Town Topics - August 7, 2009

Project Independence

We regularly put the reins of tomorrow in the capable hands of our youth. But, too often we fail to acknowledge that the hopes of past generations for a healthy, productive society were pinned on the shoulders of our present-day matriarchs and patriarchs, the progenitors of our history, our heritage.

For that, we owe them our eternal gratitude.

Letter: Some in Community Rushed to Judge Dr. Licopoli, Dr. Nagler

At the July 9 workshop meeting of the Mineola Board of Education, I was pleased to hear the announcement of the resolution of the lawsuit against the Mineola Public School District, Dr. Licopoli and Dr. Nagler. I was also pleased to read the coverage in the Mineola American (July 15) because I hope as many people in the district and elsewhere who knew of the suit will find out that it has been dropped without any settlement or admission of wrongdoing on the part of the school district, Dr. Nagler or Dr. Licopoli.

A Nassau We Can Afford

A recent column published in this paper completely missed the point about the race for Nassau County Executive. The 2009 campaign isn’t about who can raise and spend the most money; it’s about who is best able to govern our county for the next four years.

Who will be able to stop the bleeding that our taxpayers have endured for the past eight years, while the county budget increased $800 million? Who will turn around the current agenda to increase taxes by nearly 4 percent each of the next four years?

Around the Town with Lou - July 31, 2009

Golden Agers are a great group. The president Lillian Barnola hosted a luncheon at the Davenport for her top committee people. Among them were Anne and Herbe Schmelke, Marilyn and Simon Lemli, Martha Makowski, Catherine McKeown, Ginny Smith, Arline Cavanaugh, Sadie Belle Carlson, Trude Pfeghardt, Janet Yopp, Ronnie Filippene, Mary Creegan, Hilda Nagler, Sophie Casement, Betty McMahon, Marie Benante, Raymond and Virginia Leonhard, Florence Licurse, Bob and Dotty Geehrer and Mary Duffy.

Winthrop Earns the HANYS Pinnacle Award for Quality, Patient Safety

When members of Winthrop-University Hospital administration recently traveled to the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) Annual Conference, they had something special to look forward to.

During the June 24-26 meeting at the Sagamore on Lake George, Winthrop was presented the 2009 HANYS Pinnacle Award for Quality and Patient Safety (Large Hospital Category) from HANYS. The award was in recognition of the hospital’s program that changed medication ordering processes leading to a very successful implementation of a Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) system that dramatically enhanced patient safety and improved the quality of patient care. On hand to accept the award were John F. Collins, president and CEO of Winthrop, and Maureen Gaffney, RPAC, RN, Winthrop’s Chief Medical Information Officer.

Legislative Majority Report - July 24, 2009

Tomato and Potato Gardeners Beware!

 Last month, I wrote about all the wonderful Farmers’ Markets in our area. We are so fortunate to be able to buy fresh local produce and other assorted items from craftspeople who are our neighbors and friends.

This month, it has come to my attention that there is a problem with some of our tomatoes. According to Cornell Cooperative Extension, there is something called late blight which is affecting tomato and potato plants. This is the same disease that caused the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s, so whether you have a small backyard garden like I do, or you are a major nursery, late blight is a disease to which we must all pay attention but be careful not to confuse with early blight, which is much less devastating. According to the experts, it is very destructive and very infectious. It presents with at least nickel-sized olive green to brown spots on leaves with slightly white fungal growth on the underside when conditions have been humid – early morning or after a rainfall. Sometimes the border of the spot is yellow or has a water-soaked appearance..Spots begin tiny, irregularly shaped, and brown. Firm, leather-like brown spots develop on tomato fruit.

Letter: Our Response to Bias Crime at Congregation Beth Shalom Chabad

The clergy and congregational leaders of Mineola are united in expressing outrage that our community has been violated by the vandalism that defaced the doors of our local synagogue on Friday, July 3. We wish to express our strong support for Rabbi Anchelle Perl and the entire membership of Congregation Beth Shalom Chabad.

Our nation, celebrating its 233rd birthday on July 4, was founded on the premise that men and women could worship God according to the dictates of their consciences in relative freedom and safety. For 2009, the people of Mineola have been exposed to the ugliness of bias, hate and evil on the eve of the celebration of freedom. Too many of our forebearers, along with many now serving in uniform, have suffered and died to defend liberty and freedom. We, therefore, must honor their sacrifice by speaking out at such a time as this.

Around the Town with Lou - July 17, 2009

Jewel is the correct word to describe our John DaVanzo Community Pool which is often called the “Jewel in Mineola’s Crown.” A trip to the facility gave us a chance to talk to Eileen and Kimberly Calamia, Guy Penny, Kerri O’Connell, Chrissy Retta, Janet Langer, Mike and Maryann Langone, Kyle Teemsma, the pool director, Katie O’Shea and Liam Clark the supervisors, Tanya Fernandes and Yesenia Cardona the Leisure Pass people, and lifeguards Peter Abbate, John Betts, Samantha Brethel, Peter Clark, Mary Corrigan, Julianne Frey, Ryan Gallant, Eve Hochhauser, Patricia Holliday, Meghan Keane, Joseph Lawrence, Daniel LoSardo, Matthew LoSardo, Brian Murphy, Michael Padovano, Patricia Roth, Nicole Sparacino, Emily Spencer, Joseph Spollen, Daniel Stagnari, Sean Stagnari, Brittany Stefano, Matthew Vecchione and Alex Ward. We also met Lauren Massa, Christa Basel, Michael Loughlin and son Ryan, Angela Athan, Michell Martins, Kathleen Browne, Zach Chichi, Chris Brostek, Lynn Franciotti, Michael Kelly, Michelle Martins, Mark Micelli, Lauren and Maria Massa, Haylee Pace, Tim Papadogiannis, Daniella and Joseph Riccardi, Kristofer Seibt, Michael Diglio, Patrick McMahon, Carl Nunziata and Christine Retta and Eric O’Brien. The head of the pool board is Jay Monaco and the other members are Jeff Clark, Nancy Portoghese, Richard Maher, Maryann Langone and myself. The recreation director is Maria Desousa aided by Anna Athan.

Liver Lines

The potential effects of common medications on liver function often lead to concerns about their use. Almost every medication in existence today can cause liver test abnormalities and most carry warnings to use with caution in people with underlying liver disease. We are all aware that too much acetaminophen can be toxic to the liver or that some cholesterol lowering agents can cause mild changes in liver enzymes. The real questions are: Are these changes important? How do they occur and are they preventable? The last question is the easiest to answer. Most of the minor changes in liver enzymes are not preventable. Many people take over-the-counter products called “liver detoxifiers or purifiers” in order to prevent liver injury. Although many people spend a lot of money on these natural products, the whole concept of a liver purifier is non-scientific and none of these products have been proven to be advantageous to the taker. They are, of course, advantageous to the seller. In fact, many of these products are associated with significant liver injury.

From the Desk of Senator Craig Johnson - July 10, 2009

The Senate Stalemate

It is my hope that by the time that you read this, the stalemate that has gripped the Senate will be over.

Over the last few weeks, the residents of the State of New York have unfortunately seen government at its worst. On June 8, the Senate Republicans, with their new leader, Pedro Espada of the Bronx, derailed the end of the legislative session with a poorly thought out coup attempt.