Letter: State of the State From the Governor

(This is a letter from NYS Governor David A. Paterson to all residents of the State.)

This is a winter of reckoning. And I write to you today not only about the state of our State, but also the state of our self-government – a fragile instrument of popular will that is breaking under the will to be popular.

All too often in Albany it is easier to deny reality and demand what we cannot afford than to accept that years of living on the margins of our means would one day have to end. Cultures of addiction to spending, power or approval have doomed empires, and now they threaten the Empire State.

But I do not write you today to replay old grievances or reclaim lost ground. We are here to rebuild. Rebuild our State’s economy into a national model of ingenuity and strength. Rebuild our people’s confidence in the stability of our State. Rebuild our manufacturing base to meet the energy standards of this enlightened age. And most importantly, rebuild the trust that the people of New York once had in their government.

Letter: A Thank You To Residents

I want to thank you for the honor of representing the place where I grew up and have lived my entire life. I went into public service because I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and to fight for those who couldn’t fight for themselves. Whether in public service or as a private citizen I will continue to work to make the place that I call home a better place to live.

Over the years, I have worked with civic activists, PTAs, fire chiefs, village officials, school boards and school administrators. I thank them for their service as they work to improve the quality of life in our community without regard to politics or partisanship. I drive through the place that I call home and see how it has improved. Whether it was a blighted area turned into a beautiful pocket park, new playgrounds for our schools, downtown revitalization, or knowing that local fire departments have the critical life-saving tools they need, working with them proved that it truly does take “teamwork to make the dream work.”

Once again, thank you for the honor of representing you for the past six years. I will see you around town. Happy New Year!

 

 

What Every Long Islander Should Know: January 8, 2010

Getting Back Our Mojo

Back in the day, Long Island was a land of movers and shakers.

People came here with vision and purpose. They saw opportunity, and seized it.

Letter: How Can Town Officials Give Themselves Raises in This Economy?

It must be really nice to give yourself a raise (“Town of Oyster Bay Board Votes to Increase Salaries,” The Massapequan Observer, Dec. 25, 2009).

Letter: Aquifer System Still Being Replenished

The story “Underfoot and Underappreciated - Water, Slipping Through Our Fingers,” that appeared in the Dec. 4 issue of the Massapequan Observer perpetuates the misunderstanding that the Long Island aquifer system is being overpumped and overused. This is simply not true. There is sufficient data that has been established over the last 75 years that supports the fact that although the aquifer system has undergone periods of reduced elevations, it has continued to be replenished.

Parenting Plus: January 1, 2010

Building Communities of Care

What do the following have in common? Asthma, Cancer, Crohn’s Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Degenerative Disc Disease, End Stage Renal Disease, Hepatitis C, Hypoglycemia, Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Leg-Calvé-Perthes, Marfan Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Migraines, Polycystic Kidney Disease, Scoliosis and Supraventricular Tachycardia.

Letter: A Message From MADD

“Tis the Season” has an entirely different meaning for victims/survivors of drunk-driving crashes.

Liver Lines: December 18, 2009

As another year ends and a new year begins, it is time to assess which preventative health measures we as individuals should address in the upcoming new year. For those people turning 50 years of age, it is time to address colon cancer screening. This topic is so important that although we discussed this somewhat earlier this year, I believe that it is worth revisiting. The following three paragraphs come from the flier announcing the National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference on Colorectal Cancer Screening to be held in Bethesda on February 2-4, 2010. I encourage any interested party to attend this meeting.

Letter: Request to Help Those in Need This Holiday Season

The Social Service Volunteers of Nassau Inc. is a not-for-profit, charitable organization as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The volunteers work in partnership with the Nassau County Department of Social Services to provide assistance for families and children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Liver Lines: December 4, 2009

The finding of liver test abnormalities during pregnancy creates significant anxiety in both the pregnant woman and the expectant father. This anxiety is made worse by the simple fact that liver disease in pregnancy is poorly understood by many medical practitioners. The good news is that most liver test abnormalities seen in pregnancy resolve on their own with no effect on either the mother or newborn child/children. The cause is usually unknown and tends not to recur with subsequent pregnancies. Despite this reassuring fact, a physician must evaluate liver test abnormalities found during pregnancy as significant liver disease can occur during this period. The most common cause of abnormal liver tests in pregnancy are not specific for pregnancy and are mostly due to viral infections or medication use. There are, however, several important conditions specific for pregnancy that need to be addressed.