930. East Northport: 185 Larkfield Road. 631-261-2313. www.nenpl.org.

• Worried about your blood pressure? There will be a blood pressure check on Wednesday, April 3. Northport: 9:30-10:30 a.m. East Northport: 11 a.m.-noon.

• “Life of Pi” will be shown in East Northport on Friday, April 5 at 1:30 p.m.

Mommy And Me Yoga

South Huntington Public Library

Military Bridge

Free Mommy and Me yoga classes are offered in Dix Hills every Tuesday. Walkers: 12 Months and up, 9:45-11 a.m. Crawlers: 6-12 Months, 11 a.m.-noon. Register by phone or online: Chai Tots Preschool, 501 Vanderbilt Parkway.

631-351-8672. www.TheChaiCenter.com.

Free Help For Vets

Every Tuesday from 12-4 p.m. is “Military Appreciation Tuesdays,” when Long Island Cares specifically assists veterans, military personnel and their families at the Hauppauge and Freeport emergency pantries. Appointments can be made by contacting jrosati@licares.org.

WEDNESDAY Power Breakfast

Join business professionals at BNI Executive Referral Exchange’s breakfast networking meeting every Wednesday, 7-8:30 a.m. at the Dix Hills Diner, 1800 Jericho Turnpike, Dix Hills. 631-462-7446.

AT THE LIBRARIES

145 Pidgeon Hill Road, Huntington Station.

631-549-4411. www.shpl.info.

• On Friday, March 29 at 7 p.m., young adults in grades 6-12 can enjoy a fun photo-editing workshop. The workshop will introduce attendees to easy and free websites to make their photos fun and interesting.

• Magician Bob McEntee is back with his awesome magic tricks and illusions that will amaze and delight audience members of all ages on Saturday, March 30, 7 p.m.

THEATER and FILM Cinema Arts Centre

423 Park Ave., Huntington. www.cinemaartscentre.org. 631-423-7611.

• The Puppet Slam Café, a cabaret of hip, contemporary puppetry for adults, shows at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 28. $20 members/$25 public (includes two beverages).

• An April 13 workshop on skills every filmmaker needs, taught by Long Island-based independent filmmaker Glenn Andreiev, will include interactive discussions, film clips and take home materials. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $35 members/$45 non-members.

Dix Hills Performing Arts Center

Cold Spring Harbor Library

95 Harbor Road, Cold Spring Harbor. 631-6926820. cshlibrary.org.

• On display through March 30 is the work of students in grades 7-12.

Five Towns College, 305 N. Service Road, Dix Hills. Box Office: 631-656-2148. www.dhpac.org.

• Go back to the ’60s with “Hairspray” running from April 11-14.

Commack Public Library

John W. Engeman Theater At Northport

18 Hauppauge Road, Commack. 631-4990888. commack.suffolk.lib.ny.us.

• Are you game? Adults are welcome to play Bridge and Mahjong on Fridays at 1:00 p.m. through May. • AARP provides tax assistance on Fridays from 1-5 p.m. through April 12.

Deer Park Public Library

44 Lake Ave., Deer Park. 631-586-3000. deerparklibrary.org.

• The library is starting a Scrabble Club for adults. Sessions will start Saturday, March 30. Call the library for more information.

Elwood Public Library

3027 Jericho Turnpike, Elwood. 631-499-3722.

350 Main St., Northport. www.johnwengemantheater.com. 631-261-2900.

• Tony Award-winning comedy “Boeing Boeing,” the story of an architect juggling three fiancées who are all flight attendants, plays through May 5. $55.

Tilles Center For The Performing Arts

LIU Post Campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. www.tillescenter.org. 516-299-3100.

• Families will go crazy for Imago Theatre’s ZooZoo on Saturday, April 6 at 11 a.m. The performance features penguins playing musical chairs, hippos with insomnia and anteaters serving dinner.

(Continued on page LI 11)

LONG ISLANDER LIFE • MARCH 28, 2013 •

(Continued from page LI 10)

Time For A Puppet Slam CASTING CALLS

WThe Puppet Slam Café is a cabaret of hip, contemporary puppetry for adults.

Some of America's finest puppeteers, several from Long Island, will cut loose and present their wildest material on Thursday, March 28, 8 p.m. at Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington.

The evening will be hosted by ventriloquist Carla Rhodes, and her cantankerous sidekick Cecil Sinclaire. 631-423-7610. www.CinemaArtsCentre.org. $20 members/$25 public (includes two beverages).

Talent Show

A local cable TV talent show is looking for all types of talent (except bands). Singers, impressionists, comedians, magicians, and other performers/acts welcome. Register online at www.talent-showcase.com or call 631-2237011. Auditions are open to all ages.

Registration in advanced is required – no walkins permitted.

MUSEUMS & EXHIBITS

b.j. spoke gallery

299 Main St., Huntington. Gallery hours: Monday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 631-549-5106. www.bjspokegallery.com.

• On display through March 29 is “Requiem,” Liz Ehrlichman’s solo show, with a members’ exhibit, “The Musical Spectrum.”

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery

1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor. Open seven days a week, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday and Sundays until 6 p.m.: $6 adults; $4 children 3-12 and seniors over 65; members and children under 3 are free. 516-692-6768. www.cshfha.org • “Animal Encounters” is March 25-29, at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Learn about turtles, frogs and salamanders during a live animal presentation.

Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum

Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor. Museum hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $4 adults, $3 seniors, $3 students 5 -18, family $12; military and children under 5 are free. 631367-3418. www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.

• Spend your spring break doing experiments, making crafts and playing games from March 25-29. Check online for details and registration information.

fotofoto Gallery

14 W. Carver St., Huntington. Gallery hours: Friday 5-8 p.m., Saturday 12-8 p.m., Sunday 12-4 p.m. 631-549-0448.

• SPARKBOOM opens April 6 with a reception from 6-9 p.m. On display through April 28, it includes “New York Underground” by Richard Gardner and “In A Split” by Michelle Carollo.

Heckscher Museum Of Art

2 Prime Ave., Huntington. Museum hours: Wednesday - Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., first Fridays from 4-8:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission $6-8/adults, $46/seniors, and $4-5/children; members and children under 10 free. 631-351-3250.

• “Modernizing America: Artists of the Armory Show” focuses on American artists who participated in the Armory Show and explores the impact of European Modernism on American art in the early years of the 20th century. On display through April 14.

• “Long Island’s Best: Young Artists at The Heckscher Museum,” an exhibition of 80 works by Long Island high school students, opens March 30 and runs through April 21.

Holocaust Memorial And Tolerance Center

Welwyn Preserve. 100 Crescent Beach Road, Glen Cove. Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun.: noon-4 p.m. 516-571-8040 ext.

100. www.holocaust-nassau.org.

• The permanent exhibit explains the 1920s increase of intolerance, the reduction of human rights, and the lack of intervention that enabled the persecution and mass murder of millions of Jews and others: people with disabilities, Roma and Sinti (Gypsies), Jehovah’s Witnesses, gays and Polish intelligentsia.

• “Portraits of Our Past: Greek Jews and the Holocaust” is on display March 15-April 21.

Huntington Arts Council Main Street Petite Gallery: 213 Main St., Huntington. Gallery hours: Monday - Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Art in

9-6 by law students and attorneys from the bar associations. Bilingual and Spanish-speaking lawyers are available thanks to the Hispanic Bar Association.

VOLUNTEERING Seeking Volunteer Advocates

The Family Service League’s Ombudservice Program of Suffolk County is seeking volunteers to train as advocates for nursing home, adult home and assisted living facility residents to help insure they receive quality care and their rights are protected. 631-427-3700 ext.

240.

Artistically Gifted Needed

Art League of Long Island

107 East Deer Park Road, Dix Hills. Gallery hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends. 631-462-5400. www.ArtLeagueLI.net.

• The talent of local visual artists will be celebrated in a competition on view through April 14.

• Entries are being sought for their annual Art in the Park Fine Art & Craft Fair at Heckscher Park in Huntington on Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2.

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the Art-trium: 25 Melville Park Road, Melville.

Gallery Hours: Monday - Friday 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

631-271-8423. www.huntingtonarts.org.

• “Portraits,” a juried show, is on display in the main gallery through April 22.

• “Living Color” shows in the Art-trium through June 17.

Huntington Historical Society

Main office/library: 209 Main St., Huntington.

Museums: Conklin Barn, 2 High St.; Kissam House/Museum Shop, 434 Park Ave.; Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building, 228 Main St. 631427-7045, ext. 401. www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

• The Museum Shop at Dr. Daniel Kissam House Museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, 1-4 p.m.

Consignment and donations accepted Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

LaMantia Gallery

127 Main St., Northport Village. 631-754-8414. www.lamantiagallery.com.

• Robert Finale presents captivating landscapes and Richard Johnson displays exquisite paintings of the human face and form.

9 East Contemporary Art

9 East Carver St., Huntington. Gallery hours: Wed.-Sat., 3-8 p.m. or by appointment. 631662-9459.

• The “Winter Invitational Exhibition” presents nine major works by the 9 East Artists and nine works created by a selected group of professional Long Island artists. On view through March 31.

Northport Historical Society Museum

215 Main St., Northport. Museum hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 1-4:30 p.m. 631-757-9859. www.northporthistorical.org.

• The next installment of the program “History Takes a Vacation,” a fun and educational series, runs Tuesday, March 26-Thursday, March 28 for students in grades 2-6.

Ripe Art Gallery

67 Broadway, Greenlawn. 631-807-5296.

Gallery hours: Tuesday - Thursday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday 2-9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. www.ripeartgal.com.

• “Black and white, Dark and Light” by the members of the National League of American Pen Women, All Cities branch, features the work of Carolyn De Soucey, Dina Fine, Eleanore O'Sullivan, Diana Sanzone, Jeanette Martone, and Lisa Hermanson. On display through March 30.

SPLIA

Headquarters: 161 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor. Joseph Lloyd Manor House: Lloyd Lane and Lloyd Harbor Road, Lloyd Neck.

631-692-4664. www.splia.org.

• “Long Island at Work and at Play,” early 20th-century photographs from SPLIA’s collections, is now on display Thursdays through Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Suffolk Y JCC

74 Hauppauge Road, Commack. 631-4629800, ext. 140. Tuesday 1-4 p.m. Admission: $5 per person, $18 per family. Special group programs available. www.suffolkyjcc.org.

• The Alan & Helene Rosenberg Jewish Discovery Museum provides hands-on exhibits and programs for children 3-13 years old and their families, classes and camps. Now on exhibit: The Alef Bet of Being a Mensch. “Zye a mensch” is a Yiddish saying that means “be a decent, responsible, caring person,” infusing both the best blessing and the best that an educator can wish for his students.

Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium

180 Little Neck Road, Centerport. Museum hours through April 15: Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday, 12-4 p.m. Grounds admission: $7 adults, $6 students with ID and seniors 62 and older, and $3 children 12 and under. Mansion tour, add $5 per person. 631-854-5555. www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

• The newly renovated planetarium is now open. Check the website for showtimes.

• The Arena Players Children's Theater presents “Pinocchio” March 2-30, Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Carriage House Theater. $10 adults/$8 children/free for children under 3. Call 516-293-0674 or visit www.ArenaPlayers.org.

Walt Whitman Birthplace

246 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station. Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 1-4 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Admission: $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 students, and children under 5 are free. 631-427-5240, ext. 114. www.waltwhitman.org.

• April is Poetry Month, starting Saturday, April 6 with “Writing with Whitman: Poetry Writing Workshops” (3-5 p.m. $15) and reading with Dan Giancola and internationally acclaimed poet Pierre Joris (7-9 p.m. $10 without workshop attendance).

MUSIC & DANCE

The Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Commack is seeking artistically gifted volunteers to partner with residents in a new program, “heART to heART” aimed at helping people with varying levels of cognitive ability express themselves through art. Contact Judie at 516-931-5036 or jatlas1@optonline.net.

Don’t Hibernate. Help.

The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP SUFFOLK) needs adults 55+ to help in organizations throughout Suffolk County. Dozens of opportunities available in this federally funded program for just about any interest or skill. Visit www.rsvpsuffolk.org or call 631-979-9490 ext.12 for more information.

Friends At Home

Looking to earn some community service hours while changing a life? As part of the Friends@Home program, a project of The Ariella's Friendship Circle at the Chai Center in Dix Hills, visit a child with special needs in an environment they are most comfortable: their own homes. Together, bake cookies, play games, create arts and crafts, read books and more. Contact Nati or Sara at 631-351-8672 or fcchaicenter@gmail.com

Be A Friend Of The Bay

Friends of the Bay is in need of volunteers who can help convert water quality data, which is currently kept in an excel sheet, into a Microsoft Access database. Assistance is also needed with ArcView GIS, to configure maps of the watershed. Call 516-922-6666 or email info@friendsofthebay.org.

Be A Host Family

300 Nassau Road, Huntington. 631-944-4403. http://graciasmusic.com.

• The Gracias Easter Cantata will be held on Saturday, March 30, and Sunday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Huntington Sanctuary is seeking families or individual adults to become Host Homes, which provide temporary shelter to youth between ages 12-17 who are experiencing a family crisis. Contact Jennifer Petti at 631-2712183 for more information.

The Paramount

Helping Furry Friends

Gracias Music at Mahanaim

370 New York Ave., Huntington. 631-673-7300. www.paramountny.com. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

• The Paramount Comedy Series presents former SNL stars Jon Lovitz, Chris Kattan and Tim Meadows on Friday, April 5. $37.50-89.50

NOMINEES NEEDED Volunteer Awards

The Association of Fundraising Professionals of Long Island (AFPLI) is now seeking nominations for its Philanthropy Day 2013 Awards, which honor individuals and organizations whose commitment and dedication to Long Island exhibits outstanding leadership and effectiveness. Philanthropy Day takes place this year on Nov. 15 in Melville. Nomination forms are available online at www.philanthropyday.org or by calling Joan Connor at 631-249-5008. Deadline is Friday, March 29.

DONATIONS WELCOME Help The Troops Call Home

Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci has registered his District Office in Huntington Station as an official drop-off site for Cell Phones for Soldiers. To help the troops call home by donating your old cell phone, stop by or mail your phone to 1783 New York Ave., Huntington Station, 11746. 631-271-8025.

AID & ASSISTANCE Help After Sandy

Touro Law Center has opened a legal hotline at 631-761-7198 that is staffed Monday-Friday

Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center is looking for volunteers who want to make a difference in the lives of animals. Free training provided. Visit www.littleshelter.com or call 631-368-8770 ext. 204.

Walt Whitman Birthplace

If you are interested in literature or history, the Walt Whitman Birthplace has fascinating and rewarding part-time volunteer positions available. Free training provided. 631-427-5420 ext.114.

Helping Runaway Kids

Share your ideas and opinions on how Huntington Sanctuary, a program of the Huntington Youth Bureau, can help youth ages 12-21 who run away or who are at risk of running away. The group’s advisory board meets one Thursday a month at 6 p.m. Call 631-2712183.

Eyes For The Blind

Suffolk County’s Helen Keller Services is looking for volunteers to visit blind who are homebound to socialize and aid in reading mail, possibly provide transportation. 631-424-0022.

Send us your listings Submissions must be in by 5 p.m.

10 days prior to publication date.

Send to Community Calendar at 149 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743, or e-mail to info@longislandernews.com

LI 12

• MARCH 28, 2013 • LONG ISLANDER LIFE

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THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • MARCH 28, 2013 • A9

Life&Style RADIO

Radio Show Host Is In The ‘Kids Corner’ Former Huntington resident shares her sense of humor with kids across the nation Photo by Mark Wilkens

By Jasmine Weber info@longislandernews.com

Huntington-raised Kathy O’Connell, a graduate of Walt Whitman High School, is celebrating her 25th year as the host of nationwide radio program, “Kids Corner.”

And although she is a Philadelphia resident now, her heart remains in Huntington.

“Huntington really provided my base and I really blossomed… I can thank Huntington for giving me a good base in a lot of things—including the best pizza in the world,” she joked.

Before O’Connell began her career as a radio host, she performed standup comedy.

She attributes her lively sense of humor to her “funny view of life” despite having a “dramatic childhood.”

Her initial involvement in radio started when she began volunteering at a public radio station in New York called WBAI. “I found a home in radio,” O’Connell said. “I can sit in a room with a microphone, whether it’s on or not, and just talk.

It is such an intimate medium; I think that’s what still works. Nothing beats being able to turn on the radio in the car or turn on the radio in the house and feel that one person is talking directly to you.”

She then became an engineer for WNYC Radio. It was there that the door into children’s radio was opened to her.

Former Huntington resident Kathy O’Connell hopes her radio show for kids helps them learn and grown.

One night, when the hosts of the station’s children program stormed off the set, she was approached by executives, who asked to host.

The gig was perfect for the comedian and former neighborhood babysitter; it combined both her love for children and

her love to share her own comicality. The show, “Small Things Considered,” was awarded a Peabody Award and morphed into a national show called “Kids America.”

On Christmas Eve, 1987, “Kids America” went off the air, but O’Connell found

work only one week later in Philadelphia as the host of her own show, “Kids Corner.” The segment is now celebrating its 25th anniversary.

She attributes its popularity to its ability to connect with children on a personal scale and provide a learning experience for its listeners.

“It’s really funny… It gives kids a voice,” she said. “We are a tool both for the parents and teachers to use in addition to what they’re doing in a kid’s life.”

She praised the show for its ability to talk about serious issues but remain lighthearted. The show introduces its young viewers to new music, and has done so since its beginnings.

“One of the things I'm proudest of is an ongoing thing which is discovering really good artists for kids,” she said.

She’s even had famous parody artist Weird Al Yankovic on the show, calling it a “great moment.”

She does a lot of talking about “fun” mistakes that she has made, like instances in which she had been scared and did not talk to her parents, in hopes to teach kids that they should talk to a grown-up if they are in a similar situation. Her purpose as the host is to teach children to learn from her mistakes.

Visit kidscorner.org for listening information.

POETRY

Jupiter Hammon Researcher Has New Goals

By George Wallace info@longislandernews.com

It’s been 55 years since Stanley Ransom orchestrated the Huntington Public Library’s “big move” down Main Street, employing the aid of local Boy Scouts to haul 20,000 books from the Soldiers and Sailors Museum to the library’s present location.

It’s been 43 years since Ransom published his groundbreaking “America's First Negro Poet; Jupiter Hammon Of Long Island,” establishing the 18th century poet’s place in literary history and triggering what is now known as Black Poetry Day throughout the United States.

Since that time, Ransom moved upstate to run libraries in Plattsburgh, dedicated himself to the pursuit of musical folklore through performance and recording, retired a couple of times, and has been honored by the New York State Legislature for his accomplishments.

Speaking from his home in Plattsburgh, the indefatigable “Connecticut Peddler” revealed that he’s got plenty to occupy him.

Especially now that a new poem, in Hammon’s own handwriting, has surfaced – in the form of a previously unknown draft poem found by researchers in the Yale archives by researchers from UT-Arlington.

“I’m anxious to see it,” Ransom said. “It’s one of the longest items in his handwriting.”

From 1953-1956, Ransom served as a professional library intern at New York Public Research Libraries. He then went to the Huntington Public Library, serving as assistant director from 1956-1958, and then as director from 1958-1974.

After overseeing the library’s move west on Main Street, Ransom embarked on what is perhaps his most far reaching accomplishment – researching the work of Jupiter Hammon, the 18th-century Huntington slave-poet who lived with the Lloyds. On Christmas Day, 1760, he published his first poem, “An Evening Thought,” and later went on to publish other poems and a number of prose pieces as well.

Through the publication of Ransom’s 1970 book on the subject, Hammon’s reputation was established as the first African-American poet to publish his own verse.

After he received a Certificate of Commendation by the American Association for State and Local History for his book on Jupiter Hammon, Ransom became concerned that there were no existing celebrations to honor the contributions African-Americans had made to American life and culture. He proposed a Black Poetry Day in 1970 and is credited with having been the originator of the idea for what is now a yearly national observance on Oct. 17, the birth date in 1711 of Hammon.

When Ransom moved to Plattsburgh in the ’70s, Huntington’s loss was upstate’s gain, from his work creating the Olympic and Winter Sports Museum in Lake Placid to his role as president of the New York Library Association.

Ransom has also long been involved in the research, collection, preservation and promotion of the folklore of New York State. And for more than 60 years he has been a folk singer, playing guitar, hammered dulcimer, mandolin, and autoharp, and also writing topical songs. His song “The Ironville Mine” is part of the permanent exhibit on mining at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y.

Stanley Ransom still has Jupiter Hammon on his mind, even years after leaving Huntington, but has built a life upstate.

He’s still got a research goal or two in mind when it comes to Hammon.

“In 1781, Prince William Henry of England, a midshipman, visited the manor house of the Lloyds,” Ransom said. “He was the first person of royal blood to visit the colonies, and Jupiter wrote a poem in his honor. I wonder if the Duke of Clarence, later William IV, would have that in his papers. He probably would have thrown it away – but wouldn’t it be great to find that!”

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A10 • THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • MARCH 28, 2013

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American developer has sights set on Mediavilla (Continued from page A1)

and address concerns over the project.

Torkan said he plans to give the community a unique retail experience, with open public spaces, medical and other professional offices, restaurants, and significant access to parking. The proposal includes 390 underground parking spaces, in addition to the 1,610 allocated above ground.

“Our goal, our vision is not to have just another box retail center… It will be a lifestyle center. The synergy we will get from the mix of tenants will help all the individual businesses,” Torkan said.

Torkan plans to submit an application to the town by the summer, and expects the build out to last two years. Torkan is one of the developers behind the Apple renovations at the Americana Manhasset, as well as other shopping centers along the north shore.

Melville-based firm Nelson and Pope Engineer and Surveyor has been hired to plan

and analyze the project’s development.

The two-story facility will be made up of five buildings; at least three will have partial second-story floors. The second stories will be preserved for professional use, by medical professionals and others, as well as some retail. Additional attractions on the radar include a fitness center, a bank or a supermarket.

Torkan plans to include open, landscaped spaces, alleyways with benches, a fountain in the summer and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the winter to enhance the use of the property as a community-oriented attraction.

The property also includes four buildings toward the front entrance of the center, separate from the main building.

The four detached buildings require variances, as town ordinance only permits one building per lot.

Torkan stressed that the center will be “far smaller” than the Walt Whitman Shops.

BAPS, senior housing (Continued from page A1)

square feet, will be on the first floor, Planning Director Anthony Aloisio said.

“Everybody involved is excited about the new home for the BAPS facility and they’re very excited to complete the approval process and begin construction,” said Howard Avrutine, attorney for the BAPS. With that decision and a March 20 ruling

by State Supreme Court Justice approving the sale, a requirement for land transactions involving religious institutions, the BAPS can now sell the 8.3-acre Meyers Farm property near Old Country and Round Swamp roads, where they originally planned to build the mandir, to the town for $1,325,000. Deshon Partners can also proceed to buy the 18-acre parcel at 25 Deshon Drive from the Tribune Company.

The town will then strip 5 acres of Meyers Farm, which will become Sweet Hollow Park, of its development rights and transfer them to 25 Deshon Drive. There,

the BAPS will use the proceeds of the sale to the town to buy 5 acres for the new mandir.

Once the transfer is complete, the Deshon parcel will have sufficient development rights to allow the BAPS to build the mandir on 5 acres, and for Deshon Partners to build 261 units on the remainder per R3M zoning code, which permits 14.5 units to the acre.

Mort Weber, attorney for Deshon Partners, said the whole series of transactions could be finalized by the end of the week.

“We’re in the final stages of the respective transactions,” Avrutine said.

The anticipated sale and development rights-swap would wrap up the first stage of a 10-year saga, starting in 2003, that has been full of twists and turns. Most recently, an article 78 lawsuit filed by Melville resident and former Huntington Supervisor candidate Peter Nichols was dropped last month, clearing one of the final potential hurdles to closing the deal.

But Ben Lomanto, co-owner of Spuntino in Dix Hills, was concerned that particular part of Huntington was already saturated with retail.

“What’s going to happen is they’ll build it, it’ll do well and decimate some other shopping center,” he said.

At a briefing for the Elwood civic group Preserving Elwood Now, some residents expressed concern over construction interfering with private residences. Torkan said his engineers have allowed for over 200 feet of green space from the last house in the rear, straight down to the front of the property, on the north and west sides.

He also expects to propose a new traffic light at the end of Old Country Road, approximately 700 feet to the east of the shopping center, with two lanes on either side entering and exiting the property. The center will also be accessible from Manor Road, if traffic and safety studies permit.

The developer said one of the most sensitive matters in dealing with the property is the town’s steep slope ordinance. Several decades ago the property was used as “borrowed land” by construction companies when Jericho Turnpike was being developed. Workers would dump materials in the property, and the waste has sat dormant since.

Main access to the property, Torkan said, will be across from the new traffic light, on Jericho Turnpike across from Old Country Road. As of present, the property lacks proper truck access, which will be added on Jericho Turnpike.

“A lifestyle center encourages nice design, provides for a large mix of tenants, and the project will result in significant job creation during the temporary construction period and post construction, as well as significant increase in tax revenues. It’s different than a regional mall that will provide a nice shopping experience with drive-up convenience,” Torkan said.

MONEY SPENT IN THE COMMUNITY STAYS IN THE COMMUNITY.

It Starts

Here

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THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • MARCH 28, 2013 • A11

School Notebook

Compiled by Luann Dallojacono

Robotics Team Wins In Virginia

The ThunderColts display their trophy from the Virginia Regional Robotics Competition.

In its third year of building robots, the Half Hollow Hills ThunderColts bested 64 other high school teams to win the coveted Xerox Engineering Design “Creativity Award” at the Virginia Regional First Robotics Competition in Richmond, Va. on March 15.

The ecstatic team also placed in the quarterfinals of the tournament, ultimately losing to the alliance that went on to place second in the event.

“Being able to go onto the field before thousands of people and prove that as a

TOWN OF HUNTINGTON

Calling Summer Interns!

By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandernews.com

Councilwoman Susan Berland is looking for a few good high school students who want to get work experience over this coming summer recess.

The councilwoman is soliciting resumens from high school students who will be 16 or older this summer for an eight-week, 40-hours-per-week summer internship program designed to match participating students with businesses.

“We want kids to come forward and send us their resumes and tell us what they’re interseted in,” she said. “Then

we can go to busiensses and try to match them up.”

In addition to gaining work experience and references on their resumes, students will also receive a stipend at the end of their internship, Berland said.

Local chambers of commerce are helping Berland reach out to prospective student and business participants, and the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce has alerted its members of the program. Berland said the Melville Chamber of Commerce has also been working with her to promote the summer program.

“We’re looking to see if we can be a

little creative to see if we can make it happen,” Melville Chamber President Mike DeLuise said. “We’re ging to help her in any way we can.”

The Chamber’s involvmenet dovetails neatly, he explained, with their work with Five Towns College and Farmingdale State College aimed at improving the quality of internships along the Route 110 corridor.

Interested students can email their resume to sberland@huntingtonny.gov, drop it off in person at the third-floor Council Office at Town Hall, 100 Main St., Huntington, or fax it to 631-6733379.

third-year team we could be so successful was truly one of the greatest feelings,” said Abhijith Kudaravalli of Dix Hills, team president and senior at Half Hollow Hills High School West.

The competition required high school teams to build a robot that could climb a three-tier tower and/or shoot Frisbee-like discs into a target from the ground. For the 2013 FIRST Robotics challenge, called “Ultimate Ascent,” teams had just over six weeks to construct their machine. Students from the district’s combined East and West team worked five nights a week and Saturdays so they could keep working until the deadline at midnight Feb. 19.

In Virginia, Hills’ robot was the only robot of the 65 teams to climb the entire three-tiers, to the amazement and admiration of competitors. The achievement also impressed the judges who awarded the engineering design prize to the team. The 14 students in attendance and their mentors were invited to the floor of the arena to high-five judges from companies such as Northrup-Grumman, Bechtel and Lockheed Martin.

The ThunderColts were selected in the first round of drafting for the eight-alliance finals, the first time the team has made it that far in a regional competition. The team will compete again April 4-6 at the Long Island Regional at Hofstra University. A win qualifies the team to earn its second trip to nationals in St. Louis at the end of April.

The ThunderColts, with 53 registered students, are led by advisors Julian Aptowitz and Christian Mirchel, science teachers at High School West, and aided by parent-engineers Yuri Wolf-Sonkin, Babu Kudaravalli, and Frank Calascione, all of whom have sons on the team.

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A12 • THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • MARCH 28, 2013

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THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • MARCH 28, 2013 • A13

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Parents arrested (Continued from page A7)

Both were released after posting bail, and are due at the First District Court in Central Islip on May 22.

St. Anthony’s High School Principal Brother Gary Cregan said it was unfortunate students chose to drink after a St. Anthony’s High School event.

“Students at St. Anthony's are well aware that underage drinking is absolutely forbidden at school, and while the presence of adults should normally preclude underage drinking outside of school, this does not appear to be the case… While St. Anthony's cannot be responsible for monitoring students once they are off the property, we are disappointed that such an incident occurred. The matter will be addressed internally,” Cregan said in a statement.

Buergold said parents of teens are often mistaken in thinking their children are safer drinking at home rather than elsewhere.

“They think it’s a better thing, but they’re really fooling themselves if they think

they’re not doing both their children and other children a serious injustice by promoting drinking in the home,” he said.

Endangering the welfare of a child, Buergold said, is punishable by up to one year in prison and carries potential for a substantial fine.

The Suffolk County Local Host Law addresses underage drinking at parties where adults are present and supply alcohol to minors under 18 years old. However, the local law is considered a violation, a lesser charge than the misdemeanor the Butlers were charged with.

Buergold said alcohol-related illnesses among teens is a growing issue, with 5,000 children in the United States dying each year from underage drinking. With prom season approaching, the captain said, the issue becomes increasingly present.

“With prom season starting now, the frequency of calls related to this generally increases… We certainly want to get the message out to parents and adults that we take this very seriously,” he said.

Adding another track (Continued from page A3)

construction of a second track between Ronkonkoma and Farmingdale enhances the possibility that such a plan could be developed in the future, assuming that anticipated transit-oriented development occurs around Republic along with associated demand for commuter rail service,” he said.

But for mass transit and Long Island to survive, DeLuise said the Republic station must be a reality, along with the Double Track Project and Bus Rapid System.

“You can’t put just one piece in and make it work,” he said, adding it would get riders into Penn Station within 35 minutes.

Joe Calderone, LIRR vice president of public affairs, said re-opening Republic would cost about $50 million.

“We’re reviewing and talking to the

“Look at what they charge you now,” — MIKE DELUISE, Melville Chamber of Commerce President community and business community.

In order to build it, we need to be certain there’s a need and that it will be used,” Calderone said, adding that it could be part of phase II.

A14 • THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • MARCH 28, 2013

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TOWN OF HUNTINGTON

This Vet Is The Cat’s Meow Huntington Animal Hospital becomes one of three certified feline-friendly practice on LI Half Hollow Hills photo/Danny Schrafel

By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandernews.com

Huntington Animal Hospital, which has been a fixture on Jericho Turnpike for more than 60 years, has been certified as a top vet destination for your cat.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), a Hillsborough, N.J.-based veterinary and research organization, certified Huntington Animal Hospital as a cat-friendly practice Jan. 24, making them one of just three such veterinarians on Long Island.

The certification identifies Huntington Animal Hospital as a facility dedicated to AAFP’s cat-friendly practice protocols designed to “improve the treatment, handling and overall health care of cats” in the vet’s office and at home.

Veterinarian Jeffrey Kramer, the owner of Huntington Animal Hospital, said becoming certified as a cat-friendly practice helped standardize best practices at his office.

“It set the protocols in place so that when a cat comes in, we are making sure we are doing these things. This kind of made it more systematic,” he said.

At Huntington Animal Hospital, for instance, the staff always tries to keep cats away from dogs in the waiting room and create a comfortable atmosphere by put-

Jeffrey Kramer’s Huntington Animal Hospital was certified cat-friendly by feline care specialists in January. Here, Kramer holds Tony, a 1-year-old Bengal mix, as vet technician Heather Burwell pets Tony, while veterinary assistant Victoria Wingfield holds 6-month-old Delilah. Both are rescues up for adoption through Huntington’s Golden Paw Society. ting blankets on examining tables and using Feliway, a synthetic version of the facial pheromone cats use to mark their territory, to soothe their whiskered patients.

Current statistics show Americans care for 86 million cats and 78 million dogs as pets, but many more cats than dogs do not receive regular veterinary

care.

“There is a tremendous recognition that while cats are the largest percentage of companion animals in homes, their wellness visits and other types of veterinary care are much lower than for dogs,” Elizabeth Colleran, AAFP past president, said.

The animal hospital is taking other steps to help cats, and recently partnered with a local organization to help find homes for rescued cats.

Kramer shows cats rescued by the Huntington-based Golden Paw Society in his waiting room and has helped the group find homes for a half-dozen so far.

The Golden Paw Society rescues cats, often from municipal shelters, that are at the highest risk for being euthanized.

Before putting their rescues up for adoption, they spay/neuter the animals and test and treat the animals for an array of common ailments.

While Kramer said his practice’s patient load is a 60-40 split between dogs and cats, respectively, his involvement as an AAFP practitioner and collaboration with Golden Paw is generating buzz, with more cats coming to be treated and examined. And that’s a good thing, Kramer said.

“The cats in the United States are just underserved by veterinarians,” he said.

TOWN OF HUNTINGTON

Fighting Back Against Burglars Electronix Systems’ radio backups get 911 calls out even when the phone lines are cut Huntington Businesses

By Mike Koehler mkoehler@longislandernews.com

In an economy where many are unemployed and full-time positions are at a premium, Fort Salonga resident Fred Leonardo must have a dream job.

Leonardo is the man behind Huntington Station-based alarm company Electronix Systems. Founded 35 years ago out of another company, Electronix is Leonardo’s life’s work and a long-time employer for many.

In fact, he still has his first, second and fourth employees on payroll. Now employing 85, Leonardo said he bought out his partner some years back and gave shares of the company to his employees.

When the business does well, they get a boost to their retirement plans.

“I’m the nice guy of the industry,” he said.

Before Electronix, Leonardo worked for New York Telephone in the 1970s. When a nine-month strike hit in 1971, he began installing car, and later house and commercial, alarms for someone in Queens. He went back to work, but started Custom Alarm Systems for side work.

In 1979, on his ninth anniversary to the day at New York Tel, Leonardo turned down a management promotion and went full-time with his side work in Queens.

He moved to Huntington Station in 1973

systems. They can detect high temperatures, low temperatures, sewage and floods.

In the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, Leonardo said 60 percent of his customers are corporate, especially those adding fire alarms, cameras and card access systems.

“The corporations are looking to protect their employees and keep them safe in their working environment,” he said.

Most non-residential buildings being constructed, he added, also require a fire alarm system. Whether it’s designing the alarm or installing the system, Leonardo said that is the single busiest part of Electronix. That work is limited to Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Most of their residential work also comes from Long Island. The owner said the Town of Huntington is very well represented in his client base.

Home automation – adjusting lights and thermostats throughout a house from one panel – has been a part of Electronix Systems’ business for years. But they recently got involved with Z-Wave – a wireless protocol designed for home automation.

Wirelessly connected to their $500 alarm control panel, just one touch can cause certain lights to turn off and the air conditioning to turn on. Appliances are plugged into modules or even special outlets, and the shortwave wireless signal bounces from one Z-Wave module to the next until it reaches its target. Each module or outlet runs $40-$60.

“A lot of people start with one or two, and build on from there,” he said.

Sitting in a chair in the conference room of his secure facility on Friday, Leonardo said he’s very happy owning his own business and never looked back.

“I don’t just want to work for someone.

Half Hollow Hills photo/Mike Koehler

Spotlight On

when he married, bringing the business with him. Leonardo changed the business name to Home Electronix. In 1978, he renamed it Electronix Systems.

Early on, the company only installed the systems. With so few customers, less than 50 at one point, they hired an answering service to receive and dispatch calls.

In fact, he chose his original New York Avenue location in part because the answering service with his antenna was nearby. The office, he said, was also close to home and a central point for a company covering from Montauk to Manhattan.

They ditched the answering service after a few years and handled their own monitoring. In 1987, they moved up the road to their current location to meet Underwriters Laboratories approval.

What made Electronix stand out was the wireless radio signal for their alarms. The company ditched phone lines for wireless Internet as the primary connection, but GSM radio still remains the backup.

Leonardo said he saw burglars cut phone lines during his time with New York Tel and wanted a way to counter that.

“I had one about two weeks. It still transmitted alarms to central. The guards went out and found there was an attempted break-in,” he said, adding that the would-be burglar just ripped down a siren and cut the cable lines.

He estimated that the radio is used in as many as 40 percent of calls.

“That happens quite a bit. The radio saves the day,” Leonardo added.

Now boasting nearly 20,000 accounts throughout Long Island, parts of New Jersey and Westchester, Electronix does everything but car alarms. They install and monitor police and fire alarms, closed circuit television systems and card access

Electronix Systems owner Fred Leonardo shows off a wireless alarm control panel his company uses with customers throughout the tri-state area.

You’ll never be rich and you’ll never be poor,” he added.

The recession hasn’t hurt business. In fact, Electronix gained business in 2012.

But despite his ongoing success, Leonardo has no plans of leaving their Huntington Station office.

“I believe in slow and steady growth. I don’t like to jump too fast,” he said.

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THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • MARCH 28, 2013 • A15

HillSPORTS SOFTBALL

Lady Colts Swinging For Second Title Hills West coach says pitching could help defend their League VI crown jbirzon@longislandernews.com

Last year’s League VI champions are hoping for a repeat performance this spring, and then some.

After falling short in the second round of playoffs last year, losing 5-4 to Connetquot, Half Hollow Hills High School West Head Coach Rob Rizzo said this year, his girls have something to prove.

“This year, we’re bringing back experience on the team. With seven seniors, we have a lot of pieces to the puzzle, a lot of girls that are very athletic. We can pitch with best of them,” he said.

Returning are captains Jessica Kleet, a senior, and Francesca Casalino, a junior, whom Rizzo described as leaders both on and off the field. Casalino, a pitcher, was an all-state player last year who was successful as both a pitcher and batter.

Casalino batted .475 on the year, with six homeruns and 28 RBIs. On the mound, Rizzo was 17-2 with a 0.38 point for runs a game, with 124 strikeouts and 28 walks.

Kleet, who plays first base, was designated an All-County player last year and batted .405 with 38 RBIs. The coach said his first, second and

third basemen, including Kleet, Katie Greenough, Kara Spinelli and centerfielder Rose Cipoletti, are all expected to make a strong debut both on the field and up at bat.

Also returning are Danielle Cardito and Alex Regan. Lexi Kleet will be a flex hitter. Kristina Spinelli will play left field, Alana Campo will be short stop, Gabrielle Casalino will be the right fielder, and Olivia Garrison is the catcher.

The coach said the team is pretty evenly mixed experience-wise, with seven seniors, two juniors, one sophomore and three freshmen joining the Lady Colt powerhouse.

Rizzo said the team’s record last year of 18-4, in addition to their success during pre-season scrimmages against Babylon and Bay Shore, have provided encouraging implications for the direction of the 2013 season.

“We just have to be mentally strong and take it one game at a time, and hopefully keep winning and keep going at it.

We’re hoping for the best, and play to the best of our ability every single day… You can’t look too far in advance; take it one game at a time and control the day,” the coach said.

Half Hollow Hills photo/Jacqueline Birzon

By Jacqueline Birzon

A Lady Colts player eyes the pitcher during a scrimmage against Babylon.

During the spring recess, the Lady Colts will continue to hold practices.

They played their first game in League VI

at Copiague on Wednesday, and will host their first home game on April 2 against Riverhead at 4 p.m.

BOYS TENNIS

Thunderbirds Are Set At The Net Half Hollow Hills photo/Jacqueline Birzon

The 2013 Hills East varsity boys tennis team.

By Jacqueline Birzon jbirzon@longislandernews.com

With nine returning players to the Thunderbirds’ boys varsity tennis team, three of whom are All-State athletes, the heat may turn up a little sooner than expected—at least on the tennis court.

Head Coach Tom Depelteau said the team has nine returning players, including All-State players Zain Ali, a junior singles player; Jeff Cherkin, a senior co-captain; and junior Kyle Alper. Together, Cherkin

and Alper were the Suffolk County doubles champions last season.

Not to mention, Half Hollow Hills East was the county champion last year, with an undefeated 20-0 record. The team also won the sportsmanship award for League I. Cherkin said that riding off of expectations from last year, the bar is set just as high for the 2013 spring season.

“We have a really good team. Every year we are a competitive team,” Cherkin said.

“It’s definitely our goal to win the Long Island Championships.”

Junior doubles player Kyle Alper serves during practice last week.

Cherkin added that Hills East was the runner-up at last year’s Long Island Championship game.

Three returning players were honored with All-Division designation, including junior Roger Cheng, senior Mike Leffler, and sophomore Ross Reiffman. Another trio, senior co-captain Alec Tuckey, senior

Jake Delouya, and sophomore Travis Leaf, were awarded All-League honors.

Depelteau said the team has won 59 consecutive matches in Suffolk County.

The boys will have a series of nonleague games prior to their first league game at Harborfields High School on April 2 at 4 p.m.

A16 • THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • MARCH 28, 2013

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