Assemblyman Rob Walker (R, C, I, WF - Hicksville) is announcing the schedule for Nassau University Medical Center's (NUMC) 2008 Diabetes Self-Management Education course. The course encompasses seven classes, scheduled to meet every Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. in the East Conference Room on the first floor of NUMC.

"If you are looking for more information or alternatives to managing your diabetes or a family member's diabetes, you should contact the staff at Nassau University Medical Center," said Walker. "There is no fee for the course and I urge everyone affected by diabetes to take advantage of this program."

The classes are scheduled to cover the following topics:

Feb. 12: Diabetes Overview & High/Low Blood Sugars

Feb. 19: Exercise and Foot Care

Feb. 26: Sick Days, Medications & Chronic Complications

March 4: Stress and Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose

March 11: Nutrition

March 18: Market Tour

March 25: Goal Setting

To register for the course or for more information, call Nassau University Medical Center at 572-6573.

"After analyzing broad funding issues contained in the governor's 2008-09 budget, such as school district aid and property tax rebates, I was left wondering as to how the governor plans to close a $4.5 budget gap. But then it became clear; the governor plans to raise fees and taxes in order to fund his bloated budget.

"The governor's gap closing measures will hit the hardworking individuals and families of Long Island directly - with additional fees and taxes totaling nearly $500 per family. Some of those new charges include a$15 increase to your motor vehicle insurance fee, a $20 increase to mortgage recording fee and a per page increase to $2 per page and an increase in gas taxes.

"The proposed change to how New York classifies your Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) would create an additional cost that would, in all likelihood, be passed on to Long Islanders. This change from a business corporation tax to insurance corporation franchise tax could force many HMOs to pass an increase of $172 to each family.

"The never-ending cycle of fee increases and new taxes intensifies the load on our already overburdened property taxpayers. In addition, property taxpayers are facing a reduction of promised increases to education aid and a freeze to the Basic STAR rebate checks. These 'cost-saving measures' will surely translate into an increase to local school district property taxes to bridge any gap caused by a decrease in state education aid.

"Alternatives to New York's current property tax system were discussed in the governor's State of the State and Budget addresses, but the governor's commission will not provide a recommendation in time for this year's budget negotiating process. The commission needs time to analyze and evaluate the problem. Yet time is something Long Islanders, indeed all New Yorkers, do not have, when faced with continually skyrocketing school, property and other miscellaneous taxes."