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MARCH 2013 In This Issue
Plus
Staff
EDIT Christopher Twarowski
“We are the global champions of human rights so long as we’re not stripped of our fundamental economic right to slave labor.”
Editor in Chief / Chief of Investigations
Spencer Rumsey Senior Editor
Timothy Bolger News/Web Editor
Jaclyn Gallucci Managing Editor
Lindsay Christ Staff Writer
Off the reservation p.12
The Original Occupy: Canadian Indians provide strong resistance to the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline project. By Jed Morey
Rashed Mian Staff Writer
Licia Avelar Staff Writer L o n g I s L a n d P r e s s f o r m a r c h , 2 0 1 3 / / / P e t P r e s s / / / w w w. L o n g I s L a n d P r e s s . c o m
B1
Special Pullout Section
Pet Press Center
fortune 52 p.14
ReesSpecht Life by Paying It Forward: Richie had been told that the backyard pond was off limits, but Samantha says he was always a curious little boy. By Beverly Fortune
Letters p.6 Sound Smart p.8 ExpresS p.10 Hot Plate p.58 sTaff Picks p.66
INVESTIGATIONS p.18
Obama’s War on Civil Liberties
Do This EventS p.68 Crossword p.74
Contributors
Shelly Feuer Domash, Dan O’Regan, Pete Tannen ART Jon Sasala Art Director
Scott Kearney Graphic Designer
Sal Calvi
Graphic Designer
Jon Moreno
Contributing Illustrator
Jim Lennon
Contributing Photographer
Digital Mike Conforti
Director of New Media
Last Stand: NDAA, indefinite detention, and the battle raging against the most important law you’ve never heard of. By Jed Morey, Christopher Twarowski & Rashed Mian Just Saying p.28
Doping Scandal: Superheroes finally admit to using performance-enhancing drugs. By Peter Tannen out there p.30
Death or Glory: Skydiving and faulty parachutes. By Jaclyn Gallucci news feature p.50
“This case has always been about making sure that there isn’t one set of rules for the wealthy and connected, and another set for everyone else.” The Verdict: Will fallout from Flanagan conviction strain Nassau police relations with the DA? By Timothy Bolger
The Portrait p.16
Wooster Group’s Ari Fliakos, center, believes theater can be dangerous. By Spencer Rumsey Just Saying p.28
FOUR corners p.60
Comic Books: From imagination to bookcase. By Rashed Mian Art + Soul p.62
Abstract Expressionism Reconsidered: AB-EX/RE-CON at the Nassau County Museum of Art By Spencer Rumsey Connect
Elvis Lives On Page 54
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Readers React Here’s what you had to say...
There is no excuse such as saying there was too much snow because private lots paid to private companies were ALL down to blacktop. No one is blaming workers who were following orders. We are saying that something was terribly wrong with how this was handled by many higher ups.
People always complain about high taxes, but I’m not seeing enough complaining now. This was and is a mess. People lost work days and money due to incompetence. Erin Killeen
VOLUNTEER NOW! www.suffolksbravest.com
Long Islanders should see where their tax dollars are going! Long Island roads are dangerous, nothing is being done! @PeachyPink1719
over it is time for the President to step up and restore the CWA, once and for all. Kimberly Cooper, Clean Water Intern, Environment New York
They never learn. [Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine] said the weather report wasn’t certain. He left on Wed. when they had already predicted a foot. @Surfcomic
Banks give banks a bad name. Katherine Struven Navarra
Let me get this straight: After a couple of years of collecting a government paycheck, Suffolk County I got an IDEA, Don’t go on vacation District Attorney Tom Spota, Sheriff when a storm is forecast!!! Stop Vincent DeMarco and Clerk Judith playing the blame game. Let’s face it, Pascale decide that the people they you F__ked up!!!! Now step down and serve no longer have the right to get people in there who can get the job restrict them to three terms in office done. if not, get new ones!!!! As and then—without shame—use their children we are taught not to lie, but campaign money in an attempt to our politicians seem to be the biggest overturn the 1993 referendum liars and slanderers!!! Don’t trust any enacting term limits. of them!!!!! Peter Devlin They claim that they are actually NYS officials and the fact that they Unconscionable. Korea is serve a county function, receive county preparing for world domination and we salaries and are elected by county can’t even get our streets plowed! residents is just a coincidence. Jackie Bowers Riker After the Suffolk legislature hires a politically connected patsy for its Living only five minutes from the defense, it mysteriously refuses Long Island Sound was an integral part to appeal the judge’s decision that of my adolescence. My family spent overturned a 20-year-old referendum, countless hours on and around the laughably citing “budget” constraints. Sound fishing, boating During all this, and picnicking. The Albany and the Cuomo Sound is also a crucial administration are Let us know part of the economy as nowhere to be found. it supports many jobs. The U.S. Justice what you think Unfortunately, we are Department refuses not doing our best to to intervene. Not one make sure it is political leader voices protected. Too many of any concern. Then, as Letters@LongIslandPress.com the wetlands and small if on cue, both major streams that feed the parties cross-endorse Sound do not have the the Gang of Three, essential Clean Water thereby making the Facebook.com/LongIslandPress Act protections, leaving election process a them at risk for farce. dumping and Now, it seems we development. By not are no longer being @LongIslandPress protecting all tributaries governed. We are being and wetlands in the ruled. And Suffolk CWA we are putting County has become other, larger bodies of the banana republic it www.LongIslandPress.com water like the Sound, at has always strived to risk, too. I made the become. Now, I get it. decision to vote for Peter Nichols, Melville President Obama 575 Underhill Blvd. Suite 210 Syosset, NY 11791 because I believe in his Thanks for all you commitment to do with protecting clean water. #TheBestofLongIsland Now that the election is @PaulPannone (516) 284-3300
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Art and beauty.
If someone ever offers you a cup of Kopi Luwak coffee, kindly decline.
Yes, this is the rare and expensive Indonesian coffee that can go for $600 a pound and was featured on Oprah. Yes, it is described as having a smooth caramel-like taste. But do you know how it gets that taste? Kopi Luwak comes from coffee berry beans fed to civets, cat-like creatures from Southeast Asia. The animals’ stomach acid enzymes create the beans’ smooth, elite flavor—collected, washed and sold once excreted. To put it bluntly, the expensive coffee is literally crap. If this isn’t enough to make you gag, animal welfare groups have recently reported that the civets used to make the coffee are forced to live in tiny cages and fed a very unhealthy diet. So, if you care about animals and/or don’t care to drink kitty poop, it might be best to just stick with a regular cup of Joe.
ONE FOR THE GIPPER
March Madness had a Third-Place game until 1981. Scheduled to precede the championship game March 30 of that year, both were delayed due to an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. After the president was out of immediate danger, officials resumed the championship game only, and the ThirdPlace game has been out ever since.
Redheads are more than twice as likely to skip out on the dentist than blondes or brunettes, according to University of Louisville researchers. It’s not because they hate to brush their teeth, either. The scientists discovered that the genetic variant giving them their ginger locks also makes them resistant to local anesthesia. They can require up to 20 percent more than the general population during procedures.
GOLD BUGS
Bacteria usually get a bad rap, but scientists at McMaster University in Ontario might be able to boost their reputation. They discovered Delftia acidovorans has the ability to turn ions into gold as part of a self-defense mechanism. Gold ions are toxic if dissolved in water, so when identified by the bacteria, it releases delftibactin A, a protein acting as a shield to turn the ions into gold particles that accumulate outside the cells. While this doesn’t mean you can fish a pair of gold earrings out of a stream any time soon, the research could help identify whether or not a waterway carries the mineral and could someday help dissolve gold from water.
SHAPESHIFTER
With the latest advances in cinematography it would be natural to assume the contorted, demon-fueled positions actress Ashley Bell twists herself into throughout the Last Exorcism Part 2 are all done by special effects. Surprisingly, that’s not the case. Bell, its lead character, is double-jointed, and performs all the back-bending, terrifying poses herself. During the film’s first installment she sustained a stress fracture to her back from all her twisting and backwards demon-walking. Now that’s dedication to a role.
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Japanese scientists hit the awesome jackpot when they recently snapped a picture of Neon Flying Squid sailing more than 100 feet through the air. A team of researchers from Hokkaido University witnessed the long-rumored but never-documented phenomenon while tracking a shoal of about 100 squid in the Northwest Pacific. The creatures propel themselves by shooting a powerful jet of water out of their funnel-like stems. Once airborne, they assume “a highly developed flying posture” allowing them to glide, report the scientists. While we’re on the topic of the wonders of H2O, a Swedish study uncovered evidence suggesting anti-anxiety medications flushed into rivers affect the fish population. Scientists found traces of prescription drug Oxazepam in the tissues of the perch population and a corresponding change in their behavior. The fish, which usually stay close together for self-defense, became less sociable and less afraid of venturing out on their own. Experts are concerned that the behavioral change could have serious evolutionary consequences and urge sewage treatment plants to begin filtering out the chemicals.
A multi-layered visual feast to awaken the child tucked away inside us all
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PARTIAL SCORE The financially struggling U.S. Postal Service announces that it plans to end Saturday mail delivery starting in August to cut $2 billion in costs. Under the proposal, packages would still be delivered. The USPS also announces plans to launch “Rain, Heat & Snow,” a new line of all-weather, deviceaccommodating apparel and accessories in 2014. We doubt a clothing line will do much in the way of profits. Just ask Kim Kardashian! But a sex tape on the other hand…
TECH GIANTS
BULL’S EYE Apple, Google, Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft, among hundreds of other companies, stand up for same-sex marriage by signing on to
a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, which calls the Defense of Marriage Act not only unconstitutional but “bad for business.” The brief will be part of the suits against DOMA, which defines marriage as only being between a man and a woman, that the Supreme Court will hear in March. So, Apple and Microsoft are on the same side in a lawsuit? That’s an historical moment in itself!
Mars programs, including backing out of a joint mission with the European Space Agency that would have included the first direct search for life on Mars since the ’70s. Kanye West infamously said, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.” Somewhere in space there’s an alien interrupting a broadcast saying, “Barack Obama doesn’t care about extraterrestrials.”
NASA BUDGET CUTS
NUDE BEACH
OFF TARGET The scientists at NASA makes major progress in the art of wastewater recycling, which turns urine back into water through forward osmosis. Sure, this will come in handy if we ever spend time on Mars, but the Obama Administration has already proposed big cuts to NASA’s 2013
8.19% to 9.31%
“
PARTIAL SCORE The days of all-over tanning at Fire Island’s famed nude beaches come to an end as officials announce they will start enforcing NYS laws against public nudity. The reasons given by officials: The Sandydamaged boardwalk to the FI Lighthouse means visitors will have to walk through the area where nudists gather; a lack of lifeguards and restrooms; the negative effects of crowds on the environment; and an
The average increase that the majority of LIRR commuters will see in their ticket prices, as of March 1, depending on type and zone, as new fare hikes take effect.
“What we’re talking about today is the capacity of the U.S. government to make you disappear.”
—Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges, who with six other world-renowned journalists and activists, filed a federal lawsuit against the Obama Administration challenging the constitutionality of Sec. 1021 of the NDAA.
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INVESTIGATIONS p.18
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THe Target increase in criminal activity including public sex and prostitution. Violators who ignore the ban face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. Unfortunately, Speedo bikini bottoms are still perfectly legal.
can easily do without, and is something that should go the way of lead paint.” We can dig it.
HORSE MEAT
OFF TARGET While horse meat continues to surface in Europe, most recently in IKEA’s famous Swedish meatballs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture tells Americans we have nothing to worry about because it is illegal to bring horse meat into the U.S. for human consumption, unlike in Europe. So you can go back to cursing IKEA for the miniature pieces and nonsensical directions involved in putting together its PAX Uggdal Closet Sliding Doors, but don’t take your anger out on the meatballs.
BLOOMBERG
BULL’S EYE Following his bans on transfats and extra-large soft drinks in the city, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg takes on Styrofoam in his final State of the City address, calling it, “One product that is virtually impossible to recycle and never biodegrades… Something that we know is environmentally destructive and that may be hazardous to our health, that is costing taxpayers money and that we
seekers: Roger Daltrey (l) and pete townshend of the who rock the nassau coliseum Feb. 21, performing their classic quadrophenia and and other legendary hits to standing ovations. for more photos and a review of the gig, visit www. longislandpress.com (Long Island Press/Joe Nuzzo)
Pink Slip Stefan Schindler Lisa Traylor-Wolff Donald Trump Ben Shapiro Unit 61398 of the People’s Liberation Army Anna Ayala Oscar Pistorius and Hilton Botha Micky Arison Dov Hikind Lena Koschmann Beppe Grillo To see why go to longislandpress.com/pinkslip
Ex-Nassau x Democratic primary ÷ North Hempstead x Republican Nassau = Exec Tom Suozzi challenger Adam Haber Sup. Jon kaiman Exec Ed Mangano
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Can we draft Billy Joel to run, too?
The Rund wn
Re v i e w
Your To-Do List for this month
The Original of Laura: A Novel in Fragments
1. YOUTUBE HOW IT FEELS THROUGH GOOGLE GLASS
By Vladimir Nabokov
Google released a new video detailing the abilities of its upcoming Google Glass product—the ability to shoot video, take pictures, search the web, send texts and chat, all through voice activation. The futuristic eyewear, expected to hit streets in 2014, will come in five colors: charcoal, tangerine, shale, cotton and sky. The video is incredible. One user looks at a NYC subway sign and gets a warning in the glass eye piece that service is suspended on that line. Of course, the part where this dude gets clocked over the head and has his glasses ripped off is left out. So, you’ll have to use your imagination to get the full experience.
2. TRY LIZ LEMON BEN & JERRY’S
Tangy lemon frozen Greek yogurt with blueberry lavender ribbons spiraling through it is Ben & Jerry’s newest creation. Aimed at celebrating the recent end of NBC‘s 30 Rock, the Liz Lemon flavor is available in Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops and on the shelves of grocery stores. Unfortunately, or thankfully, there are no Mexican cheese balls in it—or aluminum foil.
3. WATCH ELEPHANTS TAKE TO THE STREETS
We know, we know. It’s hard enough for humans with big toes to cross Hempstead Turnpike, in cars. But between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on March 11, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ worldfamous elephants will make their trek from the Hempstead LIRR station and go down the turnpike to Nassau Coliseum. On March 22, they’ll journey through the Midtown Tunnel to Madison Square Garden from 11 p.m.-2 a.m. So when you’re walking to Penn Station that Friday night—the elephants are real.
5. WATCH MURPH: THE PROTECTOR This documentary
4. BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH
6. MAKE CHINESE TEA EGGS
Although it seems to have a dire meaning, ‘Ides’ just means the 15th day of the month of March which, back in the day, was a day of celebration dedicated to the god Mars. But things went downhill when in 44 B.C. Julius Caesar, who was warned something bad would happen to him on that day, was stabbed to death in the Roman Senate by Brutus. Caesar joked, “Well, the Ides of March have come.” A seer replied, “Ay, they have come, but they are not gone.” Naturally, we are going to take every opportunity to play out that scene on March 15. And you should, too. “Et tu Brute?!”
is about Long Island hero and Navy SEAL Michael Murphy, of Patchogue, who gave his life for his men in 2005 and was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2007. The film premieres March 22 at select Regal Entertainment Group Theatres. Visit www.murphmovie. com for details.
Glitter, tye-dye, rubber bands, stamps, stickers… there are plenty of ways to decorate the outside of an egg, but here’s a great way to make the inside fabulous. After your eggs are boiled, squeeze them to crack the shell all around. Then reboil them in water dyed with food coloring. The colors penetrate the cracks so when the eggs are deshelled, well, you’ll see…
Just before his death, Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabokov ordered that his final work, The Original of Laura, be burned if he died before its completion. When the Lolita writer passed away in 1977, his wife couldn’t bring herself to do it. Their son Dmitri eventually inherited the collection of 138 handwritten index cards his terminally ill father slaved over during his final days, and after decades of internal debate, he published his father’s unfinished work. “Should I be damned or thanked?” Dmitri asks in the introduction to the novel. Originally titled Dying is Fun in Nabokov’s initial notes, The Original of Laura focuses on Dr. Philip Wild, who is married to the promiscuous Flora—the subject of a salacious novel written by an ex-lover—and enjoys killing himself slowly through meditation, from the toes up. “The process of dying by auto-dissolution afforded the greatest ecstasy known to man,” Wild says. “Would it not be a brilliant move, thought I, to get rid of my toes by sacrificing them to an experiment that only cowardness kept preventing?” Don’t expect a continuous story line here. This is a “novel in fragments” after all, and the reason the author intended it to be destroyed upon his death. For fans of Nabokov’s previous work, the novel is a peek inside the writer’s mind and process. The handwritten cards, scribbles, cross-outs, edits, and notes meant to be elaborated on at a later date, are photocopied into the pages of the book, with the words transcribed below. This process of writing in pencil on index cards, allowing the order of fragments to be easily changed, was the same way the author composed his most famous novel, Lolita. In the hardcover edition of The Original of Laura, the pages are perforated, so the index cards can be removed from the book, and the reader can move around the cards the way Nabokov would have. Certain cards near the end of the book seem to fit perfectly within the context of the first pages, with the final card aptly reading: “efface—expunge, erase, delete, rub out, wipe out, obliterate,” the author’s intent for the book. The Original of Laura requires multiple reads to do it justice. Upon doing so, maybe even mixing up the cards a little each time, an outline of what would have been a true Nabokov novel filled with beautiful prose begins to take form, but it’s up to you to fill in the blanks. —Jaclyn Gallucci
7. TIVO SPLASH
ABC will debut its celebrity-diving reality show on March 19. Catch 10 B-list celebs, including The Cosby Show’s Keshia Knight Pulliam and reality star Kendra Wilkinson, in Speedos, getting trained by swimmer Greg Louganis, and then showing off their diving abilities—or lack there of. You’ll want to at least catch one episode before this goes off the air.
8. PLAY WHAT’S THE WORD?
Yet another addicting game for your smartphone, What’s The Word? gives you four pictures, a group of letters and a series of blank spaces, hangman style. Your job? Decide what all the pictures
have in common—and it can be the most insignificant detail.
9. GET A VIRTUAL ZIPPO LIGHTER
The Virtual Zippo Lighter opens with a flick of your wrist and lights with a slide of your thumb. The wind-proof flame sways as you wave your smart phone at concerts and reacts when you try to blow it out. Choose from a variety of lighter images. The app will even alert you to local concerts and DJ gigs based on your musical tastes.
10. SPRING AHEAD!
Set your clocks ahead one hour for Sunday, March 10., when Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m.
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O f f t h e Re s e rvat i o n
The Original Occupy BY Jed Morey Publisher, Long Island Press www.jedmorey.com facebook.com/jedmorey
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h, the Great White North. America’s attic. Uncle Sam’s hat. The land of selfdeprecation, Tim Hortons donuts and ice fishing. Less notably, it is the land of my birth. Although I became a U.S. citizen in the fifth grade, my Canadian roots were always a source of pride, despite precluding me from ever becoming president. It has always amazed me how little we Americans think of our sister nation to the north. With the occasional exception of the tabloid coverage that accompanies “Bieber Fever,” the media here are devoid of Canadian news. Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising there hasn’t been a single article devoted to the indigenous Idle No More movement that has taken hold in Canada. As we witnessed during the early days of Occupy, corporate media are indifferent to dissent unless it’s displayed in a faraway nation by throngs of angry Arabic men. (Congrats again on winning Best Picture, Ben.) Recall that it took weeks for any established media to begin covering Occupy in any meaningful way, and when they finally did, they were largely dismissive of it. Yet the American news media do spend a good deal of time and ink discussing the relationship between the United States and China. Any news of civil unrest in China is worrisome to corporate America because of our obsession with our mutual economic interests. After all, we are the global champions of human rights so long as we’re not stripped of our fundamental economic right to slave labor. Missing from this equation is the fact that China is America’s second top trading partner. The first is Canada. Yes, the land that calls its one- and two-dollar coins “loonies” and “toonies” is our number one trading partner on the planet. This is why the lack of coverage of the Idle No More movement is rather astounding given that our economic interests are involved. Not only have Canadian Indians disrupted commerce, they are providing the strongest resistance on the Canadian side to the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline project that would run from Canada through several U.S. states. In December of 2012, four Canadian activists named Jessica Gordon, Sylvia McAdam, Sheelah McLean and Nina Wilson founded Idle No More to protest the Canadian government’s passage of C-45—a massive omnibus bill containing
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anti-environmental provisions that might surprise many Americans. Since December, native people across Canada have disrupted major events and even gained international attention from a hunger strike waged by Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence. Protestors have closed off roads, blockaded bridges, cut off a road to a De Beers diamond mine and generally raised hell by attacking this bill for moving Canada further away from the path of sustainability. Americans maintain a somewhat outdated vision of Canada as a nation of tree huggers and environmentalists. To wit, unlike every other industrialized nation in the world, Canada has regressed on climate change initiatives. In January, Global Legislative Organisation (GLOBE), an environmental NGO, issued its third report on the legislative initiatives of 33 nations. Of the 33 countries, which include China and the United States, GLOBE gave 32 of them credit for making progress in enacting and adopting beneficial environmental legislation. The only nation to go backwards? Canada. John Kane, a native activist and writer who hosts a show on Indian affairs on WWKB-AM in Buffalo, says that Idle No More “is about water, land and sovereignty.” Like many who have observed Canadian politics of late, Kane laments that the dominion has been besieged by a warped conservative agenda, characterizing Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper as a “cross between Bush and Cheney.” Relations between the tribes and her majesty’s government, strained as they are, worsened as C-45 set off alarms among tribal leaders almost immediately. “Harper initiated a suite of legislation,” says Kane, “that would lower the threshold to invade native lands and take streams, rivers, minerals, you name it.” Reading between the lines of a “jobs act” in the bill, Kane says that “job creation” is a euphemism for “the opportunity for other countries like China to participate in mineral extraction.” Idle No More intersected with other activist movements in February when its members joined the massive rally in
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Illustration by Jon Moreno
Washington, D.C., organized by the Sierra Club and 350.org, to call for President Obama to continue the U.S. obstruction of the Keystone XL Pipeline project. An estimated 30,000 to 40,000 protestors descended upon the National Mall. Michael Brune, head of the Sierra Club, was even arrested at the rally, breaking the organization’s longstanding prohibition against civil disobedience. (The rally was also woefully under-reported by corporate media.) President Obama is clearly important in the process and the U.S. has to clear far more regulatory hurdles to move the Keystone project forward. But the pressure to begin construction
is coming more from the Canadian government than anywhere else. The Harper administration, with tremendous support from Canadian petro companies, is hell-bent on exploiting the Alberta tar sands, no matter how environmentally catastrophic the process is. “This is an area the size of Florida,” says Kane. “The bottom line is Canada can make a lot of money by raping Alberta.” Idle No More goes beyond the Keystone Pipeline. This week I spoke with Yoni Miller, who is the president of Occupy Wall Street—an intentionally ironic title as Occupy continues to be an amorphous, leaderless and volunteer movement. I reached out to him because the Occupy outlets were among the relatively few areas to obtain any information outside of native publications. Regarding C-45 and the potential toll on native territory, Miller said, “We all know it’s more than that—it’s about the ongoing and existing process of colonialization.” He also believes the tribes have better insight to environmental issues because of “their unique relationship to the land.” On Jan. 5 of this year Yoni was invited to Akwesasne, the Mohawk territory that straddles the St. Lawrence River between New York and Ontario. For several hours Iroquois members of Idle No More shut down the Seaway International Bridge between the U.S. and Canada—an experience Miller called “humbling.” When I asked him whether he felt Occupy had fueled any of the confidence in Idle No More, he was reluctant to take anything away from what had been accomplished. “It may not have been possible without the energy from Occupy,” he said, but then quickly added, “but these people were activists before we were even born. Indigenous resistance has been going on since 1492. It’s what makes this different.” Both Occupy and Idle are relatively quiet at the moment. But John Kane and Yoni Miller independently expressed the same sentiment that spring is the season of awakening and that both groups will be on the move. Perhaps they will jolt the mainstream media from their hibernation as well, though I doubt it. These particular bears appear to be idle, forever more.
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kills the embedded pathogens in the nail plate and nail bed, leaving normal healthy tissue undamaged. Only minimal adverse reactions, injuries, disabilities or side effects have been reported in clinical studies with this new laser technology and treatment. In contrast, topical treatments are minimally effective. “Oral medications available today can cause side effects to the liver, kidney and eyes, and may even affect your senses of taste and smell,” states Dr. Burke. At the time of the procedure, the toenail will not become instantly clear, it takes time to grow out. A new healthy nail will be seen emerging from the cuticle area as the nails grow naturally. The average toenail replaces itself every six to nine months. Within one to three months of the procedure, a healthy new growth will be visible. The laser treatment is very effective, according to clinical studies performed in Sacramento, Calif. Most patients experience significant improvement. In most cases, the fungal nails are improved with a single treatment. The vast majority of our clients require only one treatment, which usually takes about 30 minutes. No anesthetic or injections are ever used and you will be able to resume all of your normal activities immediately after the treatment is done. It is recommended that after the treatment (just like you practice good oral hygiene to keep your teeth and gums healthy), you will need to practice good foot hygiene to keep your toenails healthy. Find out how to end your struggle with toenail fungus by visiting Cherrywoodfootcare.com or call Dr. Joseph Burke for a free consultation. Their professional medical staff will help you to feel welcome, relaxed and comfortable with a caring office experience. Cherrywood Foot Care can have you barefoot and smiling with confidence once again with this revolutionary new laser technology. It can eliminate unsightly toenail fungus giving you clear healthy toenails with an affordable one-time treatment! Put your “Best” foot forward.Call us today to see why we were voted #1 BEST Podiatrist On Long Island! L o n g I s l a n d P r e s s f o r m a r c h , 2 0 1 3 / / / w w w. l o n g i s l a n d p r e s s . c o m
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ReesSpecht Life by Paying It Forward
Fortune 52
Samantha Specht Co-Founder ReesSpecht Life
Samantha and Rich Specht
By Beverly Fortune bfortune@longislandpress.com
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n Oct. 27, Superstorm Sandy turned toward the Florida coast. She took a breath and weakened, but soon intensified into a storm that no one in her path will ever forget. As the hurricane approached, Nassau and Suffolk county officials declared a state of emergency on Long Island. In Sound Beach on the North Shore, Rich and Samantha Specht, along with their three children—Abigail, 8, Lorelei, 6, and Richie, 22 months—were preparing for the storm. Samantha and the girls went to the store while Rich and his toddler son stayed home. Rich’s friend from childhood and godfather of Richie was also there to help Rich get the house and yard ready before the storm hit. The lawn furniture had to be stored, so Rich asked his friend to keep an eye on Richie while he moved the furniture into the garage. Rich was only gone for a few minutes, and when he went back inside the house, he asked his friend where his son was. “I thought he was with you,” he replied. Those six words immediately sank deep into Rich’s heart. Both men raced outside to look for the toddler. Richie had been told that the backyard pond was off limits, but Samantha says he was always a curious little boy. “They found him face down in the pond,” Samantha says, with tears streaming down her cheeks. Rich began performing CPR. The paramedics arrived minutes later and valiantly tried to restart Richie’s heart while they were en route to the hospital, and continued for another half hour after arrival. But it was too late. Samantha was still at the store when the hospital called. In a haze, she thought they were referring to her husband, and didn’t realize that her son had passed away until she got to the hospital.
On Oct. 28, with Sandy barreling up the East Coast, people in parts of New York City were evacuated and transportation in the region ground to a halt. Still in shock, the Spechts had to begin preparations for their son’s funeral. By the next afternoon they were without electrical power or telephone service, and didn’t get it restored until 11 days later. “We had to drive to the post office and sit in the parking lot to get a signal to make phone calls,” Samantha says. “People couldn’t contact us or fly into New York.” On Nov. 1, Richard Edwin-Ehmer Specht was laid to rest. He was named after his father, his great-uncle Edwin, and Samantha’s maiden name, Ehmer. “I didn’t want him to be known as Little Richie,” Samantha says, “so my mother suggested that we call him Rees, and we did, just her and I.” Richie would soon become known as ReesSpecht. Rich found solace in putting his thoughts about his son’s death into words. Then, Samantha says, the idea of memorializing their son took root. “Rees always wanted to make people happy,” she says. Rallying around the family were their friends, family and the faculty and students at the Smithtown schools where the Specht’s work. Samantha teaches German at Smithtown East High School and Rich is a science teacher at Great Hollow Middle School. The outpouring of love and support helped get them through each day.
Presented by
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A local company, Kelly Brothers Landscaping of Coram, was working in the area and contacted the Spechts after learning of the tragedy. “We didn’t know them but they heard about what happened and said they would like to do something for us,” she says. “They removed the pond. It was a constant reminder of what happened, and they just kept coming back. They planted thousands of plants in our entire yard, and they wouldn’t take anything in return.” Meals, movie tickets and gift certificates were given to the family by wellmeaning friends and strangers. “Everyone was so unbelievably kind,” Samantha says. “There was no way we could repay them and the community.” To show their gratitude, they founded ReesSpecht Life in their son’s memory as a way to pay it forward. The night before Rees died, he was photographed wearing a Superman costume. “It’s our last good memory of him,” Samantha says. Adam Smith, a graphic designer and friend of the family, created a logo for the foundation using Rees’ Superman picture. ReesSpecht cards were printed and used for handouts, asking the recipient to “Help us help each other…. We all possess the ability to do something Super. Possession of this card is a solemn promise to pay it forward and perform random acts of kindness and be one of Rees’ Pieces.” “It’s therapeutic just to know that people are doing something in Rees’ name. That makes us so proud,” Samantha explains. “You might not know that a person is going through a hard time,” she adds.
“If someone doesn’t know my story, they don’t know that I was hurt. People can mask their emotions, and paying it forward can make a tremendous difference. It doesn’t have to be monetary. The point is that you’re helping someone else.” Rich and Samantha recently began to fundraise for two scholarships that will be awarded to a Smithtown East and West High School senior. The Smithtown Teachers Association is holding the funds until the ReesSpecht Life organization gets its 501c3 designation approved. Meanwhile, Samantha says, they are doing their best to move forward. “We’re finding some peace,” she says. “We can’t just sit and wallow. The reality of it is we have two little girls [to raise]. We are grieving as a family, but we have to do something for them.” Remembering their little boy as someone who liked to make others happy is a way for the Spechts to perpetuate their son’s memory and ReesSpecht Life. For more information or to contact the Spechts, email: reesspechtlife@yahoo.com or visit www.facebook.com/reesspechtlife.
In every issue of the Long Island Press and our sister publication, Milieu Magazine, the Fortune 52 column brings you stories of dynamic women who have made a significant and unique contribution to Long Island. To acknowledge their success, Beverly hosts tri-annual networking events that are attended by hundreds of LI business professionals, non-profit leaders and entrepreneurs. If you are interested in learning more about the Fortune 52, or know a super woman who deserves good Fortune—and a profile—email Beverly at bfortune@longislandpress.com.
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en garde Ari Fliakos unsheathes his sword as Claudius in the Wooster Group’s rendition of Hamlet.
the
Portrait Photo by Mihaela Marin
Ari Fliakos
In The Moment, Without A Net By Spencer Rumsey
For a serious actor, Ari Fliakos’ full-time job is a dream come true. He’s done the works of Chekhov, O’Neill, Racine, Shakespeare and Williams— granted sometimes he’s strutting around on stage in not much more than a jock strap or playing badminton in a skirt. But his roles have taken the 40-year-old Glen Cove native to theaters around the world, and earned him critical acclaim along the way. Since 1996 Fliakos has been a full-time member of the Wooster Group, one of America’s most highly regarded bastions of the avant-garde. As the renowned theater critic Linda Winer
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once put it: “There’s Broadway, there’s offBroadway, and then there’s the Wooster Group, which began doing its cuttingedge, multi-media, non-linear, theater in the adventurous ’70s but didn’t sell out when the rest of us did.” Fliakos, who went to Friends Academy in Locust Valley and graduated from Duke with a history degree, admits he didn’t have this career path in mind when he set out to intern at the SoHobased company known for its Performing Garage at 33 Wooster St., whose founding members have included actors Willem Dafoe, the late Spaulding Gray and Kate Valk, and the celebrated artistic director Elizabeth LeCompte. “I didn’t put much stock into being an actor as a profession,” he tells the Press from a hotel in San Francisco where his company is currently on tour. But performing without inhibition apparently did come naturally to Fliakos. His mother taught dance at their Long Island home and frequently put him to use.
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“There were never enough boys in her studio,” he recalls with a laugh, “so she’d always call me from upstairs and have me lip-synch to Elvis when I was six years old while girls in poodle skirts danced around behind me.” Now he and his wife, Erin Douglass, one of the leading lights of Radiohole, an experimental theater group based in Brooklyn where they own a house, have a 5-year-old daughter and another child on the way. With his light brown hair, dark brown eyes, steely gaze and medium stature, Fliakos has also found work on television as “a kind of terrible guy,” he says—a mugger and a white supremacist on Law and Order and a bank-robbing, cop-shooting maniac on Third Watch. In the indie movie Company K, he played an anguished private reliving the horrors of World War I. Unlike his work in film and TV, which can be completed in a few weeks, the Wooster Group can take years to
produce a particular theatrical piece. Spending several months a year touring poses a challenge, especially as a parent, he admits, but it’s a necessity for a company like Wooster Group, which depends heavily on box office receipts and arts grants. “With each piece,” Fliakos tells the Press, “we essentially create a whole new theatrical language, a whole new world that we inhabit.” That dramatic freedom is not without risk, he admits. “At any moment failure is always there!” he says. But riding that line between success and disaster is what he finds so exciting as a performer. “To always be on the precipice of failure... that’s how you make great work.” And that’s why he does what he does so well. To read more on Ari Fliakos and the Wooster Group visit www.longislandpress.com.
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NDAA, Indefinite
Detention, And The Battle Raging Against The Most Important Law You’ve Never Heard Of By Jed Morey, Christopher Twarowski and Rashed Mian
IMAGINE
the American political spectrum as a steel rod. On the far left are stalwarts of the progressive liberal movement forged in academia and protest movements from the 1960s and ’70s. The furthest point to the right is a blend of neoliberal free-market ideologues and libertarians fused together to form the extreme core of the modern conservative movement. Most Americans lie somewhere between these two extremes—two camps that for the better part of the past half century have drifted further and further apart. Now imagine a single issue that is so heavy, it bends our ideological steel rod into a perfect circle that unites both sides. Conservatives and liberals perfectly aligned; dogs and cats living together. Such is the weight of Section 1021 of the
WHAT DO YOU THINK? longislandpress.com/ndaa JMorey@Longislandpress.com Chris@Longislandpress.com RMian@Longislandpress.com
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SOUNDING OFF: Former New York Times foreign correspondent Chris Hedges (TOP), galvanizing opponents of the Obama Administration’s NDAA indefinite detention provision (L), outside the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan following oral arguments on the government’s challenge to a federal district judge’s ruling that the law is unconstitutional Feb. 6, 2013. All Photos by Christopher Twarowski
National Defense Authorization Act of 2012, a provision so potentially destructive to our democracy that it has galvanized both liberal and conservative activists alike. Known as the indefinite detention provision, it deals with the circumstances under which the government has authority to detain persons deemed to be supportive of terrorism. According to the U.S. government, the section was adopted as part of the NDAA—a bill that is passed at the end of every fiscal year to organize military funds and clarify, but not alter, existing
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legislation granting certain powers to the president to fight terrorism—and does nothing to broaden the scope of existing authority. Opponents of the law, including Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges, famed Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg and world renowned linguist and political theorist Noam Chomsky, among others, contend Sec. 1021 allows the president of the United States to militarily detain U.S. citizens without due process, thus violating the First, Fifth and Fourteenth amendments of the Constitution, powers not seen in the United States since the controversial internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. They and four other respected journalists and activists—Tangerine Bolen, Icelandic Parliament member Birgitta Jónsdóttir, Alexa O’Brien and Kai Wargalla, collectively dubbed “The Magnificent
Seven”—argue as much in a federal lawsuit against the Democratic president. “The deterioration of civil liberties under the Obama Administration has complete continuity with the attack on civil liberties under the Bush Administration,” Hedges told hundreds of supporters outside the Thurgood Marshall Courthouse Second Circuit Court of Appeals Feb. 6, following oral arguments from both sides of the issue. “In fact, under the Obama Administration it has been worse. The radical interpretation of the 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force Act [AUMF] has given the U.S. government, in particular the executive branch, the right to assassinate American citizens.” “This case is one of the most important cases in decades,” added Ellsberg, continuing that the provision “overturn[s] 200 years of domestic law to allow the military onto our streets” and hold those suspected “indefinitely.” Notwithstanding assurances from President Obama nor the Department of Justice, a federal judge— U.S. District Court Judge Katherine Forrest, who the president himself appointed to the bench— ruled 1021’s language unconstitutional, issuing a permanent injunction on its implementation of indefinite detention in September 2012. The Obama Administration appealed the following day, and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals issuing a stay on the injunction pending the outcome of the government’s appeal. Thus, the Feb. 6 hearing. Despite the significance of the act and the prominence of those who oppose it, chances are you haven’t even heard of it. There has essentially been a mainstream media blackout surrounding the NDAA, save for some intrepid reporting and editorials in The New York Times and a handful of alternative media outlets. Yet it has ignited a firestorm in the blogosphere and, depending upon the outcome of the court case already in federal appeals court, it may eventually, hopefully, reach public consciousness. The language of the provision, authored in secret by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Carl Levin (D-MI), was troublesome from the beginning, enough so that several of their colleagues recoiled immediately upon reading the text for the first time. Senators Udall (D-CO) and Feinstein (D-CA) even attempted to pass legislation to effectively unwind or, at a minimum, diminish its scope. 1021’s language is also vague, using such ambiguous terms as “associated forces,” “directly supported” “substantially supported”—and for the first time, introducing the “Law of War”—without precise definitions. Members of Congress weren’t the only ones to take notice. Bruce Afran and Carl Mayer, New Jersey-based civil rights attorneys, sounded the alarm almost immediately and determined to bring suit against the government. The key, according to Mayer, was to find a plaintiff who could provide “standing” in the lawsuit, which is to say, someone whose profession or routine expression of speech clearly placed him or her at risk of detention under
Sec. 1021. Enter Hedges, an old friend who happens to be one of the most fearless and celebrated journalists of our time. A former foreign correspondent for The New York Times, he understood the gravity of the provision and took on the role of lead plaintiff for the case. Hedges boils the government’s motives down to a primary objective, telling the Press: “They want to empower the military to be able to maintain order. That’s it. Otherwise, they wouldn’t do it.”
are already taking place, such as those at the United State’s detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. “Section 1021 appears to be a legislative attempt at an ex post facto ‘fix’: to provide the President (in 2012) with broader detention authority than was provided in the AUMF in 2001 and to try to ratify past detentions which may have occurred under an overly-broad interpretation of the AUMF.” The Second Circuit Appellate judges reserved their decision on the government’s challenge to Forrest’s ruling Feb. 6, suggesting to Afran and Mayer that they would defer it until after the resolution of another case—Clapper v. Amnesty International, which challenged a 2008 amendment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, which broadened the government’s authority to eavesdrop on international emails and phone calls. The Supreme Court turned back that challenge Feb. 27, likely meaning its justices will never rule on its constitutionality. What this decision means for the NDAA battle remains anyone’s guess. That the NDAA case now before the Court of Appeals will also eventually be appealed to the highest court in the land, no matter what side wins, is inevitable. What its justices may rule, if they even decide to hear the case, is also anyone’s guess. Regardless, the battle sparked by Mayer and Afran’s handful of journalists and activists will determine the course of our entire democracy far into the foreseeable future, and the plaintiffs would argue, is the last hope to save it.
“The deterioration of civil liberties under the Obama Administration has complete continuity with the attack on civil liberties under the Bush Administration.” —Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges, the lead plaintiff in a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Obama Administration’s NDAA indefinite detention provision.
Yet before examining the allegations against the government it’s important to stress that this is not a lawsuit against President Obama that is secretly funded by a right-wing organization. Every one of the plaintiffs can be considered on the far left of the spectrum, banded together in a case against a Democratic president over what they feel is perhaps the greatest threat to free speech in modern U.S. history. And each has demonstrated legal standing in this case. Forrest’s ruling was not only a resounding victory in favor of the plaintiffs; her opinion was a blistering rebuke of the government’s case. “The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides for greater protection: it prohibits Congress from passing any law abridging speech and associational rights,” she wrote. “To the extent that § 1021(b)(2) purports to encompass protected First Amendment activities, it is unconstitutionally overbroad. “A key question throughout these proceedings has been, however, precisely what the statute means—what and whose activities it is meant to cover,” continued Forrest. “That is no small question bandied about amongst lawyers and a judge steeped in arcane questions of constitutional law; it is a question of defining an individual’s core liberties. “The due process rights guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment require that an individual understand what conduct might subject him or her to criminal or civil penalties,” she added. “Here, the stakes get no higher: indefinite military detention— potential detention during a war on terrorism that is not expected to end in the foreseeable future, if ever. The Constitution requires specificity—and that specificity is absent from § 1021(b)(2).” Shockingly, it’s also Forrest’s opinion that the provision may in actuality be a codification of liberties the government has already taken—a way to legalize unconstitutional detentions that have and
THE WAR ON TERROR
or centuries, wars were affairs of nations. Governments waged war on one another in the name of nationalism, religion or unrestrained imperialism. Borders were established and re-established. Conflicts and enmity could last centuries, but every war had a beginning and an end. And there were rules. The industrial age witnessed the dawning of the most significant war power in human history: the United States of America. For the better part of the 20th century, America was the world’s hammer; at times deterring or settling conflict abroad, at other times exporting warfare with hawkish enthusiasm. In every battle, the case was made for the defense of the homeland and democracy and our fury was unleashed on discernible foes. In September of 2001, America’s understanding of war was forever changed. Our foe was now amorphous. We targeted a figurehead named Osama bin Laden, but he had no army, no country, no borders to protect and no assets to be taken. There were no sanctions to levy, or threats that mattered. This was Jihad. America was at war with an idea. America was being terrorized. In the days immediately following the Continued on page 20
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attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon Congress gave the Bush Administration unprecedented authority to wage full-scale war on terror. On September 14 of 2001 Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) allowing the executive branch to leverage all available military assets to bring to justice combatants deemed responsible or materially supportive of forces associated with the terrorist attacks of 9/11. It was under this authority that the United States government declared war first in Afghanistan and then Iraq shortly thereafter. It is under this authority as well that the executive branch has carried out everything from covert assassinations to drone strikes in countries such as Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. The plaintiffs in the Hedges suit allege that the language in Sec. 1021 is a significant departure from the scope and intent of the AUMF and that it granted new, sweeping military authority to the executive branch of, including the power to militarily detain U.S. citizens. Put simply, the plaintiffs have argued that Sec. 1021 grants the president of the United States exclusive authority to detain citizens without due process and “until the end of hostilities.” Because the War on Terror is indeed an open-ended battle against an amorphous enemy, it is fair to state that we will be at war for an indeterminable period of time. In fact, the government has effectively argued as such. It’s hard to imagine the US government ever declaring an end to the War on Terror and Hedges’ attorney, Carl Mayer, is keeping score. Standing in his lower Manhattan office shortly after oral arguments before the appellate court Feb. 6 he tells the Press, “We’ve been at war now for 4,163 days by my count… the longest war in American history by far. Twice as long as World War I and longer than World War I and World War II combined.” The idea of perpetual war is important to establishing the plaintiff ’s fear of detention, he explains, because “during that time the
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SPREADING THE WORD: The Sparrow Project co-founder Andrew Stepanian, amid the Occupy Wall Street anniversary protests in New York City September 2012. His grassroots activism PR agency has helped get the messages out about the Occupy Movement and the importance of a federal lawsuit challenging the Obama Administration’s NDAA indefinite detention provision.
government keeps expanding the definition of who a terrorist is and everything has become terrorism.” When Afran and Mayer discussed the case with Hedges in order to determine whether or not Hedges could credibly claim standing in the suit, it was instantly apparent to the trio that he did. In fact, in the course of his tenure as a foreign correspondent, Hedges had intimate contact with 17 organizations on the government’s terrorism watch list including Hezbollah, Hamas, al Qaeda and the Taliban, to name a few. Their argument was that Sec. 1021 was so vague with respect to what constituted a U.S. citizen’s involvement with a terrorist organization that Hedges had a reasonable fear of being militarily detained. So far, the courts have agreed with this contention. Perhaps that’s because the secretive detention of U.S. citizens is already taking place, in pseudo-black-ops prisons right here on American soil. Long Islander Andrew Stepanian knows this all too well. He’s one of the few who’ve seen the inside of these facilities and made it out to tell the world. Actually, he was the first.
LIVING PROOF
tepanian, an animal rights activist and co-founder of grassroots activism publicity agency The Sparrow Project, was convicted of conspiracy to violate the Animal Enterprise Protection Act in 2006 and served the last six months of his three-year sentence at one of these prisons, known as Communication Management Units (CMUs)—also Continued on page 22
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referred to as “Little Gitmos” by their guards, he says, and “Guantanamo North” by critics. There are two known CMUs in the United States: tucked inside the U.S. Penitentiary in Marion, Ill., where Stepanian was transferred, and within the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Ind. He describes the Marion CMU as “a prison within a prison,” with much stricter surveillance of all forms of communication among inmates—whether telephone, mail or visits—than those incarcerated within the rest of the federal prison system. “It’s actually isolated from the rest of the larger prison populous, and it’s also isolated from the staff of the prison,” says Stepanian, whose firm has done PR work for the Hedges suit as well as the Occupy Wall Street Movement. “The people that essentially police the communications management unit are instructed not to communicate with the prisoners that are there.” Federal lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the units offer more details. All phone calls and visitations are subject to recording and monitoring, with “no-contact” visits and “Englishonly” telephone conversations and visits, unless previously scheduled and conducted through “simultaneous translation monitoring,” state documents in a 2010 complaint on behalf of CMU prisoners, including inmates who are American citizens that had been serving sentences for non-terrorist-related crimes. The suit alleges First, Fifth and Eighth Amendment violations as well as violations of the Administrative Procedures Act, a federal law dictating how government agencies, in this case the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, propose and implement regulations. Additionally, it charges the plaintiffs’ very assignments to the isolated units were discriminatory and retaliatory, since “All Plaintiffs have been classified by the BOP as low or medium security, and were designated to the CMU at the Federal Correctional Institution in Terre Haute, Indiana or the U.S. Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois despite having a relatively, and in some cases, perfectly, clean disciplinary history.” All this flies in the face of what the U.S. Bureau of Prisons’ official explanation of what dictates transfer to CMUs. “The purpose of CMUs is to provide an inmate housing unit environment that enables staff to more effectively monitor communication between CMU inmates and persons in the community,” a spokesman for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) tells the Press in an emailed statement for this story. “Examples, although not an all inclusive list, of the types of inmates who may be housed in a CMU, include: Inmates who have been convicted of, or associated with,
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“I believe that the units were created to house Muslims in this kind of post-9/11 vacuum, and they need to make sure that it’s not an ethnic discrimination lawsuit powder keg waiting to explode.” —The Sparrow Project co-founder Andrew Stepanian, referring to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons’ Communication Management Units, or CMUs, in Illinois and Indiana.
international or domestic terrorism; Inmates who repeatedly attempt to contact victims or witnesses, including those who threaten, harass and intimidate victims or witnesses; Inmates with a personal history of, or prior offense conduct or conviction for, soliciting minors for sexual activity; Inmates with court ordered communication restrictions; Inmates who attempt to coordinate illegal activities via approved communication methods while incarcerated; and Inmates who have extensive disciplinary histories for the continued misuse/abuse of approved communication methods.” Another explanation could be another tidbit from the lawsuit—the fact that the vast majority of inmates incarcerated at the CMUs —“upwards of two-thirds,” the suit states—are Muslim. Stepanian supposes that’s why he ended up there—adding that for the majority of his incarceration prior to his transfer, he was housed in a mediumsecurity prison and had been participating in programs and activities, and staying out of fights and disruptions, things that would lower his security classification, not raise it. “My time spent there was only to create balance,” he says. “Because the unit was over 70 percent Muslim. And what they were trying to do, in my eyes, was offset that majority balance with individuals that at least fit some sort of criterion of people that could be designated to this unit, when originally I believe that the units were created to house Muslims in this kind of post-9/11 vacuum, and they need to make sure that it’s not an ethnic discrimination lawsuit powder keg waiting to explode.” Stepanian says he was told as much. Continued on page 24
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“One of the guards in there referred to me as a balancer,” he says. “I was doing my laundry by myself. A guard came up to me and was just like, ‘Hey, kid, keep your head up, you’ll be out of here soon enough. You’re just here for balance, man, just relax, okay.’ I said, ‘Just here for balance?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, man, this thing’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.’” The BOP says there are presently 40 inmates assigned to Terre Haute’s CMU and 41 at Marion. The agency was unable to provide a breakdown of these inmates by ethnicity, religion and citizenship by press time. Stepanian’s not denying that some of his fellow inmates were suspected terrorists—through his conviction for involvement with the international animal rights campaign Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty [SHAC, whose cause was to close animal-testing laboratory Huntingdon Life Sciences], he’s branded a “terrorist” too, something some right-wing groups will not let him live down—but impressing that the government can’t simply circumvent civil liberties in the name of national security. “You can’t sidestep due process, you can’t sidestep the Constitution when it comes to detaining someone,” he says. “And that’s not [the plaintiffs] saying that people that are involved with criminal activity or involved with terrorist organizations shouldn’t be detained. They should completely be detained. You should just abide by the law when you do so. You can’t just ship them off someplace, with no rights, no access to trial and no due process, nothing, to some black site.” Hedges views the NDAA as the final sinister step in what has been a long deterioration of Americans’ civil liberties in the name of governmentsponsored corporate personhood, whereby the financial well-being of Big Business takes precedence over individuals’ Constitutional rights. “We’ve undergone a corporate coup d’ etat,” he blasted outside the courthouse Feb. 6 to NDAA opponents, many carrying signs. “There is no impediment left now to corporate power, and the corporate state understands that as the
FOR THE PEOPLE: Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore (l) and Pulitzer Prize-winning former New York Times foreign correspondent Chris Hedges discussing the importance of defeating the Obama Administration’s indefinite detention provision to the NDAA and its ramifications on American’s civil liberties at a panel discussion organized by The Sparrow Project Feb. 6, 2013 in Manhattan.
economy continues to deteriorate as the effects of climate change—and we just bore the brunt of that with Hurricane Sandy over $70 billion worth of damage kicks in—there will be an inevitable blowback on a betrayed population. And what’s happening in this court now is the last thin line of defense between protecting what is left of our anemic democracy and the imposition of a military state.” “It’s all connected,” he said later that evening at a panel discussion organized by The Sparrow Project, which included Mayer and Afran; co-plaintiffs Tangerine Bolen, Daniel Ellsberg and Alexa O’Brien; Government Accountability Project National Security and Human Rights Director Jesselyn Radack; National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Thomas Drake; and documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. “It’s all a part of this very rapid descent into a frightening form of corporate totalitarianism…and as we go down, and they know we’re going down, these forces are cannibalistic. “Forty percent of the summer arctic sea ice melts and here we’re literally watching death throes of the planet and these corporations like Shell look at it like a business opportunity,” he continued. “They know only one word, and that’s ‘More.’ They have commodified everything, human beings are commodities, disposable commodities, the ecosystem is a disposable commodity and now with no impediments they will push and push and push, it makes Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, which I’m just re-reading, the most pressing study of the American character. “They’re not going to stop themselves, the formal mechanisms of power are not going to stop them,” Hedges added. “It’s up to us.” Continued on page 26
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“TIPPING POINT”
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he legal stage for the next chapter of the NDAA battle has been set. Whether the three appellate judges weighing the Feb. 6 oral arguments will side with Forrest, Hedges and the rest of “The Magnificent Seven,” or the Obama Administration, whoever loses will appeal the case to the Supreme Court. If the high court’s justices elect not to hear the case, as was their Feb. 27 ruling against Clapper, then whatever the Second Circuit Court of Appeals decides will forever be law. Though the Clapper decision may indicate to some the justices inclination to find in the favor of the Obama Administration, Afran, believes that’s not the case. “It’s different,” he tells the Press, “because here [Hedges v. Obama], the journalists are in fact directly within the scope of the law. But in the Clapper case the journalists were not the subject of the wiretaps but they happened to interview people who were. And so, they were not directly harmed by the statute. But here [in Hedges v. Obama], the journalists are harmed or brought within the statute.” If the Supreme Court does hear the NDAA case, the publicity over the decision, regardless of what it is, will undoubtedly make it to the ears of the unsuspecting public—but by then, say opponents, it will be too late. Just what’s at stake was most concisely outlined at an evening panel discussion organized by The Sparrow Project following the Feb. 6 Court of Appeals hearing in Manhattan. Topics ranged the gamut, from the lack of transparency plaguing the case of Bradley Manning, the U.S. Army Private accused of leaking classified materials to Wikileaks and Obama’s use of drones, to Occupy Wall Street and major corporations’ power and influence on elected officials and the legislative process. Each panelist weighed in on the importance of defeating 1021. “It’s a retroactive attempt to legislatively fix the fact that they didn’t have these powers all these years and they were probably using them,” said Tangerine Bolen, executive director of Revolution Truth, who’s responsible for compelling several of the plaintiffs to join Hedges in the suit. “This case is the latch on Pandora’s Box, and it needs to be addressed, because what they would like to see is have it be swept under the rug and disappear, because we’re a threat to the fact that they haven’t been behaving well for quite a long time, and that’s quite obvious. “This has been a long road for all of us,” she told the packed theatre. “I think I can safely say that some of us have sacrificed greatly to engage in this lawsuit and we do so because we have every reason to fear the
“We have every reason to fear the United States government and what it has become since 9/11.” —Revolution Truth Executive Director Tangerine Bolen, one of “The Magnificent Seven” plaintiffs in the federal court case Hedges v. Obama.
United States government and what it has become since 9/11.” Alexa O’Brien, a journalist and founder of the U.S. Day of Rage, talked about an alleged plot to link her group to Islamist fundamentalist movements, a plan exposed on Wikileaks and by confidential sources who apprised O’Brien of this effort. Fear of detention under 1021, she said, has already had a chilling effect on her. “I don’t have a capacity of a large bank account and a team of lawyers to protect me from the U.S. Government and prosecution,” explained O’Brien. “So I’ve held back on two articles related to the War on Terror because of the NDAA.” NSA whistleblower Thomas Drake told attendees about the Obama Administration’s attempts to convict him under the Espionage Act and its proclivity to target whistleblowers. “The Constitution for them is just a piece of paper, it’s an inconvenient truth, it’s not a grand experiment,” said Drake. “We don’t really have constitutional governance anymore. It is a figment of our imagination. It is hollowed-out Constitution. So the NDAA takes it to the next level.” Moore stressed the importance of enlisting the American public in defeating the law through awareness and direct action, asking panelists: “What’s going to be the tipping point?” that sparks such outrage. Hedges explained that a major obstacle to awakening the general populous was that the “corporate coup” has seized the people’s avenues of communication, but that the Occupy Wall Street Movement is a critical piece of the answer. “That struck terror in the heart of the corporate state,” he said. As for a “tipping point,” Hedges surmised that if what he’s witnessed in other countries during his more than 20 years as a foreign correspondent is any indication, the threshold is “usually something utterly benign.” Ironic, since the alternative is something so utterly and catastrophically monumental. “What we’re talking about today is the capacity of the U.S. government to make you disappear,” he said, bluntly.
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J u s t S ay i n g
Superheroes Finally Admit Using Performance-Enhancing Drugs By Peter Tannen
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EW YORK — Two months after Lance Armstrong admitted to using illegal drugs, three Superheroes appeared at a joint press conference this morning and each of them confessed that they had, at different times in their careers, also used performance-enhancing drugs. “Leap a tall building in a single bound?” asked Superman. “Unless you’re on serious anabolic steroids, there’s absolutely no way you’d even get to the third story,” said The Man of Steel. “The public is naive and gullible,” added Spider-Man. “Did people actually think a skinny kid like Peter Parker could jump around like that
Illustration by Jon Moreno
As for Robin, his sidekick, Batman said, “The kid is innocent and never took any drugs. Leave him out of this.” “I don’t know why they’re singling out these guys right now,” said an unidentified attorney who represented the three Superheroes. “Some things that happen on the football field and in triathlons are clearly beyond human ability.” “And why are women getting a pass? Has anyone questioned Wonder Woman yet? If I ran a congressional committee, I’d certainly check out those Amazons.” The Hulk, Captain America, Wolverine, Halo Jones, The Joker, Dr. Doom and Emma Frost did not return phone calls for comment.
without chemical help?” When a reporter pointed out that Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider which gave him his superpowers, Spider-Man laughed and said, “Give me a break.” Batman, the quietest of the trio, said he only used amphetamines in his early comic book years, not when he got into the movies. “I was young and stupid,” he said, “and I haven’t used them since my big Hollywood debut back in 1989.” When asked where he got the drugs, Batman smiled. “Look,” he said, “I’m a wealthy industrialist, playboy, and philanthropist. How hard is it for my butler, Alfred, to get me any drug I want in Gotham City?”
No Taxes For Anybody!
T
he folks who choose to send their kids to religious or private schools want the rest of us to help them pay their tuition. “We deserve a tax break!” they cry,” or at least free vouchers from the government.” After all, why should they pay taxes for something they don’t want to use— public education? It’s a seductive idea. But I think it’s just the tip of the iceberg: lots of other Americans want a break, too. In fact, ‘No Taxes For Anybody’ groups are springing up like weeds all over our area. Here are just a few I’ve heard about: “Citizens Against Highway Robbery,” a newly formed group in New York City, says that none of their members own automobiles. “We use the subway,” said a spokesperson. “Not a single person in this group owns a car. So why should we pay a penny for building and repairing highways? It’s a question of basic fairness.” Citizens Against Highway Robbery
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wants the government to provide NYC subway vouchers—vouchers that will help them pay for fares that have risen dramatically over the past several years. “The Veggie Vigilantes,” a group of militant vegetarians based in Mattituck, is outraged that their taxes pay for U.S.
state. Vouchers for Veggies is a win-win proposition.” “Libraries R-Not-Us,” a protest group in Hicksville, sees no reason for the government to spend their taxes on libraries. “Fewer and fewer people read books
“Veggie Vigilantes, a group of militant vegetarians based in Mattituck, is outraged that their taxes pay for U.S. Government meat inspectors.” Government meat inspectors. “Our members haven’t touched an ounce of meat in decades,” their brochure states. “So why in the world should we pay for anything to do with meat?” “Given the skyrocketing price of organic vegetables, some of our lower income members are terrified that they may be forced to start eating meat again,” one vegetarian said, “which would certainly affect their health, and increase medical costs for the whole
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these days,” points out their chairman. “Books are old technology. Our group is heavy into watching TV— and with hundreds of channels to choose from, who needs to go to a library?”
“Libraries R-Not-Us” would use vouchers to help their members pay for additional high-definition, and eventually 3-D cable channels. Not to mention funds for streaming TV shows to their computers. It’s hard to disagree with all these impassioned people. The problem is, we’ll soon get to the point where there’s little money left for “the public good”—for public schools, public works, or anything else that’s public, for that matter. And with less money, our public institutions will shrink, and eventually die. Which makes this whole issue, to me, a basically selfish, essentially unAmerican idea. On the other hand, if the government will give me a voucher to help pay for my workouts at the gym, where I spend hours walking on the treadmill, I might reconsider. I never walk in the parks. Why should I have to pay for them?
Pete Tannen is a humor writer who has won multiple awards from the National Press Club (Washington, D.C.), the Press Club of Long Island and the Florida Press Association. His columns can also be heard on select Public Radio stations across the U.S. www.tannenweekly.com
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Death Or Glory By Jaclyn Gallucci
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doorless brown van rolls slowly over the ground of an empty field, kicking up a cloud of dry dirt as it comes to a hault. I step in to see that all the rows of seats have been removed. Instead the whole interior is fitted with floor-to-ceiling brown and beige shag carpet. “Welcome to the Shaggin’ Wagon!” the driver calls out. For my brother Mark’s 18th birthday I thought there would be no better gift as a send off to college than jumping out of a plane 13,500 feet above Earth. After all, if you could jump out of a plane, you can do anything. It seemed like a perfect metaphor for beginning a new, unknown chapter. The Shaggin’ Wagon was our ride to glory. But first there are a few things to take care of—like signing our lives away in front of witnesses, staring into the lens of a tiny video camera held by a really perky blonde-haired girl, and reading from a prepared statement. “I understand that skydiving is a potentially dangerous activity that can result in injury or death. I, Jaclyn Gallucci, take final responsibility for my own safety.” About 10 others wait for their turn and giggle nervously. It’s about 8 in the morning. I didn’t eat anything because I didn’t want to get sick after the stunt plane fiasco. In groups of two, names were called. It takes a lot of time to risk your life and there were about a dozen people ahead of us waiting for their turn. One hour passed. Two hours passed. “Jaclyn and Mark?” Now it was our turn. We step into the Shaggin’ Wagon and drive across the field, get strapped into our harnesses and assigned a tandem partner—the person who will be strapped to your back during the jump. Not that I had any thoughts of doing so, but you can’t jump out of a plane by yourself the first time. It takes training and dozens of tandem jumps to get an A-license, which allows you to jump on your own. It takes even more training to become an instructor. As nice and sweet as it sounds, you also can’t jump through a cloud, without getting beaten to death by mother nature, I learned. But although a little hazy, the skies were generally clear and we were given the okay. We climb in a small plane, just the four of us, attached in twos, and the pilot. The engine revs up and we get higher. And higher. And higher—the kind of high where everything starts looking like a map. Mark is the first to jump. “Are you ready to jump out of a plane, Mark?” I hear his instructor ask. Why am I doing this to him? This is a stupid metaphor. Stupid! If we survive, my parents are going to kill me!
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could think was, “I just killed my brother.” Before I could even process the thought, my skydiving partner points to the left and I see a big white chute floating peacefully toward the ground. “They had to deploy the reserve chute,” he tells me. There must have been a problem, but don’t worry, that’s what the reserves are for!” Not only do the instructors have a reserve, but every jumper has one, too, so even if one back-up fails, there is still another. Later, watching the video, I saw the impressive MacGyver-like moves my brother’s instructor used to calmly deploy the back-up chute. While free-falling, this guy pulls out a pocket knife, cuts the failed chute off, holds the rip cord in his teeth, finagles something else and, as non-chalantly as if he just finished making a sandwich, a new chute appears like nothing. Wow. If you were questioning why you need a license to jump on your own, ladies and gentlemen, here is your answer. I inch closer to the edge of the plane, I’m halfway out. “Ready!?” my instructor yells out. “Yep!” We slide out. Free fall. I remember learning in physics that’s a speed of 9.8 m/s². It’s the feeling you get when you’re going downhill on the roller coaster and you get that chill in your stomach, except that feeling doesn’t go away. You just keep going down. Free fall lasts about 60 seconds. I feel a tap on my shoulder. That’s my cue to get into starfish position, arms and legs out as we plunge toward earth. Beautiful. The sky that wasn’t blue on the ground was blue up here and I was flying through it. Then a sudden jerk from the pull of the rip cord. We’re floating. I could stay up here forever. I’m not scared at all any more. I swung my feet up in front of me and saw them above the trees and houses again. The last time I did this I was in Disney World at Epcot, riding Soarin’, an aerial illusion trip in front of an 180-degree IMAX projection dome that makes you feel like you’re flying over some of the most Illustration by beautiful places on Earth. Jon Moreno This time I really was. My instructor tells me to give a thumbs-up to the tiny camera attached to his wrist as we “Absolutely!” Mark answers and they jump right out. float to the ground. As I get closer, I see my brother I’m in shock. “Absolutely?!” land gracefully on his feet, but more importantly, alive, This was my idea and now I’m the nervous one? in front of me. Now it’s my turn to stick the landing. I watch with my legs dangling outside of the plane The key is to keep your legs parallel to the ground and and the deafening sound of the wind up there. I see slowly lower them like a plane’s landing gear. I didn’t Mark’s bright red chute open below. I look at my feet quite find that sweet spot, and I hit the ground in a over the world. Then out of the corner of my eye I blaze of glory like I was sliding into home in Game 7 of see something that looks like a red deflated balloon the World Series. My new metaphor? If you can jump twisted up and moving erratically, speeding toward out of a plane—and your chute fails—and you still make the ground, getting smaller and smaller. it out alive—you can do anything. My heart stops and in that split second of panic all I
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CROOKED IN HQ: Former Second Deputy Nassau Police Commissioner William Flanagan, convicted of conspiring to cover up a burglary, faced a press swarm after his arrest in March 2012. (Photo by Rashed Mian/Long Island Press)
Will Fallout From Flanagan Conviction Strain Nassau Police Relations with the DA? BY Timothy Bolger tbolger@longislandpress.com
Nassau police commissioner, readily looked on. He was found guilty of conspiracy, a misdemeanor, and not guilty of receiving reward for official misconduct, a felony, after being convicted of two misdemeanor official misconduct counts on Valentine’s Day. “This isn’t over,” Flanagan calmly told reporters outside the courtroom. It was his first public statement since he’d given a round of interviews following his March 2012 arrest—prosecutors had unsuccessfully tried to use those quotes as evidence since he never took the stand. “We’re very disappointed that the jury mistakenly convicted him of the misdemeanor,” said Bruce Barket, Flanagan’s Garden Citybased attorney, who vowed to appeal. “They exonerated him The March 31, of the most serious charge. The 2011 Press cover appellate court will take care of story “Membership Has Its Privileges” the rest.” sparked an District Attorney Kathleen investigation Rice, the top-elected Democrat by the Nassau County District seeking re-election in RepubAttorney’s Office lican-controlled Nassau, now that resulted in the faces strained relations with felony conviction of Zachary Parker and the police agency her prosecuthe indictments of tors work closest with after she three ex-top cops.
After about five frustrated days of jury deliberations, Judge Mark Cohen was preparing to declare a mistrial in the cover-up case against an ex-Nassau County police brass member when a court officer handed him a note: The jurors had reached a verdict. With the clock running out, two jurors and Cohen—a Suffolk judge brought in after two Nassau judges had recused themselves last year—were about to go on vacation, threatening to nullify the month-long trial. Shortly before 8 p.m. a hush fell over the small crowd at Nassau court in Mineola on Feb. 15 as the jury foreman read the verdict. William Flanagan, the retired second deputy
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took down its disgraced ex-third top cop, sources in both departments say. As two of Flanagan’s alleged co-conspirators await trial—the highest-ranking of the brass to do so after an especially scandalous year for Nassau cops—Rice echoed a Press expose that had sparked Flanagan’s arrest and conviction. “This case has always been about making sure that there isn’t one set of rules for the wealthy and connected, and another set for everyone else,” Rice said in a statement. “The jury validated our belief in that important principle.” The scandal erupted five months after Bronx prosecutors accused 15 NYPD officers of fixing tickets in what some described as New York City’s biggest police favoritism case in a half-century. Those cops pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial. As far as Long Island law enforcement cover-up scandals go, Flanagan’s conviction may be the most serious case since a New York State commission investigated widespread allegations of Suffolk County police corruption in the 1980s— assuming that discrepancies revealed at the now-shuttered Nassau police crime lab were just mistakes and not acts intended to sway cases.
UNINDICTED CO-CONSPIRATOR: Gary Parker, a CPA from Merrick who asked his police friends’ for help quashing the arrest of his son, Zachary, was a star witness at Flanagan’s trial (Photo by Rashed Mian/Long Island Press)
Nassau jurors unanimously agreed that Flanagan had joined a conspiracy to return electronics stolen from John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore in May 2009 by then-17-year-old student Zachary Parker as a favor to Parker’s father, Gary, a donor to a nonprofit Nassau police foundation, who wanted to avoid Zach’s arrest. But, by acquitting Flanagan of taking three $100 Morton’s steakhouse gift cards from the Parkers as a reward for misconduct, jurors had doubted that there was a quid pro quo, apparently buying the defense argument that the two were friends who’d exchanged gifts before. “We realized that it was a conspiracy
from day one,” one juror told the Press the night of the verdict. “They did what they did. They can’t undo that.” Now that the first of the conspiracy cases have wrapped, one nagging question persists: Why should a jaded public care?
CALLING SERPICO
For a case that required jurors to listen to 18 witnesses, hear dozens of emails read aloud and watch what observers estimated was a record number of sidebars over 12 days of testimony, there was at least some star appeal to spice things up. Those who sat with Flanagan supporters were high-ranking current and former officials, including his old boss, retired Nassau Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey, and Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford), who told the Press: “Bill’s a good friend.” Gary Parker testified that Bill O’Reilly of Fox News Channel billed the Nassau County Police Foundation—a group fundraising for a new police academy the two donated to—for $600 worth of his Pinheads and Patriots books. Parker also testified he’d asked for Flanagan’s help while the ex-cop was securing the 2009 U.S. Golf Open at Bethpage State Park. But, beyond the splashy celebrity lure, such cases can have a real chilling effect. “There’s an old saying: Everybody does it,” says Peter Cardalena, a St. John’s University criminal justice professor, Floral Park-based attorney and retired NYPD officer. “We just let it roll off our backs. The public should be concerned.” He recalls students telling him when they think they’ve been improperly stopped by police but rarely report the allegations to internal affairs investigators because they feel “nothing can be done.” Cardalena counters that police retraining is routinely ordered after misconduct claims are made—a sign such allegations are taken seriously. Police Commissioner Thomas Dale— whose first task was closing half of eight precincts—was hired halfway through a 20-month period in which four cops died in the line of duty and oversaw a year in which a half dozen police employees were arrested. Last May he had the Nassau County Legislature grant him the power to fire officers as he sees fit without arbitration, although the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association is fighting that move in court. Still, by all accounts, 2012 was the department’s worst year in recent memory. Aside from Flanagan’s two alleged coconspirators—former Deputy Chief of Patrol John Hunter and retired Det. Sgt. Alan Sharpe—ex-Nassau Police Officer Michael Tedesco pleaded not guilty in December to 109 charges alleging he spent shifts at his mistress’ house, police aide Frances Colvin pleaded not guilty to harassing a romantic rival, and another cop was sentenced in June to community service after admitting to shoplifting $40 of baby food. Inspector Thomas DePaola was also demoted for downgrading crime statistics in July.
Justin Hopson, a former New Jersey State Trooper who blew the whistle on corrupt cops and is the author of Breaking the Blue Wall: One Man’s War Against Police Corruption, says Dale will have to do more than fire bad apples to restore public trust in the department. “Every act of police corruption needs to be unearthed, investigated properly and prosecuted,” he tells the Press, adding that Dale needs to “create a cultural sea change, one where the police police one another.” Inspector Kenneth Lack, the department’s chief spokesman, declined to comment for this story. Rice’s office referred questions back to her statement.
OFFICE POLITICS
The difference in opinion between police and prosecutors over whether Flanagan should have ever been charged could be measured in the distance separating his supporters and the district attorney staffers seated on opposite sides of the courtroom during the trial. How much that rift carries over into everyday inter-agency cooperation—or lack thereof—is open to debate, although observers agree that the internal politics is more an issue than the case’s potential impact when Rice’s re-election campaign ramps up later this year. Continued on page 52
“This is not the first person in a police force who’s been charged with a crime.” —Nassau County Attorney John Ciampoli
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From left: Retired Det. Sgt. Alan Sharpe, ex-Second Deputy Commissioner William Flanagan and former Deputy Chief of Patrol John Hunter. Sharpe and Hunter had their cases severed from Flanagan’s and are awaiting trial.
Continued From page 51
“My gut says the verdict has its own implications but it’s going to be like a tree falling in the forest—it’s not going to have any political implications,” says Jerry Kremer, a former state Assemblyman turned LI Democratic strategist. Although representatives for the police and the prosecution declined to discuss the rift on the record, those close to the situation agree that there are fences in need of mending. “I think there’s relationships that should be developed and made stronger… for the continued success of policing and prosecuting in Nassau County,” says James Carver, president of the Nassau PBA, which has supported Rice’s past campaigns. Nassau County Attorney John Ciampoli is confident that both sides will eventually bury the handcuffs. “This is not the first person in a police force who’s been charged with a crime,” says Ciampoli. “This comes up in the course of business. It’s come up before; it’ll come up again. The professionals on both ends are working through it.” In her statement the night of the verdict, Rice acknowledged that the case is a black eye for the beleaguered police department. “This is a huge win for the public, but it’s also a sad day for an awful lot of incredibly hard-working Nassau cops who do their brave jobs honestly every day,” Rice’s statement reads. “This case is a reminder that to safeguard the public’s trust and the integrity of our honest officers, we must be vigilant in our fight against corruption and misconduct.” Still, don’t expect the issue to spark any action in the halls of county government. A spokesman for Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) says there are no proposals or public hearings in the county legislature stemming from the case. A spokeswoman for County Executive Ed Mangano did not respond to a request for comment.
JAIl CELL DOORS
Flanagan, who resigned following a year in which he was ranked LI’s highestpaid cop, is scheduled to be sentenced May 1. Misdemeanor convictions are punishable by up to a year in jail, although it’s doubtful he’ll serve much time—if any. His co-defendants, Hunter and Sharpe, had their cases severed from Flanagan’s and they are due back in court March 15. Their attorneys declined to comment. Zachary Parker, the burglar who was never arrested by police, pleaded guilty to charges in a grand jury indictment after prosecutors investigated the cover-up allegations in the Press. He’s serving up to three years in prison. How many others like him whose cover-ups were never exposed we may never know.
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T h e Ki n g A n d L . I . BY Spencer Rumsey srumsey@longislandpress.com
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Making a fashion statement all his own, Elvis Presley basks in the adoration of his fans at his Nassau Coliseum concert on July 19, 1975. his next show there was set for 1977 (see unused ticket at right). (Photo by Ron Galella/ WireImage)
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he lights dimmed and suddenly the packed Nassau Coliseum resounded with the opening chords of the 2001: Space Odyssey theme. Elvis Presley was in the house. The fans roared as the King of Rock and Roll took center stage. Their camera bulbs sparkled like diamonds in the arena darkness and radiated off Elvis’ rhinestone jumpsuit. “I remember all the lights flashing as he was coming out,” says Ellen Granelli, who was one of the lucky ones. “He had the audience in the palm of his hand for the entire time.” Granelli, who works at the Northport library, saw Elvis at Madison Square Garden in June 1972—the only time he ever played in Manhattan besides the Ed Sullivan Theater—and both times he came to Uniondale in June 1973 and July 1975. The three shows basically followed the same set list, but she didn’t mind “because it was Elvis! You wanted to be there!” Granelli was in her 20s then—today her three kids are in their 30s. She had tickets to see Elvis in August 1977 with her new husband as well as her girlfriend Mary Jo, who’d been her companion at the previous concerts. They never got the chance. She and her husband were driving through the mountains of Maine on vacation when Elvis was all they heard on their car radio. Strange, they thought, since he hadn’t had a top 10 hit in quite a while. “This isn’t good!” Granelli remembers thinking. Sadly, she was right. “I was talking to my children the other night…and I said I saw the older Elvis, and then I stopped myself!” she says. “Older Elvis! He died at 42—that’s not old!” On Aug. 16, 1977, less than a week before Elvis was to appear at the Coliseum—his first venue on the next leg of his tour that year—his girlfriend at the time, Ginger Alden, found him lying face-down on the shag carpet of his bathroom at Graceland, his famous mansion on Elvis Presley Boulevard in Memphis. Somewhere in Granelli’s Northport home are her unused tickets. Her kids tell her they’ve seen them there and she’s sure she hasn’t thrown them away. Her Elvis
collection, which includes “every album” (some 33 recordings by her reckoning), is up in the attic, but she doesn’t play his songs much these days, in part because they’re on vinyl. Unlike a later TV generation who endured Elvis’ egregious movies broadcast in the Sixties, Granelli got her first look at “Elvis the Pelvis” (as the puritanical press pilloried him at the time) when he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1956. “I was a little girl—I was only nine,” she says with a laugh. “That’s where it all started. From the earlier years I thought he was just magnificent, charismatic and very talented.” But she had to wait to see Elvis perform live, and she grabbed every chance she could get, even though it was obvious that the Elvis of the Seventies wasn’t the same performer who’d set the rock and roll world ablaze in the 1950s. “He had a magnificent presence, even at that stage, that just kind of drew you in and took you to another place,” she says. “It was still Elvis, and it was still his voice.” She and her girlfriend never made it to the front of the stage where Elvis would ceremonially shed scarf after scarf to the adoring female fans reaching out to him, but it didn’t matter to Granelli. “If you’re a true fan, you understand that you can be in the zone in the last seat in the last row,” she says. On that fateful August morning in 1977 Steve Prisco—today Sam Ash Music’s marketing director—was driving to a ticket-scalper on Long Island to get front-row seats for the Nassau Coliseum show when he heard the news: The King was dead. A young guitarist growing up in Huntington Station, Prisco had acquired a taste for rockabilly music after looking through his older brothers’ record collections and getting turned on to the tracks Elvis had recorded at Sam Phillips’ Sun Studios in Memphis. “The power of that music really grabbed me,” he says. “Up to that point, Elvis was just the guy in those afternoon movies.” Prisco’s first guitar teacher was from Tennessee and had moved in right across the street. “He was a real good ole boy,” Prisco recalls. The teacher asked him who his favorite guitarist was. Prisco had read that the Young Rascals’ guitarist Gene Cornish had revered Scotty Moore, so Prisco repeated the name. “He looks
“He had a magnificent presence, even at that stage, that just kind of drew you in and took you to another place.” at me, like, ‘Really?!’” Prisco recalls. “I had no idea who Scotty Moore was.” A few years later, he learned that Moore was the great sideman in Elvis’ Sun sessions, and so those seminal riffs he’d been learning in Huntington ran very deep indeed. These days, through the New York Roots Music Association—NYRMA for short—Prisco has been the front man for “The Elvis Show,” Long Island’s longestrunning Elvis tribute and charity event, which has raised more than $50,000 for food pantries over two decades. For the last three years in a row, they’ve sold out the YMCA Boulton Center for the Performing Arts in Bay Shore. Prisco got the idea for the first show when he realized that his rockabilly trio was going to be playing on Elvis’ Jan. 8th birthday. “We had a lot of friends who’d come down to see us—friends from other bands—and I always enjoyed having people come up on stage,” he says. “So that night I spread the word around that ‘Hey, we’re going to do a bunch of Elvis stuff, so come on down and come up and sing a song.’” It clicked, and the next year he decided to ask people to bring canned food to donate to local pantries for the hungry and homeless. And so the event grew from a little bar in Huntington to where it is today—with a hiatus in the ’90s—and it’s been going strong eight years in a row with dozens of performers. But it was always about Elvis and his songs. The cardinal rule, Prisco said, was: “No Elvis impersonators!” He understands that some fans fixate on the “whole mythology and campiness Continued on page 56
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and that whole insane side” of the Elvis image, and that “the impersonators play into that,” but, for Prisco and his peers, it’s about being “true to the vibe.” No matter how his career was going on stage, Elvis always had his standards, according to his wife, Priscilla Presley, who divorced him in October 1973. As she wrote in her memoir, he “couldn’t abide singers who were, in his words, ‘all technique and no emotional feeling,’ and in this category he firmly placed Mel Torme and Robert Goulet. They were both responsible for two television sets being blown away with a .357 Magnum.” The recent NYRMA event in January delved into Elvis’ “deep catalogue and some odd-ball stuff,” Prisco says, but the music could stand on its own. “I think if you didn’t know it was an Elvis show, you would still have enjoyed it because of the level of the performances and the musicianship.” They did the King proud—and, in that spirit, it’s worth recalling how much the New York Times’ then-top music critic, John Rockwell, appreciated seeing and hearing Elvis himself when he last performed on Long Island almost 40 years ago. “Mr. Presley can still rock, and he felt like rocking a refreshing lot of the time Saturday at the Nassau Coliseum,” the critic wrote on July 21, 1975. “When this observer last saw Mr. Presley, it was also the Nassau Coliseum, two summers ago. Then he was fat, lazy and ineffectual. On Saturday he was still fat—fatter than ever, a blown-up cartoon of his spare 1950s toughness. But he wasn’t lazy, and he most certainly wasn’t ineffectual.” Granelli, who was also there that day, would no doubt agree with Rockwell’s assessment. “It appeared to me he had the same charisma that he had in the ‘50s and the early ‘60s but he was almost a caricature of himself in the performance,” she says. She blamed his management, Colonel Tom Parker in particular. “I don’t think [Elvis] was any longer true to who he really was,” she says. “He was what they were telling him he had to be.” Like many an Elvis afficionado, she believes he had tremendous talent but no coping skills to fend off the freeloaders. “He was the son of a sharecropper,” she says. “Where would he have learned any business acumen? So once Colonel Parker got into the picture, I think that started out to be a good thing but ultimately destroyed him.” Prisco says that though Parker took 50 percent of Elvis’ share, the performer never lacked anything he wanted—and he shouldn’t be held blameless for decisions that in retrospect limited his career, let alone his life. As for what Elvis achieved, Prisco believes that rock and roll really began when Elvis recorded “Mystery Train” in 1955.
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all shook up: Steve Prisco (top) strikes a chord at the recent Elvis Show in Bay Shore while Chris James, in shades, hits the high note, Jenna Silverman croons with that special feeling, and Paul Schmitz (bottom) does it in style. (Photos by Ken Farrell)
“That was it,” Prisco says. “Nothing had sounded truly like that before.” As Elvis profoundly changed American music, so too has the industry changed irrevocably—and Prisco believes there’s no going back to the days of “those big bangs—Sinatra, Elvis, the Beatles and, some people will say, Michael Jackson—that’s not going to happen anymore the way everything’s so fragmented now and so immediate. He’ll always have that.” Elvis has left the building, never to return, but his music is still rocking the halls.
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Pot Luck of the Irish Floral Park’s Emerald Aisle Shane Moynagh (L), owner of Swing the Teapot in Floral Park, holding a dish known as the “Irish Breakfast,” which is served with Irish Soda Bread and Irish Brown Bread (R). (Photos by Rashed Mian/Long Island Press)
By Rashed Mian rmian@longislandpress.com
Shane Moynagh sits at a pew inside his Floral Park restaurant Swing the Teapot and stabs his fork into a lightly browned grilled potato, one of several smothered beneath a hefty pile of fried eggs, juicy sausage and thick, savory bacon, known on the menu as the “Irish Breakfast.” His blue eyes drift away from the platter as customers saunter in, the cozy eatery offering a much-needed escape from the whipping winds hustling through the quaint village that boasts the largest Irish population on Long Island. Moynagh postpones his feast to greet the new guests—responding to an immediate inquiry from an elderly man that “No,” he is not, in fact, related to another Moynagh the visitor happens to know. The man then joins his group at an adjacent table, intent on ordering the same dish Moynagh resumes devouring with the help of some warm Irish tea. “That’s a man’s breakfast!” says Moynagh, a resilient and energetic 54-year-old who talks with his hands and punctuates many of his sentences with an infectious laugh. Floral Park’s Tulip Avenue has blossomed into a literal Little Ireland. A half-dozen pubs and restaurants line the quiet street, which crosses the Long Island Rail Road and spills into Jericho Turnpike, the railroad a key mode of transportation for revelers descending on the village from Belmont Park and neighboring communities. March is Irish-American Heritage Month, and Floral Park’s Emerald Aisle of pubs and eateries—from McCarthy’s and Jamesons to Jack Duggans and J Fallon’s Tap Room—are about to get a whole lot greener. Every day is St. Patrick’s Day here—even the local Key Food has an Irish section. Its manager is also of Irish descent, says Moynagh. “I think they’re very important,” Floral Park Chamber of Commerce President Theresa Whalen says of the village’s row of Irish pubs and restaurants. “I think it keeps Tulip Avenue vibrant and alive and it also attracts a lot of the Irish people in the community.” Originally from Ballyjamesduff County Cavan, a small Irish village with a population of slightly more than 2,200 people, Moynagh has been behind the counter since he was just 4 years old, working in his mother’s bakery in Ireland and then pouring drinks as a bartender for 15 years after moving to Sunnyside, Queens, in 1979. Swing the Teapot, which Moynagh
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Jack Duggans: Shepherd’s Pie (Top) filled with beef and vegetables, and crispy, golden, succulent Fish and Chips (Bottom).
Jamesons Bar & Grill: Pot Roast (Top), featuring smashed potatoes, cabbage and brown gravy, and Chicken Pot Pie (Bottom) filled with veggies and juicy chicken.
has owned for about five years, is comfortable and quirky, with a hodgepodge of antique furniture strewn throughout. The eatery features 19th Century dining tables from Italy, chairs from local antique stores and the streets of Floral Park, three popular sewing machine tables and two 18-foot-long pews that he purchased from a local church. Dozens of teapots—many handme-downs donated by friends and customers—reside within a mammoth cupboard from Houston, Texas that encompasses an entire wall. Others festoon with paintings by his mother and brother. His favorite piece depicts a cracking fireplace, with the words, “This painting is for Shane,” inscribed on its back. “Nothing matches,” Moynagh admits. As inviting as the atmosphere is, the locals come here primarily for the food. More specifically, traditional Irish meals such as Chicken Pot Pie, Shepherd’s Pie, Fish & Chips, Irish Brown Bread, Irish Soda Bread and of course,
the Irish Breakfast. “It’s very much Irish,” Moynagh says. “Did I intend to go that way? No, but I’ve fallen into that category.” Moynagh also owns Tulip Bakery in Floral Park, a staple in the village for more than 90 years that has changed hands five times. He considers himself “Tulip the Fifth,” he says, with a laugh. Kathleen Duggan, who co-owns Jack Duggans just around the corner from Swing the Teapot with her brother, grew up in Galway, Ireland and has been “in the bar business for as long as I can remember,” she says one quiet morning in the village. “It’s extremely vibrant,” she says of Galway. “It’s young and happening.” The same can be said for Floral Park in the evening, when an older crowd gives way to a cluster of 20- and 30-somethings putting back Guinness, Magners Irish Cider and Jameson. “Look, it’s empty,” Duggan, 43, says with a laugh, lifting the bottle of Jameson while offering the correct Irish pronunciation of her customers’
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preferred whiskey. Duggan made the permanent move to the United States in 1996 and planted her roots in Westchester. She spends long hours in Floral Park but splits the days with her brother, who typically takes the night shift. “We were never looking for a business in Floral Park,” Duggan says. “It just happened this way.” Jack Duggans offers a different experience than Moynagh’s Swing the Teapot. Seventeen high-definition TV sets attract dedicated sports fans and the layout is more conducive to popular sporting events. Yet Duggan, too, embraces her Irish culture and is driven by an unrelenting work ethic instilled by her father. She keeps a black-and-white photo of her great-great grandfather, the place’s namesake, on a shelf above the bar alongside a picture of her 72-year-old father beside a racehorse he once owned. Two miniature traffic lights from the motherland flank the bar, splashing the message “Bar is Open” through a green light. Near the exit is a square sign that professes a traditional Gaelic message: “May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back.” Jack Duggans also offers traditional Irish grub—chicken pot pie, shepherds pie, fish and chips—but there’s also other favorites, such as bangers and mash— made with traditional Irish sausage— mashed potatoes, gravy and sautéed onions. Duggan, her blonde hair flowing over a purple top and black sweater, believes her family’s Irish heritage has transcended to her business. “It’s a friendly place,” she says, “[customers] sometimes think we’re just a bar, which it’s really not that, there’s much more to it than a bar. People feel at home here.” Jamesons Bar & Grill, a short crawl from Jack Duggans, has also made a name for itself over its 15 years in business, serving up Irish-American dishes and playing host to many Irishthemed events. Jamesons’ Super Bowl is St. Patrick’s Day. The bar will roll out Irish Step Dancers, the drinks will flow and the kitchen will be preparing a grand traditional feast. The restaurant’s owner, 53-yearold Robert Sullivan, is appreciative of the support he’s received from the community throughout the years. “It’s the type of community…that when [people] grow up and get married they actually move back,” says Sullivan. “And that says something about Floral Park.” Many of the local restaurant owners, including Duggan and Moynagh, share similar stories. They were born in Ireland, spent their childhood working in the family bakery or pub, and have had success in Floral Park. “I love Floral Park,” says Moynagh. “As an immigrant I’ve been accepted very well, I’ve been supported very well by the whole community of Floral Park. I never felt like I [wasn’t] wanted here.”
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Early BBQ recipe from chef Noddy Singh Sizzling Lamb Chops Marinate eight pieces of medium-sized lamb chops in: 1 tbsp ginger & garlic paste ½ cup yogurt, ½ cup sour cream ½ squeezed lemon, 1 tsp vinegar ½ tsp cornstarch, ¼ tsp salt (to taste) 1 tsp cumin powder 1 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp fine chopped ginger 4 stems chopped cilantro
Mix all ingredients for at least 8 hours prior to grilling. BBQ or pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray sheet pan lightly with oil. Place lamb chops and let cook for 15 minutes. For medium-rare, cook 10 minutes. Enjoy! Like us on Facebook for more recipes and upcoming events.
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/// The Publisher Tom Brevoort has played an integral role in the success of such Marvel Comics classics as The Avengers, Captain America and Fantastic Four for the past 14 years. The 46-year-old senior vice president of publishing— who’s also Marvel’s executive editor—traces his love affair back to growing up in Farmingville and a chance encounter with a stack of comic books that caught his eye while on a trip to the local 7-Eleven with his father. “I fell into it,” he says. Speaking from his office inside the company’s Manhattan headquarters, the current Ronkonkoma resident recalls how he was offered an internship in the summer of 1989 and was hired that December as an assistant editor. Though his positions have changed throughout the years, Brevoort’s passion for the industry knows no bounds. “It’s pretty phenomenal,” he says of his career. “I have an aptitude for it, I like it, I enjoy the people, I enjoy the characters and all the crazy stuff we come up with.” His favorite Marvel character, if he had to name one? “The Thing,” of course.
Joe Ciano is living the dream. The 22-year-old Syosset resident and recent graduate of SUNY New Paltz jumped at an opportunity to intern for self-owned comic book company A.P.N.G. Enterprises and is now contributing to its futuristic series, New-Gen. Ciano is working on the character Carmen, a girl battling selfdoubt who fights to discover her inner confidence and strength. “Writing was always a passion, especially comic book writing,” he says from his Manhattan workspace—a bare desk surrounded by towering characters peering over his shoulder. “You read comics so much, eventually you get ideas for what you want to do.” Ciano began developing his own comic book script while still at Syosset High School—but his love for comics blossomed in middle school, around the time of the new X-Men movies, which also happens to be his favorite series. “They’re respected but they’re not the popular kids,” he says of the superhero mutants. Ciano, like other comic book lovers, has grown attached to a specific character. “Juggernaut,” he says, a mutant possessing otherworldly strength. “You see something of yourself in them.”
FOUR Corners
One Common Thread
/// The Collector
--By Rashed Mian rmian@longislandpress.com
Ryan Lynch was bitten by the comic book bug during his freshman year at SUNY New Paltz. “I didn’t really get into it until late,” he admits, “but when I got into it I got into it.” Now a graduate, the mediumbuild 22-year-old from West Islip has returned to Long Island with a degree in physics—and an obsession that he won’t be able to kick any time soon. In four years he’s amassed a collection that numbers in the thousands, spanning decades and filling his bedroom to the max. It’s almost claustrophobic. Comic compilations crowd multiple bookcases and shelves. Posters plaster the walls. Comics cram long white boxes in a neatly organized, meticulously controlled chaos. Many were purchased at nearby Long Island Comics in West Babylon. “Obviously there’s no shortage of material,” he says. Just as voluminous is Lynch’s knowledge of the industry. He rattles off related facts at a head-spinning pace and is comfortable, even, speculating about the industry’s future despite his late introduction. “It’s a really good time to be a comic book fan,” he says. Perhaps there is a good reason Lynch talks about comics at such a feverish pace: “I’m a Flash guy,” he says.
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/// The Writer
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/// The Store Owner It all started in a “hideous place,” Frank Verzyl, the current owner of Long Island Comics in West Babylon, says. The 60-year-old opened a closet-sized comic book shop in the basement of a Greenwich Village movie poster store, affectionately dubbed “The Batcave,” when he was just 24. Eventually outgrowing the building’s cellar, he moved its operations to Bay Shore, then West Babylon, in 1977. There it stands, packed to the brim with vintage issues and modern titles ranging from The Plastic Man and Wonder Woman to The Dark Knight and The Avengers. They cover the walls, bursting from bookcases and boxes from one end of the store to the other. “This is actually the longest-running comic book store on Long Island,” he says emphatically. Verzyl credits comics with teaching him how to read. That became apparent to his kindergarten instructor too, who after three months realized she was just wasting her time. “The next thing I knew I was in first grade,” he laughs. Verzyl resides in his childhood home in Lindenhurst and has amassed nearly 100,000 comics. Good thing he stayed put. “I would shudder to think how I would move everything,” he says. Verzyl is a survivor, just like his favorite character, Batman.
Why your home & office need storage Hoarders are beginning to give you cleaning tips It’s as dysfunctional as Taylor Swift’s relationships It’s about to crumble like Lance Armstrong’s reputation It makes just as much sense as a 12 year old’s twitter account It’s beginning to look like Lindsey Lohans’ attorney’s office Your files are so old they are made of parchment Floral Park | Glen Cove | Huntington | Islandia
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ART + S o u l
Abstract Expressionism Reconsidered at the Nassau County Museum of Art
T
BY Spencer Rumsey srumsey@longislandpress.com
he bold artistic movement that made New York the center of the art world in the 1950s gets the exposure it deserves when the Nassau County Museum of Art hosts AB-EX/RE-CON: Abstract Expressionism Reconsidered this month. This ambitious exhibit includes 85 pieces from 47 artists whose names have become almost synonymous with this style—such as Willem de Kooning, Richard Diebenkorn, Robert Motherwell and Mark Rothko—as well as three installations focused on artists whose work is still going strong today, including New York City’s Judith Godwin, Rhode Island’s Rita Rogers and Huntington’s Stan Brodsky, currently regarded as “a master colorist whose abstract landscapes capture the essence of nature.” Adding importance to the show is that many of these paintings haven’t been seen outside of a Manhattan gallery since far-sighted collectors first snatched them up some 50 or 60 years ago as these artists were making their mark. The exhibition also offers viewers a chance to discover the contributions of lesser-known but highly admired artists of the movement, such as Fritz Bultman, “a drinking buddy and respected rival of Jackson Pollock,” the museum says, and Jon Schueler, a “second-generation Abstract Expressionist” who became a key component of what became known as “the New York School.” Karl Willers, the museum director at NCMA, was brimming with enthusiasm when he spoke with the Press recently about the scope of this exhibit. The public will get to look closely at “some amazing artists who were working in the late 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s in America,” he says, who “made huge contributions to abstract painting and the general movement of abstract expressionism but have never really received the credit that they’re due for all of their achievements.” This show, which is so large it’s taking over the whole Joan and Arnold Saltzman Fine Art Building, marks the third abstract expressionist exhibition Willers has done in
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The Nassau county museum of art is the scene for one of the largest looks at abstract expressionism in years when its show opens this month. Several local collectors helped Karl Willers, the museum director, make it happen. (All Photos Courtesy of the Nassau County Museum of Art)
his career—his first one ws three decades ago at the Whitney Museum, when the great majority of these painters were still around. “Abstract expressionism is just a name given to a group of painters who really arose in the United States in the post-war world who were very interested in abstract modes of expression,” Willers explains. “It’s usually recognized as a group of painters that in many ways developed a style of painting that was truly international in its influence.” What distinguishes this style most prominently are the gestures—the acts of painting—epitomized by drips, drabs and smears of paint and brush strokes as the artist interacted with the material, the canvas and chance, letting emotions
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The painting on the far left is part of Fritz Bultman’s “Blue Triptych,” 1961. Top right is an untitled work done in 1954 by Joseph Fiori. At right is a work Jon Schueler did in 1949 called “Small Painting #3.”
and meaning play upon the surface. No artist embodies this form of expression better in the public’s mind than Jackson Pollock, and the exhibit will be showing a film that Arnold Newman made years ago of Pollock painting on a horizontal sheet of glass, with the camera filming him from below as the artist stood to the side and let his pigments fly. “One of the terms used to describe this painting was action painting,” Willers says. “This film really makes it come alive for people.” The show also includes two of the largest paintings ever made by Pollack’s pal, Bultman, and by another action painter, Norman Bluhm, whose work has been compared to Cézanne. “One of the hallmarks of abstract expressionism was that the canvas sort of exploded to all four sides of the wall,” says Willers. “It really fills the visual field so that the viewer is very much immersed in this aesthetic experience.” But size isn’t all that matters, notes Willers. “It’s interesting to see how some of the tiny paintings still hold up and have a huge amount of visual power,” he says. Willers wanted to draw special attention to the three living artists in the AB-EX/RE-CON show, who each get their own gallery devoted to their work. Judith Godwin, born in Virginia, moved to New York City in 1953 and enrolled in the Art Students League, famous for its rigor and far-reaching influence. She later studied with Hans Hofmann, whose work is also in this exhibit, and became a close friend of
the famous modern dancer and choreographer Martha Graham. Rita Rogers, a painter and printmaker who lives in Newport, R.I., studied at the Art Students League, and later taught painting at the Portsmouth Abbey School, a boys’ boarding school near the Narragansett Bay. In 1977 her home on campus burned down, destroying almost all her early work that wasn’t in someone else’s possession. This show borrows pieces from her son’s private collection, and includes prints made from plates that survived the fire. Born in Brooklyn, Stan Brodsky, professor emeritus of art at Long Island University’s Post Campus in Brookville, was the director of LIU’s studio programs before he retired. “Stan Brodsky is one of the foremost painters here on Long Island,” says Willers. “He’s been doing wonderful abstract paintings throughout his career.” Reached at his home in Huntington, where he’s had his studio for 18 years, Brodsky gladly explained his approach to color and form. “I followed a path in which I did both figurative works and abstraction as well,” says the 88-year-old artist who just became a grandfather for the first time in January. Brodsky moved out from New York City in 1965 and started exploring the North Shore. “I was very excited by low tide,” he adds. At one point in the 1950s, Brodsky was working at the Sidney Janis Gallery on Continued on page 64 L o n g I s l a n d P r e s s f o r m a r c h , 2 0 1 3 / / / w w w. l o n g i s l a n d p r e s s . c o m
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West 57th Street when one of Willem De Kooning’s celebrated “Woman series” was delivered from his East Hampton studio. “I remember when they took the plastic off,” Brodsky says. “I was astounded by the boldness of the work, the color, the freshness and the exaggeration, and also the physical properties of the paint, all those things excited me. I’d never seen anything like it!” Willers hopes viewers have that experience when they come to the Nassau County Museum to see the abstract expressionist show. The exhibit draws upon three art collections for the most part, two of whom belong to local residents close to the museum’s community—the Clarks (Bruce, Michelle and their son Spencer) and a
Roslyn collector who prefers to remain anonymous. “In many ways it is an entire genre of paintings that emerged and developed right here locally!” says Willers. “I think anybody who’s giving these works a fair chance is going to be very much enraptured by their visual qualities and the variety of different kinds of gestural paintings that were active during this same period.” The AB-EX/RE-CON show runs March 9 through June 16. The Nassau County Museum of Art, open Tuesday-Sunday, is located at One Museum Drive in Roslyn Harbor, just off 25A (Northern Boulevard), two traffic lights west of Glen Cove Road. For more information call 516-484-9337 or visit www.nassaumuseum.org.
Moving Forward
At Hofstra University, innovation is central to everything we do. In the past few years, we’ve opened the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine and announced a new School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. With a rising national reputation, new opportunities in research and the sciences, small classes and a student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1 in over a hundred areas of study, Hofstra University is more than you expected and all you can imagine. World-renowned resources and facilities. Hands-on learning opportunities. Easy access to the career and internship opportunities in New York City. World-class events and activities, a residential campus with a nationally accredited museum, and financial aid for almost 90 percent of students.
Discover what Hofstra’s pride and purpose is all about at our Spring Open House, April 28. Find out more @ hofstra.edu/springopen
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Our Recommendations for the Month
JACLYN’S PICK
SKULL & SPADE SCARF (Tilly’s)
Just because you have to dress nice for work doesn’t mean you can’t still sport skulls in the office. This sheer, lightweight scarf can be twisted and tied any way you like. From a distance the print looks like flowers, but up close it’s badass-meetsbusiness casual.
RASHED’S PICK
KINDLE PAPERWHITE Tablet-obsessed consumers may have not noticed, but Amazon recently released a line of soupedup Kindle devices, including the best one yet—Kindle Paperwhite. The touch-screen e-book reader improves upon earlier models while retaining some of the unique qualities that made them so popular. The Paperwhite features superior resolution, longer battery life and a built-in light for easy reading in any setting. Download a book (Game of Thrones?) and experience its glory for yourself.
SPENCER’S PICK
ABU GHRAIB: AFTER THE SCANDAL BY SALVATORE Anthony ESPOSITO, JR.
CHRIS’ PICK
GAME OF THRONES: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON (HBO)
The sudden death of honorable Ned Stark, Lord of Winterfell at the close of Season 1 has sparked an unimaginable and addictively captivating chain of events that will forever transform and imperil the Seven Kingdoms. Released just in time for fans to catch up before the March 31 start of the third season, Season 2 introduces a host of fascinating new characters, subplots and of course, more mystery surrounding the direwolves. Winter is coming, of that there is no doubt. Yet what is to become of the Mother of Dragons and her fork-tongued babies? Jon Snow? Arya? “The Imp”? And is there any way to stop the White Walkers—or bastard “King” Joffrey!? Best hurry, for the cold winds are rising.
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The infamous images of Iraqi war prisoners being abused at Abu Ghraib Prison were seen around the world. But here’s a compelling, honest look behind the walls by a different kind of American soldier, a member of the 344th Combat Support Hospital, an Army reservist, who with his comrades did their best to undo the damage and put human rights first. Esposito, who lives in Medford, has poured his heart and soul into setting the record straight. As he put it, “straw men and women are made of flesh and blood. And eventually they return home to the ordinary lives they put on hold to serve a greater cause.”
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*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 3/1/2013 and is subject to change without notice. 3.00% APY is earned on balances up to $1,000, balances higher than $1,000 earn 0.45% APY. $5 minimum balance to open. Fees or other conditions could reduce earnings. Consumer accounts only. Certain restrictions may apply. At the age of 21, savings accounts are automatically converted to a basic savings account and checking account will convert to Bonus Checking accounts. **Voucher valid through 4/16/2013. Games subject to availability. ***Minors need parental consent. Membership conditions may apply. †Must show Co-Op logo. L o n g I s l a n d P r e s s f o r m a r c h , 2 0 1 3 / / / w w w. l o n g i s l a n d p r e s s . c o m
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march 1
Susie Essman
@ Governor’s Comedy Club Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Susie Greene is coming to Long Island to hurl insults and curse us out and we couldn’t be happier. The comedian known for throwing expletive-filled tantrums targeted at Larry David will perform three shows in Levittown. If you live under a rock—or don’t get HBO—go to YouTube right now and type in “Susie Greene.” You’re welcome. 90 Division Ave, Levittown. www.govs.com. $64, $34. 8 p.m. Also March 2, 7 & 10 p.m.
Long Island Press Event Listings for March 2013
ONGOING
The Lyon, the Which and the Warhol
MARCH 1
LI Pet Expo @ Suffolk Community
@ David Filderman Gallery at Hofstra University
College Expo Center Crooked Hill Road, Brentwood. www.lipetexpo.com. $12, $5. Through March 3.
Ari Shafir @ The Brokerage
Standup comedian and actor Ari Shaffir describes his comedy as a puppet show, but way filthier and without the puppets. 2797 Merrick Rd., Bellmore. www.brokeragecomedy. com. $22. 8 & 10:30 p.m. Also March 4 @ McGuire’s Comedy Club, Bohemia.
Fat Joe @ B.B. King Blues Club & Grill 237 W. 42nd St., Manhattan. www. bbkingblues.com. $30, $26.50. 8 p.m.
Live’s Ed Kowalcyzk
@ City Winery 155 Varick St., Manhattan. www.citywinery.com. $28, $20. 8 p.m.
Swedish House Mafia
@ Madison Square Garden 4 Penn Plaza, Manhattan. www.thegarden. com. Also March 2, 3 & 4 @ Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn. www.barclayscenter.com. $125.50, $40. 8 p.m.
march 1 The Allman Brothers Band
@ Beacon Theatre 2124 Broadway, Manhattan. www.beacontheatre.com. $150.99, $50.99. 8 p.m. Also March 2, 9, 12, 16 & 17. Greg Allman will sign copies of My Cross to Bear on March 4 at Barnes & Noble, 555 Fifth Ave., Manhattan. 12:30 p.m. Photographs by photojournalist Danny Lyon and visionary pop artist Andy Warhol are contextually linked to works in other media by Chuck Close, Jim Dine, and Lisbeth Firmin. An illustrated brochure accompanies the exhibition and additional interpretive materials are available on a touch-screen gallery kiosk. Hempstead Turnpike, Hempstead. www.hofstra.edu.Through May 19.
MARCH 2
J@ odi Picoult Huntington High School Auditorium Bestselling author Jodi Picoult will speak about and sign her new book, The Storyteller. 188 Oakwood Rd., Huntington. www.bookrevue.com. $28, $5. 7 p.m.
Jason Aldean
The Skatalites
@ Madison Square Garden 4 Penn Plaza, Manhattan. www.thegarden.com. $85, $49.75. 7:30 p.m.
@ Brooklyn Bowl With Van Gordon Martin Band & Subatomic Sound System. 61 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn. www. brooklynbowl.com $10. 8 p.m.
En Vogue @ NYCB Theatre at Westbury One the best-selling female R&B Grammy nominated groups of all time with chart toppers “Hold On” and “My Love (Never Gonna Get It),“ En Vogue bring their sophisticated sass and flawless harmonies to Long Island along with R&B Crooner Lillo Thomas, the Brooklyn-born vocalist who ruled the ’80s airwaves with hits “You’re A Good Girl” and “I’m In Love ( I Surrender).” With D-Train and Cherelle. 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. 877-598-8694. $49.50, $39.50. 8 p.m.
governors is comedy appearing this weekend at our clubs
ari shaffir
maria bamford
tom papa
dom irrera c
tim krompier c
ben kronberg
paul mecurio
rich vos c
@ m guires in bohemia only one show friDay 3/1 @ 8
@ the brokerage friDay 3/1 @ 8 & 10:30 @ mcguires sat. 3/2 @ 7:30 & 10
@ the brokerage in bellmore one night only sat. 3/2 @ 8 & 10:30
visit our websites for a complete listing of upcoming shows & to buy tickets online 68
don’t miss out on these upcoming acts! reserve your tickets now online!
susie essman @ governors in levittown fri. 3/1 @ 8 sat. 3/2 @ 7 & 10
gift cards available
@ governors in levittown one night only sunDay, 3/3 @ 7
@ the brokerage tuesDay, 3/5 @ 8 @ governors weDnesDay, 3/6 @ 8
@ the brokerage in bellmore fri. 3/15 @ 8 sat. 3/16 @ 8 & 10:30
@ m guires in bohemia fri. 3/15 @ 8 sat. 3/16 @ 7:30 & 10
governor’s the brokerage mcguire’s 90 Division Ave., Levittown 2797 Merrick Rd, Bellmore 1627 Smithtown Ave, Bohemia (Behind Tri-County Shop Center) (Corner of Bellmore Ave) (Across from The Holiday Inn)
516-731-3358 516-781-LAFF 631-467-5413 5
2 3 3
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GOVERNORS CO
@ m guires fri. 3/8 @ 8 & 10:30 @ governors sat. 3/9 @ 7:30 & 10
joey kola
@ the brokerage fri. 3/8 @ 8 @ mcguires sat. 3/9 @ 7:30 & 10
drew carey
dov davidoff c
jessica kirson
adam ferrara c
@ m guires fri. 3/22 @ 8 & 10:30 @ the brokerage sat. 3/23 @ 8 & 10:30
@ governors in levittown fri. 3/29 @ 8 sat. 3/30 @ 7:30 & 10
@ governors in levittown fri. 3/15 @ 8 sat. 3/16 @ 7 & 9:30
@ m guires fri. 4/5 @ 8 & 10:30 @ governors sat. 4/6 @ 7:30 & 10
www.govs.com
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MARCH 3
The Break Contest
@ Revolution Bar & Music Hall The official contest for your band to play the Skate and Surf Festival. 140 Merrick Rd., Amityville. 516-2086590. Visit www.thebreakcontest.com for details.
Roller Rebels Annual Pancake Breakfast @ Mr. Beery’s 4019 Hempstead Tpke., Bethpage. www.mrbeerys.com. $10. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
MARCH 5 Edward Albee Evening Reading
march 3
Collect-i-Bowl Record Show
@ Queens College Edward Albee (The Zoo Story, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) is widely regarded as one of the greatest living playwrights in the English language. He is the recipient of three Pulitzer Prizes, three Tony Awards, and the National Medal of Arts. 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing. www.qc.cuny.edu. $20. 7 p.m.
@ Brooklyn Bowl 61 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn. www. brooklynbowl.com. Free admission. 11 a.m.
MARCH 3 Chili Cook Off
MARCH 5 New York and How It Got That Way
@ The Lark Pub & Grub 93 Larkfield Rd., East Northport. www.thelarkpubandgrub.com. $10. 1 p.m.
MARCH 3
@ LIU Post Hutton House Through Robert Henri, George Bellows, John Sloane, Everett Shinn, Edith Wharton and others, meet the characters and events that shaped the city between the turn of the century and the First World War. 720 Northern Blvd., Greenvale. $20. 1-3 p.m.
Suzanne Vega
@ The Bell House 149 Seventh St., Brooklyn. www.thebellhouseny.com. $35. 8 p.m.
MARCH 3
MARCH 5
Hinder
@ The Emporium 9 Railroad Ave., Patchogue. www.theemporiumny.com. $25, $20. 7:30 p.m. MARCH 6 Aaron Carter @ Revolution Bar & Music Hall With Ali Kramer, Corey Balsamo, Persona, Six Stories Told, Nikki Flores & Petrel. 140 Merrick Rd., Amityville. www.revolutionli.com. $20. 5:30 p.m.
MARCH 6 Fair Food: Growing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All @ Nassau Community
College, College Center Building A national leader in sustainable agriculture and CEO of Fair Food Network Oran Hesterman wants to change not only what we eat, but how our food is grown, packaged, delivered and sold. 1 Education Dr., Garden City. www.ncc.edu. 12:30 p.m.
@ The Paramount 370 New York Ave., Huntington. www. paramountny.com. $68.50, $42.50. 8 p.m. Also March 9 @ Terminal 5, 610 W. 56th St., Manhattan. www.terminal 5nyc.com. $33.50. 8 p.m.
MARCH 8 The Saw Doctors @ The Paramount
T.I. MARCH 7
@ Best Buy Theater 1515 Broadway, Manhattan. www.bestbuytheater.com. $45. 8 p.m.
Formed in 1988, Irish rock band, The Saw Doctors, celebrate their quarter of a decade together with a 17-date tour and their latest album, 2525, which traces the Galway band’s career from their ground-breaking debut single ‘N17’ to last year’s chart topping hit, ‘Downtown’ featuring the legendary Petula Clark and filmed on the streets of Galway. 370 New York Ave., Huntington. www.paramountny.com. $35, $20. 8 p.m. Also 3.15 @ Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Pl., Manhattan. www.irvingplaza.com. $65, $38.50. 8 p.m.
MARCH 8 Martin Short @ NYCB Theatre at Westbury 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. $79.50, $49.50. 8 p.m.
MARCH 8 - 17 Hicks Nurseries Flower & Garden Show The 23rd Annual Flower & Garden Show "A World of Possibilities" is inspired by gardens from around the globe. Travel to Ireland, India, Italy, China and several other countries through gardens that reflect their unique use of flowers, trees and shrubs. Free parking & show admission. 100 Jericho Tpke., Westbury. 516-334-0066. www.hicksnurseries.com. Ongoing.
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Morning Service (7 Days a Week) afternoon Service (Thursday – Sunday)
suffolk County Nassau County Queens
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B E T H PA G E 4019 Hempstead Tpke. Bethpage N.Y. 11714
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MARCH 9
Scott Weiland
(Stone Temple Pilots) @ Irving Plaza Celebrating Core and Purple in their entirety. 17 Irving Pl., Manhattan. www.irvingplaza. com. $75, $35. 8 p.m.
Matchbox Twenty
@ The Paramount 370 New York Ave., Huntington. www.paramountny.com. $125, $75. 8 p.m.
Queensryche @ The Emporium 9 Railroad Ave., Patchogue. www.theemporiumny.com. $35, $32. 6 p.m.
By The National League of American Pen Women. Reception 3 - 6 p.m., poetry reading at 4 p.m. 67A Broadway, Greenlawn. www.ripeartgal.com. 3 p.m.
@ The Marlin Room at Webster Hall 125 E. 11th St., Manhattan. www. websterhall.com. $15. 7 p.m.
Dropkick Murphys
With Eternal Echoes, this master violinist collaborates with one of the great cantors of all time. 720 Northern Boulevard, Greenvale.516-299-2752. www.tillescenter. org. $150, $60. 7 p.m.
Black and White, Dark and Light @ Ripe Art Gallery MARCH 13 Adrenaline Mob
MARCH 12
MARCH 10 Itzhak Perlman & Yitzchok Meir Helfgot @ Tilles Center
MARCH 12
MARCH 12 Jessica Alba @ Book Revue
The actress speaks and signs her new book, The Honest Life: Living Naturally and True to You. 313 New York Ave., Huntington. www.bookrevue.com. 7 p.m.
Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus
@ Queens College Writer Jamaica Kincaid (At the Bottom of the River) will read from her work and speak with Leonard Lopate. 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing. www.qc.cuny.edu. 7 p.m.
@ Nassau Coliseum 1255 Hempstead Tpke, Uniondale. www.nassau coliseum.com. Through March 17.
MARCH 14 John Nolan (Taking Back Sunday/Straylight Run) & Geoff Ricklyn (Thursday) @ Revolution Bar & Music Hall 140 Merrick Rd., Amityville. www.revolutionli.com. $15, $13. 7 p.m.
MARCH 13
Jewel:
Shakespeare Festival
Greatest Hits Tour @ The Paramount 370 New York Ave., Huntington. www. paramountny.com. $79.50, $35. 8 p.m.
@ Hofstra University Hempstead Turnpike, Hempstead. www.hofstra. edu. Through March 24.
MARCH 16 Coheed and Cambria Ron White: A Little Unprofessional
@ NYCB Theatre at Westbury 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. 877-598-8694. $201.75, $52.75. 8 p.m.
Roseanne Cash @ Patchogue Theatre 71 E. Main St., Patchogue. www.patchoguetheatre.com. $58, $28. 8 p.m. MARCH 17
Jefferson Starship @ B.B. King Blues Bar & Grill 237 W. 42nd St., Manhattan. www.bbkingblues.com. $45, $35. 8 p.m.
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Jamaica Kincaid
@ Terminal 5 On the heels of their latest studio album Signed and Sealed in Blood, Boston-based rock band the Dropkick Murphys hits the road for their 2013 St. Patrick’s Day Tour. The album is their second with producer Ted Hutt (Gaslight Anthem), and mixed by Joe Chiccarelli (The White Stripes). “We had such a great time writing our last album Going Out In Style, we were excited to get back into the studio right away,” says bassist/co-lead singer Ken Casey. “Where Going Out in Style was a concept album—kind of intricate and difficult—this one is catchy, fun, and as sing-along as can be.” 610 W. 56th St., Manhattan. www.terminal 5nyc.com. 7:30 p.m. $38.50, $33.50. Also March 13.
@ Radio City Music Hall 1260 Sixth Ave., Manhattan. www.radiocity.com. $69.50, $35. 7 p.m.
MARCH 21
Harlan Coben @ Book Revue Coben will speak and sign his new novel, Six Years. 313 New York Ave., Huntington. www.bookrevue.com. 7 p.m.
Boeing Boeing
@ John W. Engeman Theater at Northport 250 Main St., Northport. www.johnwengementheater.com. $55. Through May 5.
L o n g I s l a n d P r e s s f o r m a r c h , 2 0 1 3 / / / w w w. l o n g i s l a n d p r e s s . c o m
P!nk With The Hives @ Madison Square Garden 4 Penn Plaza, Manhattan. www. thegarden.com. $125, $39.50. 8 p.m. Also March 25 @ Nassau Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Tpke., Uniondale. www.nassaucoliseum.com. $125, $39.50. 7:30 p.m.
MARCH 15
Drew Carey @ Governor’s
Comedy Club 90 Division Ave, Levittown. 516-731-3358. www.govs. com. $66, $36. 8 p.m. Also March 16 at 7 & 9:30 p.m.
MARCH 23 Coffee
& Tea Festival
@ 69th Regiment Armory This international extravaganza offers two days of programming including classes, lectures and demonstrations. Sweet treats from chocolate to cake will offer a wonderful complement to the spectacular collection of coffees and teas available to sample and purchase. 68 Lexington Ave., Manhattan. www.sixtyninth.net. Also March 24. $30, $20. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
MARCH 22
Garbage @ Terminal 5 610 W. 56th St., Manhattan. www.termi nal5nyc.com. $40, $35. 8 p.m.
MARCH 24 Emmylou Harris @ The Paramount
MARCH 25
Joan Osbourne @ YMCA Boulton Center
@ Madison Square Garden 4 Penn Plaza, Manhattan. www. thegarden.com. $56. 8 p.m.
37 W. Main St., Bay Shore. www.boultoncenter.org. $65, $60. 7 p.m.
MARCH 26
Global Living Project Director Jim Merkel
@ LIU Post Environmental sustainability expert appears as part of the Provost Distinguished Lecture Series. 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Humanities Hall, Room 119. 12:45 p.m.
MARCH 26
MARCH 26
Bad Religion
Kate Nash
@ Terminal 5 Preeminent punk band Bad Religion deliberately revisits and refines the powerful and melodic Southern California sound they helped to define, in their latest album, True North. “We went back to our original mission statement of short concise bursts of melody and thought,” co-songwriter and guitarist Brett Gurewitz explains. “The intent was to record stripped down punk songs without sacrificing any conceptual density.” The album’s first single is a propulsive anthem succinctly called “F*ck You.” As the band’s singer and co-songwriter Greg Graffin explains, “If any band should have a song with that title it should be us. It just sounds like a perfect Bad Religion song.” 610 W. 56th St., Manhattan. www.terminal5nyc.com. $32, $28.50. 7:30 p.m.
Sigur Ros
370 New York Ave., Huntington. www.paramountny.com. Also March 27 @ Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway, Manhattan. www.beacontheatre.com. $149, $59.50. 8 p.m.
@ Bowery Ballroom 6 Delancey St., Manhattan. www. boweryballroom. com. $20. 9 p.m.
Caroline Manzo (Real Housewives of New York) @ Book Revue 313 New York Ave., Huntington. www.bookrevue.com. 7 p.m.
MARCH 28
MARCH 29
960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. 877-598-8694. $62.50. 8 p.m.
Emotion” and “Can You Feel the Beat.” 9 Railroad Ave., Patchogue. www.theemporiumny.com. $15. 4:30 p.m.
Lisaall her Lisa @ The Emporium Keyshia Cole Singing ’80s hits including “Lost in @ NYCB Theatre at Westbury The Pie Tasters and Big D & The Kids Table
@ Highline Ballroom 431 W. 16th St., Manhattan. www.highline ballroom.com. $19, $16.50. 7 p.m.
MARCH 28
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds @ Beacon Theatre 2124 Broadway, Manhattan. www. beacontheatre.com. $69.50, $39.50. 8 p.m. Through March 30.
The Breeders @ The Bell House
149 Seventh St., Brooklyn. www.thebellhouseny.com. 9 p.m. Lita Ford feat. Faster Pussycat @ Revolution Bar & Music Hall 140 Merrick Rd., Amityville. www.revolutionli.com. $20. 8 p.m.
THE GUITAR EVENT OF THE YEAR 2124 BROADWAY @ 74TH ST, NYC
MAY 16 , 17 & 18 @ 8 TH
TH
TH
PM
TICKETS ON SALE @ TICKETMASTER.COM FREE SONG DOWNLOAD @ JBONAMASSA.COM L o n g I s l a n d P r e s s f o r m a r c h , 2 0 1 3 / / / w w w. l o n g i s l a n d p r e s s . c o m
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Double Xword Pt.1 X-CHANGING ACROSS 1 Original texts: Abbr. 4 Navy VIP 11 Soda giant 20 Kwik-E-Mart clerk 21 In a very angry way 22 “East of Eden” director 23 Jagger and Fleetwood out in a blizzard? 25 Stencil work 26 Inflated self 27 Pay to play 28 Bags used by some opera stars? 29 Faunae counterparts 32 Top draft status 34 Santa - wind 35 Kit - bar
36 King of Thebes gets into a crash? 40 Job detail, briefly 43 Triage areas, briefly 44 Perform the duties of 45 2.0 grades 47 Tibetan city 51 Shia’s god 52 Golf course on another planet? 55 Concerning 58 Massey of film 60 Knight’s mount 61 “Take - from me ...” 62 Fumigated hair? 65 Pageant adornment 67 Palindromic “before” 68 Silk alternative 69 Opposite of east, in
Last Month’s Answers it’s a small world
Answers can also be found immediately by calling 516 284-3300 or go to facebook.com/longislandpress
Spanish 72 Of a forearm bone 74 Suffix with 26-Across 75 Actress Teri 79 Dixie rodeo horses? 83 Former New York stadium 85 Is lionlike 88 Nosy one 89 Impostor 90 Hits from a loggerhead? 93 Inserted bud 95 - Gyra 96 Delhi dress 97 Came about 98 Suffix with sheep or owl 101 Just barely 104 Nails for company use? 107 Solicit 110 Rocker Ocasek of the Cars 112 Cellar, in real-estate ads 113 Ump’s shout 114 Spanish boy grades test papers? 118 Hurts 121 Little hotel 122 Obsessive zeal for a single thing 123 Big trucks for company use? 127 Have supper 128 Like a hand with fingers spread 129 180 hung by a motorist 130 Most hazardously icy 131 Rebuffed 132 Tpks., e.g.
DOWN 1 Animal throat 2 Sales pitch deliverer 3 Sol and Helios 4 With 5-Down, hang on a clothesline 5 See 4-Down 6 Papa’s other half 7 “To put - a nutshell ...” 8 Pastors 9 Ethylene or propylene 10 Fleur-de- 11 Soccer icon 12 Kagan of the Supreme Court 13 Rock climbers’ spikes 14 Petty tyrant 15 Prez Eisenhower and singer Turner 16 Irene of “Fame” fame 17 Novelist Cynthia 18 Sri 19 Teen turmoil 24 TV actress Spelling 28 Givers’ opposites 29 Rival 30 “Be - and help me out!” 31 Big name in ancient geometry 33 Nero’s “Lo!” 37 Shower area 38 Western cry 39 Split-off group 41 Pipe shape 42 Potted “pet” 46 Drags to court 48 Rabbit ears 49 Downhiller’s accessory 50 Attack with evil reports 51 Golfer Isao 52 Create 53 Irish actor Stephen
54 QB’s pickups 55 Aids 56 Bad traffic accident 57 Walking shakily 59 S.Sgt., e.g. 63 He was attached to Chang 64 Leaky tire sound 66 “Ben- -” (1959) 70 Exceeds 71 Spain loc. 73 Hay holder 76 “Chances -”
77 Pull an oar 78 Fan noises 80 Big striped cat, in Spain 81 Grinders 82 Saucy 84 Razor name 86 Broccoli 87 Surgeon’s duds 91 Filming area 92 Lip smack 94 Fancy party 97 Fighting a common
viral illness 98 “Agreed” 99 Kept from scoring any points 100 Pres. after FDR 102 Fashion giant Giorgio 103 Senator Feinstein 105 Devotee’s declaration 106 Song in an opera 107 Pinnacles 108 Tideland 109 Kunta -
111 Blubbers 115 Body of laws 116 Not include 117 Go- 119 Bird’s perch 120 Natural wound cover 123 Photo - (Kodak moments) 124 Summer, in Lyons 125 Sm.-lge. link 126 T he “S” of DOS: Abbr.
Here’s just one of our 30 shows in March: Airmid Theatre Company’s
Trifles featuring Margaret Colin WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 12pm & 7pm
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Double Xword Pt.2 CLACKING CAT ACROSS 1 “My dear,” in Milan 8 Early calculators 13 Miser visited by ghosts 20 Protective plastic film 21 - rex (cat breed) 22 Chewed the fat 23 Start of a riddle 25 Thaws again 26 Procedure: Abbr. 27 Muscle fitness 28 Sport - (4WD vehicle) 29 Galley tool 30 A number of 31 Riddle, part 2 36 Painter Rousseau
38 39 40 41 44 46 48 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 61 63
In another country Vision problem Klensch of fashion Terse denial - Aviv “Ad - per aspera” (motto of Kansas) Riddle, part 3 Fifth of XV Novelist Santha Rama In - (before birth) Table crumb “Viva - Vegas” On top of, to bards - Martin (British auto) Cast - for Pops
Last Month’s Answers john who?
Answers can also be found immediately by calling 516 284-3300 or go to facebook.com/longislandpress
64 Cuts short 65 Riddle, part 4 70 LeBlanc of “Friends” 73 Reminiscent of 74 First Hebrew month 75 Bovine milk pitcher 79 French buddy 80 Blowup, in photog. 81 - Lingus 82 Elk’s call 85 Rebs’ gp. 86 Paw bottom 87 Riddle, part 5 91 Sharp insults 93 Municipal reg. 94 Verdugo or Kagan 95 Repetitious learning 96 Moroseness 98 Hopes that one will 101 Lube again 102 End of the riddle 107 Apple line 108 “A,” in Arles 109 - offensive (1968 attack) 110 Gehrig and Gossett 111 Very little 114 Bacon slices 116 Riddle’s answer 119 Saint- - (Loire’s capital) 120 Six Flags attractions 121 Unable to tear oneself away from 122 Most tightly packed 123 At - of (priced at) 124 Energy-draining things
3 Thinks through logically 4 “Boston Legal” fig. 5 Tiki bar drink 6 “The show’s starting” 7 Cigna rival 8 Suffix with lime 9 Desensitized 10 2009 film set on Pandora 11 Show up at 12 Ending for Benedict 13 “Scat!” 14 Second-order angel 15 Cup top 16 Baby bodysuits 17 Like films not shot in a studio 18 Tie the knot 19 Ford dud 24 Clutch sitter 29 More strange 32 Berlin Mrs. 33 Hit for the Jackson 5 34 Really irk 35 Smelting residues 36 - pin drop 37 Places of exile 41 “King” Cole 42 Show a deficit 43 Albania’s capital 45 Purple bloom 47 Melodies 49 Melody 50 Alternative to a 401(k) 51 Twistable little treats 52 “Nothin’ “ 60 Frequently, to a poet DOWN 62 Held the deed to 1 Crows’ calls 63 Strip bare 2 In need of a massage 64 Slithering swimmer
66 Narrow road 67 “Feel free to send me” 68 Hanging Gardens city 69 Comply with 70 Atlas filler 71 Merge into a single body 72 Artificial inlet subject to ebbs and flows
76 Affecting the entire college, say 77 Question from Judas 78 Stand for a canvas 80 The sun, in Spain 81 “- shall come to pass ...” 83 Pistol or rifle 84 Meadowland 88 Clear, as a chalkboard 89 Dubs anew
90 Russian city or region 92 Sacs 97 Shows grief 99 Like fictitious tales 100 Big name in stretchy swimwear 101 Rebel as a group 102 Sacked 103 Not solidified 104 Mop & - (cleaning brand)
105 Karaoke selections 106 Fran and Ollie’s friend 112 -’acte (play break) 113 Parts of psyches 115 Pittsburgh-Boston dir. 116 Chorus syllable 117 Suffix with lobby or hobby 118 Counterpart of “nope”
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CODE: PN24
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Horoscopes Pisces
February 19 to March 20
Aries
March 21 to April 19
Taurus April 20 to May 20
Gemini May 21 to June 20
Cancer June 21 to July 22
Leo
July 23 to August 22
Virgo
August 23 to September 22
Libra
September 23 to October 22
Scorpio
October 23 to November 21
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 to December 21
Capricorn December 22 to January 19
Aquarius
January 20 to February 18
March by Psychicdeb
A planetary stellium in your sign will have a long-term effect on your emotional security. If you live by a perspective of fear you’ll never succeed. Get out of your comfort zone and take back your life. Uranus in your first house indicates your need for freedom. With freedom comes extra responsibility that can send you in a new direction. You are in between destinations. Don’t be scared. Good things come to those who wait. Your goal is to develop patience this year. It’s not worth being irritated and angry about things that have already happened. Move on and forget the past. Cultivate talents you have but have not perfected during your current Jupiter transit. This could mean taking lessons or learning from direct experience. Dare to do things you’ve always dreamed of. Pluto in opposition to your Sun will give you the energy to assert yourself in a variety of ways, but don’t limit yourself to practical matters. The more you express your sensitivities, the better you’ll feel. Be direct and honest with people or you could be misunderstood. Don’t try to be more than what you are, just be who you are and you’ll succeed at everything. You tend to take on too many responsibilities. Learn to organize your time and thus conquer procrastination. You’ll see how easily extra hours materialize. Your charm and social skills attract new and exciting situations that could actually make you feel ill at ease. Be careful about the people you associate with or you will be defined by the company you keep. You may feel defeated during this Saturn transit. Transformation is your key word. Remember that your greatest failure will precede your greatest success. Your down time is your preparation time. Professional opportunities present themselves, but first you must take advantage of all your networking skills. It is only from making important contacts that your offers will emanate. Finances may fluctuate more than you’d like them to. Keep that in mind next time you go on a shopping spree. In fact, your goal this year is to learn moderation and discipline in all walks of life. Someone less intelligent than you may get the credit even though you’re the smartest one in the room. When you realize this, go find people who are on your level and you’ll feel more appreciated.
IF YOU KNOW YOUR RISING SIGN, CONSULT THE HOROSCOPE FOR THAT SIGN AS WELL. Psychicdeb has been a professional astrologer for more than 25 years. Self-taught, she began her studies in astrology when she was 8 years old learning what she could from her mother’s astrology magazines. As she got older and learned geometry, she searched for books on astrology and taught herself how to construct a chart. She teaches astrology for a nominal fee. Psychicdeb also uses the tarot to do psychic readings channeling her spirit guide Helen. Reiki is one of her obsessions. She is a Reiki Master and loves to teach others the benefits of Reiki. Namaste. You can find her at the Original Psychic Fairs on Sundays. A listing of the Fair dates can be found on her website at: www.astro-mate.org.
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If A ny O f The Follow ing A pply To Y ou... WE CAN � Yo u rho m e is u ninha b ita b le a nd yo u ha ve a m o rtga ge HELP! � The Sto rm ha s m a d e the va lu e o f yo u rho m e les s tha n yo u rm o rtga ge. � Yo u b elieve tha t“ N o One” w o u ld w a ntto b u y a Ho m e in yo u ra rea d u e to flo o d ing. � Yo u a re “ Stru ggling” a nd c a nno tpa y yo u rm o rtga ge a nd a ls o pa y fo ra lterna te ho u s ing � Yo u rins u ra nc e pro c eed s a re ina d equ a te to repa ira nd res to re yo u rho m e.
W E C A N H ELP Y O U M A XIM IZE Y O U R INSU R A NC E R EC O VER Y A ND M O NITO R Y O U R C O NSTR U C TIO N R EP A IR S A ND C O NTR A C TS TO P R O TEC T Y O U R INTER ESTS. B EW A R E O F ILLEG ITIM A TE U NLIC ENSED C O NTR A C TO R S! Do NO T sign any C ontract or Settlem ent until review ed by an A ttorney that w orks for Y O U ! C all Today!
C allthe “Bulldogs” Today at 631-661-1100 for a Free C onsultation
FO R E C L O S U R E
N ew R ules A llow A Second C hance If Y ou D efaulted O n A Prior M odification & Investm ent Properties A re N ow Eligible Too!
• M o dify yo ur M o rtga ge • S ta rt o ver w ith a B a nkruptcy F iling • R epa ir & R esto re yo ur C redit S co re • E lim ina te C redit C a rd D ebt
W e Fight Lenders Ev ery D ay A nd W in! A t leas t 50% of the Borrow ers that utilize our s erv ic es hav e attem pted loan m odific ations direc tly w ith their Lender or hav e been turned dow n prev ious ly ! D id y ou s end the s am e doc um ents tim e and tim e again to y our Lender only to be giv en ex c us es and a run-around? W e dont allow that N O N SEN SE, w e hold them A C C O U N TA BLE!
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L O AN M O D I F I CATI O N RE S UL TS To w ns hip
O rigina l B a la nc e
M o d ified B a la nc e
Princ ipa l O rigina l R ed u c tio n O r D eferra l Am o u nt Pa ym ent/ R a te
B rentw o o d
$5 15 ,9 0 0 .19
$2 12 ,75 0 .0 0
$3 0 3 ,15 0 .19
$1,75 8 .76 -9 .3 8 %
$9 6 0 .6 6 -2 .5 6 %
Ea s tM ea d o w
$5 6 7,6 4 6 .0 0
$3 5 6 ,4 3 6 .72
$2 11,2 0 9 .2 8
$2 ,6 5 6 .8 9 -7.6 5 %
$1,4 8 7.9 5 -2 .0 0 %
W es tB a b ylo n
$72 4 ,0 0 0 .0 0
$4 74 ,0 0 5 .8 6
$4 3 5 ,0 0 5 .8 6
$2 ,9 3 7.71-7.3 8 %
$713 .3 0 -2 %
Ea s tIs lip
$5 9 9 ,0 0 0 .0 0
$3 14 ,0 0 0 .0 0
$2 8 5 ,0 0 0 .0 0
$3 ,0 0 4 .13 -6 .9 9 %
$1,70 7.8 1-3 .5 3 %
B ethpa ge
$1,2 0 1,0 0 0 .0 0
$5 8 4 ,5 2 1.0 0
$6 16 ,4 79 .0 0
$5 ,6 16 .3 8 -7.0 0 %
$1,770 .4 3 -2 %
M u tto nto w n
$1,3 3 8 ,5 76 .3 9
$9 0 0 ,0 76 .3 9
$4 3 8 ,5 0 0 .0 0
$7,6 5 0 .9 8 -7.0 0 %
$2 ,72 5 .6 6 -2 %
Hic k s ville
$74 3 ,3 2 4 .9 7
$5 0 1,0 6 2 .4 6
$2 4 2 ,2 6 2 .4 9
$2 ,8 8 8 .6 9 -6 .2 5 %
$1,6 2 8 .0 3 -2 %
B a ys ho re
$5 13 ,70 8 .8 2
$2 15 ,4 0 0 .0 0
$2 9 8 ,3 0 8 .8 2
$1,19 5 .6 7-9 .13 %
$6 5 2 .2 9 -2 %
D eerPa rk
$4 0 4 ,5 11.11
$18 7,3 5 8 .11
$2 17,15 3 .0 0
$2 ,2 3 0 .2 7-6 .0 0 %
$5 6 1.3 7-2 %
B lu e Po int
$5 79 ,8 0 9 .76
$3 3 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0
$2 4 9 ,8 0 9 .76
$3 ,8 6 0 .19 -8 .2 5 %
$1,3 79 .2 0 -4 .0 0 %
M o d ified Pa ym ent/ R a te
25236285B309
475 M ontauk H ighw ay, W es t Is lip, N Y 11795 L o n g I s l a n d P r e s s f o r m a r c h , 2 0 1 3 / / / w w w. l o n g i s l a n d p r e s s . c o m
79
80
L o n g I s l a n d P r e s s f o r m a r c h , 2 0 1 3 / / / w w w. l o n g i s l a n d p r e s s . c o m