April 21 Concert To Aid Youth Center

Written by Joe Scotchie: jscotchie@antonnews.com Friday, 13 April 2012 00:00

Drug Free Massapequa continues the struggle against drug ‘epidemic’ 

With its third anniversary coming this fall, Drug Free Massapequa (DFM) will hold a Tribute Concert on Saturday, April 21, one that will honor State Assemblyman Joseph Saladino, as DFM takes stock of its past and looks toward the future.

“Progress is great,” said Janice Talento, president and CEO of DFM, while adding that the organization is still battling what she claims is an epidemic on Long Island.

“Every year we lose over 365 children island wide to overdoses, and in 2009-2011, more than ten of our children have died due to heroin overdose in the Massapequa community alone,” a flier for the April 21 grimly reported.

Still, Talento is pleased with DFM’s growth and the response it continues to receive from local residents. In fact, its growth has been such that DFM officially goes under the name of Drug Free Long Island, Inc. A sister alliance, South Huntington Against Drugs has also been formed under the Drug Free Long Island banner.

The April 21 concert will be held at 8 p.m. at Massapequa High School. It will feature the singer Helene Masiko performing her Cher tribute act. Similar acts are Rag Doll, a Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons tribute band, and The Fellas, who will perform their tributes to The Temptations.

In addition to Assemblyman Saladino, other dignitaries hoped to be in attendance are Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, State Senator Charles Fuschillo, Nassau County Legislature’s Presiding Officer Peter J. Schmitt, and Town of Oyster Bay Clerk Steven J. Labriola.

Assemblyman Saladino will be honored, Talento said, for his service to DFM right from the time they set up operations in October 2009. That includes Saladino’s own work on the drug problem on Long Island, including setting up a Heroin Task Force and sponsoring trips to Albany for DFM members when the organization was first starting out. The assemblyman, Talento noted, attended DFM’s first public rally, one held at the Massapequa Long Island Railroad station October 2009. He also offered his services on how to run a non-profit organization, while also attending the DFM’s Awareness Walk, held in September 2011. “He [Saladino] helped us to get off the ground,” Talento said.

For the past three years, DFM has held educational workshops on a monthly basis with speakers from agencies throughout Long Island, plus those from the district attorney’s office and the Nassau County Police Department. DFM’s most high-profile action so far has been the role it took in prosecuting Dr. Sanji Francis, the Merrick-based physician accused of selling prescription drugs to undercover police. In October 2010, Francis, for his conviction, received a six-month prison sentence with five years probation. At the time of Francis’ arrest in December 2009, Police Commissioner Lawrence W. Mulvey thanked the Massapequa community for their sense of awareness that helped to lead to the investigation and eventual arrest of Francis. Despite that praise and the work of Nassau County prosecutors, the verdict proved disappointing to DFM members who had hoped for a longer term.

Proceeds from the April 21 concert will be used primarily to launch a Youth Center; which DFM members hope will provide a “healthy place” for Massapequa area youth to congregate.

For more information about the concert, residents can call 308-4068 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .