Book Review - "The Heist"

Book Review - “The Heist” - Daniel Silva – 475 pages – Harper Collins - Reviewed by: Jeb Ladouceur

With each of his novels, Daniel Silva climbs ever higher in the ranks of American authors of Spy Fiction. Now, with the introduction this month of his newest thriller, “The Heist,” Silva seems to have ridden his popular hero ‘Gabriel Allon’ (the protagonist of fourteen of his seventeen best sellers) all the way to the top of the heap.

Never mind Buckley, Cussler, and Ludlum … it seems there’s a new king of International Espionage reigning; he’s the 54-year-old father of two, who lives in Florida with his acclaimed wife NBC National Correspondent, Jaime Gangel, and is known frequently to take his children, Lily and Nicholas, on junkets with him when researching his several books abroad.

That means, of course, that Nicholas and Lily have seen quite a bit of the civilized world … particularly the art-rich centers of Europe and the Middle East. You see, the peripatetic ‘Gabriel Allon’ (though fictitious) is probably the world’s best-known art restorer, an occupation that Silva neatly dovetails with Allon’s other intriguing vocation, that of Israeli Intelligence Expert.

In “The Heist,” whose title is the only thing I dislike about this book (it almost smacks of a two-bit stickup in Brooklyn), ‘Gabriel Allon’ is in the process of restoring a priceless altar painting for a church in Venice, when the only event that could take him from his labor of love suddenly occurs—a dear friend stands suspected of murder, and Gabriel must apply both his artistic expertise, and spying skills, to finding the real killer.

This blending of sixteenth century artisanship and state-of-the-art technological plotting is what makes Daniel Silva so fascinating, and in “The Heist” Silva’s fans get a double dose of the formula. That is not to say this book is so intricate as to be confusing; the author’s too good a writer to let that happen. Let’s put it this way, “The Heist” is twice as satisfying in the aggregate as the average Silva novel. Which is saying something!

One cannot help but wonder at Daniel Silva’s amalgamation of knowledge concerning the two dominant aspects of his thrillers. First, readers of the ‘Gabriel Allon’ series are invariably provided an almost scholarly treatise on the Renaissance, and the role of the Roman Catholic Church in commissioning and preserving painted masterworks. Following that, Silva habitually displays an uncanny knowledge of Middle Eastern (and specifically Israeli) demographics, as well as the history and practice of Judaism.

There is a good reason why the author is almost uniquely equipped to address these issues so confidently. Daniel Silva was born in Michigan, then moved to California as a child, where he was raised Roman Catholic. Significantly, some years later he converted to Judaism as an adult. Thus the man’s resulting keen insight into both aspects of the plots on which his ‘Gabriel Allon’ books are based, is eminently understandable.

“The Heist” reads as if it could have been written last week … though, the realities of publishing procedures inform to the contrary. Nonetheless, the more cynical among us might be forgiven if we question whether National Journalist Gangel might have had a hand in fashioning her husband’s timely plot this time around.

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Award-winning Smithtown writer Jeb Ladouceur is the author of eight novels, and his book and theater reviews appear in several major L.I. publications. In Ladouceur’s next thriller, “Harvest” due this month, an American doctor is seized and ordered to perform illicit surgeries for a sinister gang of organ traffickers in The Balkans.

Commack Resident Janet Koch Takes Over As Executive Director Of Life's WORC

Janet Koch Announced as New Life’s WORC Executive Director

Janet KochMs. Koch has over 20 years of industry experience and expertise to help advance the mission of Life’s WORC.

Donald Barrick, Life’s WORC Board Chairman announced that Janet Koch has been hired as the new Executive Director of Life’s WORC, a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit corporation. Ms. Koch assumes this leadership responsibility as Peter Smergut retires after twenty (20) years in this position. After a thorough and extensive executive search process, the Life’s WORC Board is confident Ms. Koch has the vision and skills consistent with the needs of the organization. She will assume her position as Executive Director on Monday, November 3, 2014.

Since 2009, Ms. Koch, 44, has been the Chief Financial Officer of Life’s WORC, overseeing a $45M annual budget. Her introduction to the developmental disabilities field began more than twenty (20) years ago at Family Residences and Essential Enterprises (FREE) in Bethpage, NY. She is a native of Queens, NY who graduated from St. Francis Preparatory School, then earned a BBA in Business Administration from Dowling College, and an MS in Accounting from C.W. Post College/Long Island University.

Ms. Koch stated one of her primary goals is to evaluate the continuum of services, supports and programs offered through Life’s WORC in line with the significant challenges providers need to address in the coming years. “Life’s WORC has earned recognition and success for what it has accomplished,” she explains. “However, the paradigms it has been using are changing as dictated by new government mandates. Government’s role is shifting from a traditional fee for service funding partnership and moving towards a business model using the principles of a managed care environment. My concern lies in being able to effectively synthesize human needs with corporate efficiency and reduced funding.”

Life’s WORC (www.lifesworc.org) based in Garden City, NY was founded in 1971. The agency currently manages 36 homes and 12 non-residential programs throughout Nassau, Suffolk and Queens Counties providing programs and services to over 1,500 individuals with developmental disabilities and autism. Life’s WORC has established an excellent reputation in the provision of quality services and supports to people with developmental disabilities and autism. The organization has also ensured for its fiscal responsibility with 91 percent of the funds received by Life’s WORC being spent directly on the individuals supported in the agency homes and programs.

Ms. Koch will also oversee the Family Center for Autism, www.FCAutsim.org, an affiliate corporation of Life’s WORC. This new Center (located next door to Life’s WORC) is set to open in January 2015, and will offer a unique environment supporting individuals with autism and their families. This family centric model has been created to address a significant unmet need within our community.

Ms. Koch, and her husband, Harold Koch, are residents in Commack, NY and are the parents of three girls, ages eight and four-year-old twins. She is a Licensed Notary Public and is a member of the audit committee for the Commack Union Free School District board of trustees.

Commack's Scott Armstrong Wins Pumpkin Weigh-Off With 1,059 Pound Pumpkin

Armstrong Family with 1,059 pound pumpkin

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Commack’s Scott Armstrong grows pumpkins, corn and garlic. The Armstrong family has gained notoriety for their giant pumpkins. For the second year in a row Scott has won the Hicks Marissa & Ava Armstrong 217 pound pumpkinNurseries Pumpkin Weigh-Off competition. Scott’s giant pumpkin weighed 1,059 pounds. This year’s entry was somewhat smaller than last year when Armstrong won the Hicks Nurseries competition with a 1,456 pound pumpkin.

Following in their father’s footsteps were daughters Marissa & Ava Armstrong. Their Junior Division entry weighed 217 pounds. 

George Boyd of Kings Park won second place for his 453 pound pumpkin during the Giant Pumpkin weigh-Off at Hicks Nurseries today. 

George Boyd with 453 pound pumpkinThe competition, held each October at the nursery, encourages homeowners and children to bring their pumpkin, no matter what the size, to the nursery to be weighed. It is a fun day for the growers to show off their skills and for families to enjoy hayrides, roasted corn, Otto the Ghost and much more.

NYS Heroin Website Goes Live

NYS Heroin Website Goes Live - Smithtown Mom Leading the Way

Maureen Rossi

In response to the state’s heroin epidemic, Governor Cuomo recently launched a new comprehensive website with accompany public service announcements (PSAs).   The message on the home-page of the well-designed site is clear;   ‘addiction can happen to anyone, any family, at any time’.   Smithtown mother Linda Ventura is that any family and she can be found on that website:  www.combatheroin.com. 

Like so many other Long Island moms, Ventura sat on the side-lines in the cold at her son’s sporting events; she went to back to school night to meet his teachers, took him to church, helped him with his home-work and science projects and told him she loved him over and over throughout his life.  She even talked to him about the perils of drugs and alcohol.   The Ventura family is the ‘any family’ on the state’s website. 

Linda VenturaOn both the site and in the PSA’s Ventura tells the harrowing story of her son’s battle with heroin addiction.  She talks about the loss of her beautiful twenty-one year old son who was a popular athlete in Kings Park.  Thomas was also a great son, brother, uncle and friend.  He loved to spend time by the water at the Kings Park Bluff – he was a great kid who made a bad choice as an adolescent as so many kids do.  The PSA’s with Ventura appear on dozens of television channels throughout the state.  Her Thomas died two and half years ago and at that time Ventura decided to use her pain to advocate for change and to help other parents.

And advocate she has done.  She was part of a team of advocates on Long Island and Buffalo who headed to Albany several times this past year to lobby for a series of bills.   “Senator Phil Boyle and Senator Kemp Hannon are champions; they brought Opioid Addiction to the forefront this year,” she said.   Ventura attended the Long Island Senate hearings held by the Suffolk Senators which she credits for bringing about greater awareness and the passage of an historic package of bills.

“Senators and Assemblymen needed personal stories to fully comprehend the horrific fallout of Opioid and heroin abuse,” she explained.  Like so many on the front line, Ventura says that Long Island was the epicenter of what is now a statewide and nationwide epidemic. 

“The main focus of my advocacy was the Access to Care bill,” she added.  Ventura, like so many other parents was told her son was not high enough for treatment.  “That’s a statement I still struggle to understand; in addition, Thomas needed to FAIL at outpatient before receiving inpatient treatment,” she lamented.  Ventura says the disease of Addiction is a fatal, progressive disease and needs to be treated as one.  She and many of fellow advocates called the thousands of insurance denials around the state discriminatory practices.  

“In May 2014, I brought my son’s ashes with me to Albany so that the lawmakers could fully comprehend what failure at outpatient looks like.  I respectfully asked the politicians to remember what that failure looks like and how my family is forever changed,” she shared.   In June 2014 she boldly sat at an Assembly roundtable in June and put her son’s ashes on the table for the President of the NYS Insurance Plans to recognize that profits over treatment are unacceptable.

Ventura said in April 2015, Access to Treatment becomes effective and insurance companies will not be allowed to discriminate treatment for Opiate and Heroin Abuse.   She said they are making strides and the new laws, website and PSAs are all excellent tools.   “However, there is more work to be done education and prevention programs must be put back in the schools otherwise we are going to be right where we are today in five years,” she demanded.  

Ventura says it is very difficult to think clearly when a loved one is struggling with this disease.  “I would say to parents, this disease has nothing to do with good parenting and it discriminates against no one,” she added.  She says parents should never think it’s OK that their child is “only” smoking pot and drinking alcohol.  She implores parents to get educated and seek help if they suspect their child is having a problem. 

“I don’t want any more parents to be a member of my Club, I celebrate the victories we have had in Albany but I paid the ultimate price,” she said sadly.    The NYS website also provides prevention resources, a list of warning signs and places to get help or get involved.

**NYS law requires that treatment programs funded by OASAS provide treatment services for people who cannot pay for the services.**

Right to Coverage for Addition Treatment Services

Under New York and Federal law, if you have insurance you have the right to receive the following addiction treatment services when medically necessary:

·         Unlimited detoxification services in a hospital;

·         Unlimited inpatient care in a hospital, inpatient rehabilitation or residential treatment facility;

·         Unlimited outpatient care in both outpatient facilities or in your provider’s office;

·         Outpatient methadone treatment (an insurer may require that methadone administration be accompanied by other substance use treatment); and

·         Suboxone and subutex, if your health insurance coverage includes a prescription drug benefit.

Knowing the details of your health insurance plan, the law and your rights can be critical when you seeking treatment for yourself or a loved one. For more information visit the New York State Office of Financial Services website: http://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumer/consindx.htm

Denial of Coverage

If your health insurer denies coverage for any addiction treatment services for the reason that it is not medically necessary, you have a right to appeal the decision with your health insurer. If your health insurer upholds the denial you have the right to an external appeal with an independent reviewer.

For more information on your rights to appeal the denial of insurance coverage visit New York State Office of Financial Services website: http://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumer/hrights.htm

If you, a family member or friend is abusing or misusing heroin, prescription drugs or other Opioid call the New York State HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) for help. Calls to the HOPEline are toll free and you will speak with a trained professional who will answer your questions and help you find treatment 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls are anonymous and confidential and call services are provided in over 125 languages.

Former Kings Park Residents Paul And Geri Renna Celebrate 60th Anniversary

Geri and Paul RennaPaul and Geri Renna of Sayville, formerly of Kings Park, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on October 10th.  A celebratory lunch at Casa Rustica was attended by their children, Robert and Andrea and their families. Congratulations!

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