Op Ed - Dear Governor Cuomo Support A9943a Put Families Before Insurance Industry

Dear Governor Cuomo:  

I hope your Father’s Day was wonderful, I am very happy that you are fortunate to still have your own father, a great man indeed.  Unfortunately on Long Island there were thousands of empty chairs at the family table on Father’s Day.  As you know we have been grappling with a youth heroin epidemic for a decade on Long Island and we have buried almost three thousand young people under the age of twenty five due to both opiate pill and heroin overdoses.  Unfortunately now that epidemic is affecting communities in every corner of New York State.

However, I have great news for you – the NYS Senate has created a Heroin Task Force and they have put together some of the brightest minds in the addiction/prevention field and they held eighteen public hearings around this great state.  Those hearings were enormously fruitful and created much-needed dialogues that pinpointed some of the reasons as to why we are failing, why the epidemic is getting worse, not better.   Your Senate put forth an array of very good bills; to deal with what the Center for Disease Control calls an epidemic and national health organizations are saying is the greatest health crisis of our time.  Here on Long Island Boyle and Hannon are rock stars for those of us in The Movement. 

In addition, the heads of the NYS Assembly Insurance Committee and Substance Abuse Committee held a roundtable last week to look at one bill in particular -  A9943a.  You see those of us working to eradicate this epidemic and fight for smart legislation have watched profiteers, insurance companies executives tell young addicts that they must fail at outpatient before they received the proper inpatient treatment for their life-threatening disease.   This has not happened a few times, this has happened hundreds and hundreds of times here on Long Island.  Some have been denied inpatient even after they have overdosed.  Many have gone on to overdose and die and many to go on to commit crimes.  You see Governor it is imperative these decisions be made by those with a background in addiction and they must be made on case by case bases.   We applaud the members of the Assembly who put that roundtable together and to those of us in The Movement, Cusick is also a rockstar.   

However, I have some bad news for you, there are some governmental agencies attempting to remove the most essential elements of A8843a.  Much like their friends in the insurance industry, they playing Russian Roulette with the young people of this state.  The integrity of this bill must remain intact.

Unfortunately, we are just about out of time for these back-room deals, for these unethical practices.  It’s the World Series, bases are loaded, it’s a tie score, there are 3 men on; there are two outs and three balls – we have one shot, one shot to get this right.  This cannot be business as usual, it’s time to forget the pace in which Albany generally runs and do something unprecedented, made bold decisions and reverse the discriminatory practices of the Insurance Industry immediately.   It is incumbent upon all of us to get this right.  Besides the immeasurable human and societal cost, there is a huge cost shift from the profiteers to the tax payers, Medicaid, judiciary and law enforcement costs.  It’s also incumbent from a fiduciary standpoint for the Insurance industry to treat this disease properly from the start.   It is critical that the following aspects of the bill remain intact:

·         Random sample audits of insurers must be made to make sure Insurance companies are using approved tools and appropriate personnel to make Level of Care and Utilization Review determinations. 

·         Determinations using industry-standard, evidence-based tools are in the best interests of the client and the insurer. 

·         The effective date of the bill must remain “as is”. 

·         The expedited appeals process and the commitment to continued coverage regardless of level of care must stay as currently written.  No client should be required to leave treatment while he waits on an appeal. 

·         The requirement for increased surveillance by the Department of Financial Services must remain in the bill as written to keep the insurance companies honest. 

It is time to end the malfeasance.   Thank you kindly for adding one hundred state troopers to address this epidemic, we in the Movement applaud your efforts and are very grateful. 

Best Regards,

Maureen Ledden Rossi

Maureen Ledden Rossi is the Chairman and one of the founding members of Kings Park in the kNOw, a non-profit working to eradicate Long Island’s Youth Opioid/Heroin Epidemic. Rossi is also an award-winning journalist.

Helped By The Children's Center At UCP Hauppauge's Megan Babbino Gives Back

By Dana Klosner

(click on photos to enlarge)

Megan BabbinoLast Sunday, Girl Scout Gold Award candidate Megan Babbino, held a fundraiser at Del Fuego in St. James to raise money for The Children’s Center at United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Suffolk , in Commack. The Children’s Center services children with developmental delays and disabilities from infancy to 21.*

The event featured a silent auction, pay one price all you can eat and drink, a pie eating

 contest, face painting, an antique car show sponsored by the Long Island Street Rod Association, and even the auctioning off of Babbino’s father who is a chef at the Del Fuego. He will be a high end barbeque chef at someone’s home for up to 20 people. The event was sponsored by Del Fuego owner Joe DeNicola. 

The event raised $7,000 before expenses. About $5,500 of that will go to the school. The money will be used to create a butterfly plaque that will display the names of former students that have passed away as well as other educational services for current and future students.*

Cars line up at Hillside Village Center before heading to Del FuegoBabbino , 15, a sophomore at Hauppauge High School has cerebral palsy and attended the school when she was three and four years old.

“UCP helped me become the person I am today,” Babbino said. “When I had the opportunity to do this project this was the first thing I wanted to do. They [the school] helped me so I wanted to help them.”

“Megan was born at 28 weeks,” said her mother Joanne. “A lack of oxygen caused her cerebral palsy.”

She had it on her right side, mostly her right leg and slightly in her right hand, Joanne Babbino said. The muscles in her legs were too tight and as a young child she had to wear braces on both her legs. 

“At UCP she was placed in an integrated class with children who were developing normally,” Joanne Babbino said. “This was important because at three years old she was testing (academically) at five and at five years old she was testing at seven. I didn’t want her to be with only special needs kids; I needed her to have something to strive for.”

“It was a great place,” Joanne Babbino continued. “They had a huge physical therapy room. They had kids in all developmental stages. They had kids in chairs that couldn’t walk, some who couldn’t talk or would talk with Babbino Family with donor boardcomputers.”

Megan went on to Hauppauge public schools from there. Her braces came off in third grade. In fourth grade she had an operation to lengthen her heel chords so she wouldn’t walk on her toes anymore. She was in casts for eight weeks.

She still goes to physical therapy once a week and it is supplemented with a chiropractor, who keeps her muscles loose.

“The Gold Award project has to be true to your heart because you have to spend 80 hours on it,” Joanne Babbino said.

Megan had to raise money, plan an unveiling ceremony, make posters, pamphlets and fliers to publicize the event and blog about the butterfly plaque. She also held a pancake breakfast where she raised a few hundred dollars. 

“It was easy because I had the support of my mom, my Girl Scout troop and family,” said Megan Babbino, who is a member of Troop 588, Hauppauge Girl Scouts. “It would have been hard to do on my own.”

“Running the project has taught me speaking skills, time management skills, and organizational skills,” she continued. “And it helps the community at the same time.”

“I like Girl Scouts because it teaches you good life skills,” she went on. “You get to bond with your friends by laughing and doing things together which make the projects fun. And it opens up the opportunity to help the community and do things not only for myself but to help benefit others.”

Members of Long Island Street Rod Association help with fundraiserThere are still a few steps that need to be completed before Megan Babbino earns her Gold Award. The butterfly plaque must be purchased and engraved. Then there will be an unveiling ceremony with local dignitaries in the fall. 

“We are thankful to Megan for choosing The Children’s Center at UCP Suffolk for her Girl Scout Gold Award project,” said Sherri Glazer, Principal and Director of Educational Services for the school.  “Her fundraising efforts proved to be a success as Megan was able to raise [about] $5,700 which will benefit our current students, future students and will be a great remembrance for the students who have been part of our program in the past.”  *changes were made to article to provide a better understanding of students at UCP and the use of the funds collected by Megan.

Check Out What Suffolk County Legislators Want You To Know

Suffolk County residents pay almost $1.8 million a year in salaries for Suffolk County Legislators. In addition to an annual salary of $98,260.00 there is a law (passed by the legislature effective 2001) guaranteeing legislators an annual salary increase  of cost of living index (COL) or max 4% whichever is less. Legislators are included in pension and health care programs.  Each legislator has three staff members and offices in their district as well as in the William H. Rogers Legislature Building. (John Kennedy in whose district the Legislative bldg resides maintains only one office.)

Earlier this month Legislator Lindsay presented legislation which would end automatic salary increases for legislators. Lindsay’s legislation never made it out of committee. None of the five committee members saw fit to second the legislation nor did Presiding Officer Gregory who was present at the committee meeting. 

SC Legislators are poised to receive a salary increase pushing their annual salaries above $100,000. Below are press releases sent out from their offices in the month of June informing constituents what they have been up to.

Here is a quick look at the Legislature’s June press releases:*

6/12 Legislator Muratore spends the weekend attending community events

6/12 Lt. Michael Murphy Sea Cadets Join Legislator Lindsay, and other county officials to establish permanent relationship with Long Island Maritime Museum.

6/11 Legislator Martinez honors three brentwood middle school students as recipients of the Fuel Up to Play 60 NYS Ambassadors Of The Year Award

6/11 Two Golden Young Ladies - Cilmi

6/11 Central Islip Boys 4x400 Relay Led the way - Cilmi

6/11 Legislator Browning Donates Surplus Computer Monitors to the Boys and Girls Club of Bellport

6/11 Be “Pool-Smart” This Summer! - Cilmi

6/10 Kendall Stedman Honored by Deputy Presiding Officer Jay Schneiderman

6/10 Spencer, Hahn join Bellone for Bill signing to protect Suffolk County from Radioactive Fracking waste

6/10 Legislator Kennedy attends Long Island Business Institute’s Alpha Beta Kappa induction ceremony

6/10 Legislator D’Amaro Honors Melville resident as Local Senior Citizen of the Year

6/10 Exploring Different Careers in Middle School

6/10 “Don’t Frack With Our Water” - Press Conference and Bill Signing

6/10 Exploring Different Careers in Middle School - Barraga

6/09 Presiding Officer Gregory Sponsors Free Car Seat Inspection Event

6/09 Presicing officer Gregory Sponsors Free Car Seat Safety Inspection Event

6/09 Kennedy Continues Blood Drive Tour with success in Centereach

6/09 Suffolk County Legislature Adopts Animal And Consumer Protection Law - Schneiderman

6/06 New U.S. Citizens Recognized - Browning

6/06 Legislator Muratore Honors Kennedy and LaValle at Ronkonkoma Chamber’s Heart and Soul Event

6/05 Barraga votes “No” on County Capital Budget

6/05 Legislator Browning Honors Girl Scout Mackenzie Sorgie Upon receiving Gold Award

6/05 Investing in Suffolk’s Infrastructure and Future - Legislature Adopts 2015-2017 Capital Budget; Funds Vital in 5th   L.D. Projects - Hahn

6/04 Presiding Officer Gregory Attends Ribbon Cutting

6/04 Learning and Helping Our Environment - Cilmi

6/04 Recognition of the Best and Brightest - Kennedy

6/04 Legislator Kennedy honors Brookhaven National Laboratory Winners: The Future’s Brightest Shine

6/03 “Gold”en Girls - Hahn

6/03 “The Dog Days Are Over”- Legislature Passes Law to Protect Health of pets in Suffolk County - Spencer

6/03 Barraga: Congratulates Pool Smart Campaign Contest Winners From OQuenock Elementary School

6/02 Recognizing New Eagle Scout Joseph Wagner - Hahn

6/02 Legislator Kennedy Kicks off 2014 “Out for Blood” Blood Drive Tour with a bang

6/02 Suffolk County Legislator Robert Trotta Honors Boy Scout Troop 7’s newest Eagle Scout Ashton Armstrong of St. James

6/02 Huntington Legislators Honor Marine Corps League Commandant Bill Ober upon his retirement - Stern

6/02 Legislator D’Amaro Reminds Everyone to ‘Be Pool Smart’ this summer

* The source for this information is the Suffolk County Legislature’s website 

Friends Of Caleb Smith Host Junior Angler Fishing Tournament

By Carole Paquette 

Photos by: Michael D’Agostino, Carol Tokosh, Natalie Rash (click on photos to enlarge)

12th Annual Junior Fishing Tourney Nets Some Big Fish

A.M Winners - 3rd prize, Owen Murname; 1st prize Rosemary Deutsch; 2nd prize, Stevie RosenfeldP.M. winners: 2nd prize, Gwendolyn Raeihle; 3rd prize, Ryan Paolella; 1st prize, Angelo LupoMore than 30 children caught more than 50 fish at the popular Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve Junior Anglers Fishing Tournament held on Saturday, June 7. The 12th annual catch-and-release event was held at Willow Pond in Caleb Smith State Park Preserve in Smithtown. The anglers, ranging in age from 5 to 8 in the Charlotte Derby shows off the fish she caught.morning session and 9 to 12 in the afternoon, happily cast their Birthday party anglers. Back row: Stevie Rosenfeld, Hailey Kulesa, Vivian Derby [8th birthday]. Front: Charlotte Derby, Peyton KulesaA.M first place winner Rosemary Deutsch makes a fish face as she shows off a toy fish from her goody bag. lines for prizes, which were awarded along with goody bags and ice cream for all, following each session.

In the morning session, Rosemary Deutsch, 5, of Wantagh, won first prize for catching the most fish: seven. Stevie Rosenfeld, 7, of Hauppauge received second prize for catching the largest pan fish, measuring 8-3/4 inches; and Owen Murnane, 5-1/2, of East Northport won third prize for catching the largest “other” fish, a 14-inch bass.

 PM winner Angelo Lupo shows off his sixth fish, which garnered him a first prize.In the afternoon session Angelo Lupo, 11, of Deer Park, won first prize for catching the most fish: six; Gwendolyn Raeihle, 8, of Smithtown, won second prize for catching the largest pan fish, measuring 10 inches; Ryan Paolella, won third prize for catching the largest “other” fish, a 10-3/4-inch bass.

The day brought six good friends together to compete in the event while  celebrating the eighth birthday of Vivian Derby of Hauppauge. All of the six friends caught a fish, and one: Stevie Rosenfeld, won second place.

 Stevie Rosenfeld proudly displays her winning pan fish. Five-year-old Rosemary Deutsch of Wantagh, fishing under the watchful eyes of her parents, Heather and Tom, didn’t catch any fish last year but had caught six within the first hour this time, to go on and win first place. 

 Murnane with his dad, and judge Carmine Petrone, show off his winning 14-inch bass.In the afternoon session, Sal Lupo, 13, who had won first prize last year offered the Friends group his help this year. Sal could be seen PM group of anglers  sites along the pond helping bait hooks and release fish. “I love this place,” Sal said, as his two brothers, Angelo, and Vincent, 8, nodded eagerly.

For more information about Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve events check www.friendsofcalebsmith.org

Theater Review " Master Class"

“Master Class”

Produced by: Theatre Three – Port Jefferson

Reviewed by: Jeb Ladouceur

“Master Class” is a supposedly fictional series of opera critiques during which retired icon Maria Callas analyzes the performances of three students at Julliard. The ultra-dedicated diva uses the classes to reflect upon her own storied career … beginning with her early years as a plump and homely (if vocally gifted) child … moving on to a brutally graphic description of her affair with Aristotle Onassis … and concluding with an overview of the sacrifices one must be willing to make for one’s art.

Let it be said at the outset that Marci Bing is phenomenal as the demanding prima donna. Indeed, this reviewer would have guessed that the first one-hour act was ten minutes long; ditto the second … that’s how wonderful Bing’s sense of conversational pace is. 

“Master Class” debuted at Broadway’s Golden Theater in November 1995 and closed after some six hundred satisfying performances, during which such luminaries as Zoe Caldwell, Patti LuPone and Dixie Carter performed as Callas. The play garnered four Tony Awards and Faye Dunaway starred in the show’s national tour.

Anyone who has ever performed on stage will be especially touched by Ms. Bing’s reminiscences. I recall that once, when rehearsing as Iago in “Othello,” under the direction of Shakespeare scholar John Oetgen, the character Roderigo and I entered stage right and my opening line was, “But you will not hear me.”

“No,” came the thundering voice of Oxford-educated Oetgen from the dark recesses of the theater, “Nor will anyone else if you don’t open your damn mouth.” Any number of similar vignettes are furnished in drumbeat sequence by Bing as directed by 2013 Encore Award winner Jeffrey Sanzel.

While insistence on perfection (or at least the pursuit of it) is the overriding trait that playwright Terrence McNally has intended for his central character, Mr. Sanzel wisely stresses a few elements of compassion at perfectly placed intervals in Marci Bing’s soliloquies. For instance, just when we think there simply is no pleasing the svelte, self-assured Callas, she is reduced to tears by the performance of a young tenor. “That was beautiful,” the normally caustic soprano whispers … and the relieved audience at Port Jefferson’s lovely old Theatre Three applauds lustily.

Actually, we were applauding the excellence of four persons: playwright McNally, Sanzel, Ms. Bing, and the tenor played by John Hudson.

Once in a great while, theatergoers are treated to examples of pure poetry. Such an instance occurs when Callas describes her lopsided relationship with the boorish Onassis as akin to, “A great ballerina dancing for a blind man.” One cannot help but marvel that Marci Bing, professional though she is, was able to speak McNally’s heartbreaking line without choking back a sob.

The other four veteran actors in this astonishing play are all exquisite, primarily inasmuch as they obviously have learned to take direction. The day is coming when Steve McCoy, Christina Faicco, James D. Schultz, and Tracylynn Conner will claim the lead in future shows, and all will be justifiably proud that they once contributed so greatly to Marci Bing’s triumph when called upon to fill necessarily subservient roles.

“Master Class” runs through June 28^th. Don’t miss this gem.

___________________________________________________________________

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