Blogs 12 Long Island

Say No To Drugs!

By Mary Mucci

I remember life before drugs were advertised on television.  Now, I can’t sit down to watch anything except News 12 and not be confronted by two or three drug ads every break.

What kind of message does that send to our children.   We expect our kids to say no to drugs.  But, how can we have any credibility when we take drugs.  Just because they are “medications” is that any better?

There are natural solutions for all of our physical and mental health issues.  Sometimes they require diet or lifestyle changes…but they all require some effort.

Of course modern medicine has its place.  In my mind it’s for acute care.  Emergency medicine…but most of our health care dollars are spent on chronic illness.  As for me, I don’t take any drugs….except natural thyroid hormone: Armour. 

I know that when my kids face the drug issue they know how carefully I guard my health.  It is my most precious possession.  Sure drugs may relieve symptoms, but they never “cure “ anything.

I was delighted to meet Bob Giamblavo and find out how he turned his digestive problems around by putting efforts towards healing , not just towards masking symptoms.  Now he says he just laughs when he sees a commercial for an acid blocker.   He  is now healing from his digestive issues.  And I’m delighted to say he found out about digestive enzyme therapy by watching News 12.

To Your Health,

Mary Mucci

Contacts:

Dr. Matthew Lewis, Enzyme Replacement Therapy

Creating Wellness Center of Commack, 631 462 0801

Don't Be A Jerk.

By Doug Geed

   It was quite a few years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in our company parking lot when a little sports car came speeding in and zipped right into a handicapped parking space right by the front door. Out stepped the well-known announcer for one of New York's professional sports teams. (I would never say publically who it was, but he
was a former professional athlete himself who had been broadcasting for quite awhile for one of the pro teams. He's also long since left the local broadcasting scene.)

     He wasn't in a rush, but stepped out of his car, did a little stretch and walked calmly in the building.

   Now let me say, parking in a handicapped spot when you don't have a right to is a major pet peeve of mine. I remember when Newsday used to ask candidates around election time simple everyday questions (along with whatever the political issues of the day were). Questions would include, "What's your favorite t-v show?" -- "What's the last book you read?" -- "Who was your favorite teacher growing up?" And maybe my favorite was, "What's your big pet peeve?"

    Along with littering, abusing a handicapped parking spot is right up there in my book. I can't think of a circumstance where I'd say it was okay. But at the very least, I thought after zipping into the lot and into that spot (when there were plenty of non-handicapped spots not far away) I at LEAST expected to see the guy run into the building, grab something or drop something off and then hop back in the car and drive away. If all of that took place in about a minute, maybe I wouldn't have found it so disturbing. But that's not the case.

    Here was a guy blessed with enough athleticism to make a profession out of playing a game and yet he took it upon himself to take advantage of something reserved for people less fortunate. I actually saw him a couple of years after that at an Islander game and I spent much of the time trying to come up with a tactful way of bringing up the incident and letting him know what a dumb thing I thought it was to do.

   Every year, Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco launches an enforcement program cracking down on people who violate handicapped parking laws during the holidays. Good for him. Too bad Long Island doesn't have the resources to do it more aggressively every day of the year.

    But it really starts with you. Just obey this sign and privately say thanks that you're not in a position where you NEED the spot. In short, just don't be a jerk.

   Here's more info of the Suffolk Sheriff's program.

http://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/departments/sheriff/handicappedviol.aspx

Reunion Time... in the World of Facebook!

By Jill Wagner

This weekend is my ten year Jericho High School reunion.  It should be nice to catch up with old friends and just see what people are doing with their lives....  Hard to believe it's been more than a decade since we all roamed the halls of Jericho High School without a care in the world (ok, except for SATS and what college we'd get into and all the other high school DRAMA that seemed incredibly important at the time!!!).  

Of course, as with any reunion, there are the usual questions that come to mind--What does everyone LOOK LIKE now?  Who's married?  Anyone have children?  Just what is the class valedictorian up to?  Is he the next Bill Gates? 

But this year, for better or worse, there probably won't be too many surprises.  That's because of this crazy thing called Facebook!  I admit, I'm addicted....

I'm sure, ten years ago, no one could have imagined that we'd actually be organizing our reunion ONLINE.  And that there would be "social networking sites" like Facebook, where we'd be able to post pictures and give details about what we're doing.. everything from our jobs, to our favorite music, to literally, what we are doing at that exact moment... aka "status updates"... "Jill is at work writing her blog."

With many of my old high school classmates, I've already "friended" them... and had the catch-up conversation online... "Wow you look great... can't believe you're a teacher at Jericho now!" 

Of course, there are the "hold outs" --- those who aren't on facebook. But I wonder if they got the memo that there's even a reunion coming up! 

Still, I am very excited to see everyone and actually talk face to face!  But ten years later, it just shows how much has really changed since high school.  I'll keep you all posted on how it goes.... 

Green Grease

By Holli Haerr

For Thanksgiving, I thought I'd serve up a "Go Green" activity that could someday be as traditional as turkey and pumpkin pie: recycling turkey grease.

You may have seen stories on News 12 Long Island about bio-diesel cars and trucks that run on used cooking oil. In many cases, the owners of the vehicles get grease at local restaurants, which is a win-win situation. The car owner gets free fuel, and the restaurant doesn't have to pay anyone to get rid of the used cooking oil.

What about your cooking oil? Especially if you fry a turkey (yum), there will be a lot. Well, AltE Eco Energy Alternatives in Port Jeff Station would love to use your used grease. They're a company that converts cooking oil into fuel.

Scott Williams, the president of AltE, says recycling household cooking grease is already quite common in Europe and San Francisco. His company hopes to make it more common here on Long Island. (That's some of their equipment on the left.)

If you want to get rid of your cooking grease in an environmentally-friendly way, AltE will take it. Their first Thanksgiving grease collection site will be in the parking lot by a North Shore Chiropractic at 298 Canal Road in Port Jeff Station. Williams says they hope to expand to more locations in the future. For more information, you can check out their website, www.ecoenergyalt.com.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving For The Needy

By Drew Scott

  Thousands of Long Island families are so down on their luck, they had to turn to soup kitchens for a Thanksgiving meal!

  One church kitchen organizer told me today he had never seen such a demand for Turkey, stuffing, yams, mashed potatoes and all the fixins'.

The coordinator of the United Methodist Church in Patchogue says part of the problem is the downturn in the economy, coupled with the re-location of the Lighthouse Mission which in previous years served hundreds of holiday meals for the homeless, the elderly and working poor

Long Island Cares, an island-wide food charity says a study shows the number of hungry on Long Island  is about 260,000, which includes 93,000 children!

Photographing the soup kitchen in Patchogue, many men and women came up to me and obviously embarassed by their new unlucky lot in life asked us NOT to turn the camera on them. We of course obliged, but it is truly sad how the number of needy is growing by the day!

LUCKY DOG

By Virginia Huie

An ordinary day on the beat turned into a daring rescue for two Nassau Public Safety officers. Officer Chris Gleason was patrolling the lake at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow when he saw a black blob in the water. It was a dog! Chris radioed his partner for help. He and Officer Mike Tesoriere pulled the pup out of the frigid lake. But the rescuing didn't end there. The dog had apparently been abandoned. She didn't have any tags and no one came forward to claim her. She was sent to a dog pound in Hempstead. Chris and Mike followed up on their furry friend. Knowing she would be euthanized within days at the dog pound -- Chris and Mike had her transferred to Little Shelter, a no-kill shelter in Huntington. The dog was suffering from malnutrition and parasites. The caretakers at Little Shelter nursed the dog back to health. They named her Mamie, after former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, because she was rescued at Eisenhower Park. This is where the story gets even better. One month after the rescue -- Chris adopted Mamie. The abandoned dog who nearly drowned now has a home and a loving family. She's one lucky dog!

Giving Thanks

Here are the things I'm thankful for.

My family. They are the heart of my soul. My reason for doing everything. My children are wonderful proof that my life - though not perfect - is very well lived. And they're quite entertaining. In fact, the older my kids get (2 of them are now teenagers) the more entertaining they are. (Just don't tell them I said so - cause then HE'LL cut up even more in school!)

My brothers, their wives and children. They are soulful, full of character, and just naughty enough to be a lot of fun! Thanksgiving dinner with us lasts hours and ends up in belly-aches - not really from all the food - but from all the laughs!

Then there's what we call "the family we choose." Our childhood friends - and then the friends and neighbors we got when we bought our house 17 and a half years ago. They're an incredible bonus. I'm uniquely bonded to those Moms and Dads who've been there with me as we figured out how to pick pediatricians, the right diaper rash cream, how to parent, and how to coach. Next - how to pick the right college! 

I'm thankful for my "church ladies" - my "Bible Babes" - those beautiful young women who have taken it upon themselves to save and feed my soul!

I have an extra prayer of thanks for our fellow Long Islanders who aren't here this year - but are celebrating Thanksgiving meals on military bases from Iraq and Afghanistan to Germany, Guam, South Korea and beyond. And for the families of those who are dealing with the loss of their soldier hero this year.

I'm thankful for a roof over my head, enough food to eat, and for the privilege of living on beautiful Long Island - where I am free and safe. With it's beaches and harbors and fishermen and neighbors and teachers and cops and nurses and doctors and the rest of you who care. 

I'm thankful for this Island where I grew up in one of thousands of Levitt homes - a home where my parents and brothers and grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins crowded around a small table in a small kitchen - waiting for my mother to work magic out of her tiny GE oven. I'll tell you, that woman whipped up as grand a meal there - as we do in today's bigger and "better?" kitchens.

I'm so thankful for my News 12 family. We don't just work together. We have a great time off the air. We're a real team - especially my co-anchor. Most days I spend more waking hours with Elizabeth Hashagen than I do with my own husband! And I love the newest member of our team - her little Allison Rae!

And I'm thankful for you. And the privledge of telling your stories everyday. It is truly an honor. Thank you.

UNCOMMON COURAGE

By Virginia Huie

Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter of Sag Harbor was inspired to enlist in the Marines after September 11th.  On the battlefields of Iraq he demonstrated the full measure of devotion to his comrades and his country.  On April 22, Jordan and another Marine were on guard duty in the terrorist hotbed of Ramadi. A truck packed with more than 2,000 pounds of explosives tried to crash the checkpoint.  Jordan opened fire on the suicide bomber, diverting the truck from killing dozens of Marines, Iraqi police officers and civilians in the compound.  Jordan died when the truck exploded.  He was only 19.

Jordan's final act of courage saved 33 U.S. Marines.  His family says he loved his brother Marines. They weren't surprised Jordan gave his life to save theirs.

Jordan was the only child of Christian Haerter and JoAnn Lyles. They say their son was a kind, caring, compassionate young man with a great sense of humor.  Mr. Haerter told me he couldn't have asked for a finer son.

Now, his family and the Sag Harbor community are determined to keep the memory of his service and sacrifice alive for generations to come. Earlier this month, they unveiled a memorial to Jordan. They also renamed the Sag Harbor - North Haven bridge in Jordan's honor.  His parents and brother Marines were the first ones to walk across the Lance Corporal Jordan C. Haerter Bridge.  A moment of pain and pride for Jordan's parents.  His dad says it'll be a permanent reminder of what a wonderful person Jordan was.  His mom says she'll smile every time she crosses the bridge.  A fitting tribute for a young man of uncommon courage.

Thawing the Credit Markets

By Scott Feldman

Yet another wrinkle to what has already become the largest US government bailout in history. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson unveiled two new programs totaling 800 billion dollars to help thaw the market that backs consumer debt such as credit cards, auto and student loans, as well as mortgages.All of  that, says Paulson, was essentially frozen in October. Banks just deathly afraid to make loans for any purpose. Well, now, the Federal Reserve will provide 600 billion dollars to make mortgage loans cheaper and more available. That could help someone like Tyrone Ferdinando from Huntington who has been a renter for six years. He tells me, "just the money that I am spending on rent could go toward my mortgage and I would have something for the future." A second federal program announced today calls for 200 billion dollars in credit protection for banks. A Nissan dealer in Syosset, Wayne Siegel, says his "business has been terrible." But now that there is another 200 billion dollars in credit protection for banks, he's hopeful customers can get loans easier and he can move dozens of cars that sit in his lot. The financial crisis has also caused banks to cut credit lines on credit cards. Yolanda Delgado of Huntington Station had her credit line cut from 500 to 300 dollars. And she says she never even got to the 500 dollar limit. Dowling College economist Dr. Irwin Kellner says it is now more likely your credit card issuer will restore your line of credit and it could be easier to get a credit card if you were denied one before. Finally, there are student loans which virtually came to a screeching halt last month. They should start flowing again. That's a relief to SUNY Farmingdale student Italo Tellerico. He's got a four thousand dollar loan. But he says he's going to need more when he transfers to Queens College next year. So, the federal government again trying to get lending back to more normal levels. It's all up to the banks now.   

Tiger, Fired.

By Erin Colton

Finally! We can all stop being subjected to Tiger Woods pretending he likes Buicks. 

As a result of the failing economy, and billion dollar companies like General Motors struggling, Tiger Woods has been let go from his $7 million dollar endorsement deal with GM.

If anyone didn't understand what I just wrote, let me make it a little clearer for you.

TIGER WOODS WAS FIRED!

Tiger Woods, the best golfer -- and some argue best athlete -- in the world. And not only is he the best, he's the hottest, the most popular, the most profitable. He's the type of client any company would salivate at the chance to have promote their product. And GM let him go. If there's anyone out there who still didn't realize know we're in a recession -- this will do it.

How messed up GM? They won't "jetpool" with the other car companies to save money, but they'll drop Tiger Woods? Pathetic.

In all honesty though, did anyone actually believe that the world's greatest golfer drove around in a Buick? Or for that matter, even liked one? The only reason Woods went near a Buick is because he was getting paid to do it. And I'm not knocking the guy for doing it, pay me $7 million dollars and I'll do just about anything. (You know what I mean.)

 Tiger's people said Woods was OK with being dropped from the endorsement deal because he wanted to "spend more time with his family, especially with a second child on the way." But that's not true. The  truth is, Woods couldn't care less about Buick. And a measly $7 mil. He probably already stripped the big "BUICK" off his golf bag and is waiting for Mercedes to call, or even better -- Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini!

And for anyone who thinks GM is saving a bunch in the dead deal -- you're wrong. $7 million dollars to a company like GM -- even in financial crisis mode -- is nothing.

So although Tiger's not crying about being ditched from GM, and GM isn't saving a whole lot in the deal, this all made for great conversation in the newsroom this morning. Because financial crisis hit a new low, Tiger Woods got laid off.

Hey Buick, I hear Scott Feldman needs a sponsor.

HEIMLICH HERO

By Virginia Huie

10-year-old Keith Johnson proves you're never too young to be a hero. It happened Halloween Day. Keith and his buddy Bailey Heitmuller were eating lunch in the school cafeteria at Cherokee Street Elementary in Ronkonkoma. Bailey got into an argument with another student, and the stress caused him to choke on his bologna sandwich. Bailey started turning red. He couldn't breathe. That's when Keith sprang into action. Instead of running to get help, Keith performed the Heimlich maneuver. He dislodged the chunk of sandwich from Bailey's throat and saved his life. Where did Keith learn the life-saving technique? In school? Nope. From Boys Scouts? Nope. Keith tells me he was eating at a Dunkin' Donuts when he noticed a first aid poster on the wall. It explained how to save a person from choking by performing the Heimlich maneuver. Keith says he loves to read and he's always studying things like that wherever he goes. Good thing! He remembered all the life saving information when it mattered most. Keith is one of the hometown heroes News 12 has chosen to honor in our special half hour show "Long Island Lifesavers." Tune in at 7:00 p.m. this Thursday, Thanksgiving Day -- and you'll see some amazing stories of courage.

Turkey Donations and the Generosity of Others

By Shari Einhorn

Can you imagine a Thanksgiving meal without a turkey?  Try to -- because without the generosity of others, thousands of Long Islanders could be doing just that.

News 12 Long Island did several stories last week and Newsday ran stories this past weekend -- the focus was the same -- the desperate need for turkeys and other holiday food!

Local food banks and pantries say they've never seen so many people asking for help.  The trouble is -- with so many people in need -- there just isn't enough food to go around.

But as always -- Long Islanders have opened their hearts, their refrigerators and their wallets -- and come to the aid of charities and other organizations trying to help those who so desperately need it.

I was at the Lighthouse Mission in Patchogue on Tuesday.  They needed about 1200 turkeys and trimming bags but only had enough for about 400. 

Well guess what?  Since then -- they've received about 500 more -- that's amazing isn't it?  Pastor Ellen Lewis told me they got 170 turkeys donated on Saturday alone! 

The sad truth is this -- THEY STILL NEED A COUPLE OF HUNDRED MORE!!  We went to a food distribution today and met so many great people -- people just like you and me.  There were more than a hundred people lined up -- there were only 104 turkeys to give out.  Some people did leave empty handed.   

I spoke to Catherine and Simone who said without the food they got here today -- they wouldn't be having a holiday meal.  I met Archie who says his family will now have a beautiful Thanksgiving meal.  In his words -- "Now I don't have to beg, borrow or steal."

You see -- it's more than just a turkey or a bag of trimmings -- it's the chance to be just like everyone else -- thankful for what you have -- no matter how you got it!

There's still time to donate -- either to the Lighthouse Mission or to so many other worthy causes.

Island Harvest

The Interfaith Nutrition Network  

The Lighthouse Mission

Long Island Cares 

Marine Corps Toys for Tots

Thanks in advance for anything you can do!

Shari

Talking with Nelson DeMille

by Lea Tyrrell

It was such a pleasure recently to have bestselling author and Long Islander Nelson DeMille as a guest on Long Island Talks.  He's appeared on News 12 Long Island before, but this was the first time viewers were able to ask their questions directly.  I had plenty of questions to ask him myself, but I was happy to see the phone board light up when the program started.  His fans had plenty of great questions themselves.

I love reading his books that are set on Long Island especially to see which communities, streets and landmarks he mentions.  DeMille's latest book, The Gate House, is one of those novels.  It's a sequel to The Gold Coast, and no location is more Long Island than that.  The Gate House debuted at number one on the New York Time's bestseller list this month.  Even with all his success and previous bestsellers, DeMille admits he still gets nervous about whether his book will hit number one.  Then he smiled and said it makes the publisher happy.  And you want to keep your publisher happy.

As a writer of news, I have a great admiration for writers of fiction.   Good writing is a challenge even when you have to deal with only the facts.  But to add characters, locations, plots, subplots, and intrigue (just to mention a few of the things that go into a great novel) I find that all quite astounding.  No wonder DeMille says it takes him 18 to 24 months to write a novel, plus a great deal of research.  He writes six to eight hours a day in an office several blocks from his home -  no music, no radio, no tv.  Also no computer or typewriter.  DeMille still prefers to write his books longhand - pencil or pen to paper.  Just that simple. 

Quite a few of the callers last time were fans of a character who's appeared in a few of DeMille's books, Detective John Corey.  Those fans will be happy to know that DeMille tells me he's working on another story that will feature Corey.

One viewer who hadn't had a chance to read one of his books yet had a great question for the author.  And perhaps some of you reading this blog aren't familiar with his books either.  She wanted to know which book DeMille would recommend for a first read?  He said The Gold Coast. 

If you missed your chance to ask Nelson DeMille your question, I've extended him an open invitation to come back to Long Island Talks when his next book comes out.  That may be some time in the spring.

If you can't wait until then, you can meet DeMille at his next book-signing.  It's here on the Island at Old Westbury Gardens on December 10th at 6 PM.

To find out more about that, his books, and everything DeMille, he's got a great website.  It's www.nelsondemille.net.   

Five Men in a Room

By Scott Feldman

"Interesting" couple of days in Albany last week. I was in the Capitol for a special emergency economic session. Governor Paterson had called it to resolve the state's fiscal crisis. But nothing was resolved. Tuesday at high noon, Paterson brought the legislative leaders from the State Senate and Assembly together in one room for a public meeting.  Paterson wanted lawmakers to approve $2 billion in budget cuts. But most of what we got in the 90 minute session was a lot of finger pointing. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos from Rockville Centre staunchly opposed mid-year cuts to school aid. Which prompted Paterson at one point to hold up a blank piece of paper and say, "You brought us nothing, I'm still waiting for what your solutions are." Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver piled on to criticize Skelos, as did Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith from Queens. Then, Assembly GOP leader James Tedisco(Schenectady) came to Skelos' defense. He held up his own sheet of paper that he said was Silver's proposals and also blank. And that is exactly what lawmakers left Albany for their home districts with, nothing. Paterson says the budget deficit next year is expected to reach $15 billion. After Jan.1, the Democrats will take control of the State Senate. What will be done to dig the state out of its' deepening fiscal hole? We shall see. Oh, by the way, when all the bickering and name calling ended in the Red room, Paterson commandered Skelos and Silver and they posed with big smiles for the cameras. Go figure.  

"Political Musical Chairs"

By Jill Wagner

An official announcement isn't expected until after Thanksgiving, but it's looking like Senator Hillary Clinton is a shoe in for Secretary of State. And just when it seems like all the speculation is behind us --- (Will Bill Clinton disclose all of his financial records?  Does Hillary Clinton even want the job?) --- the next guessing game is here!

Who will fill the Junior Senator's seat?  

Governor Paterson is tasked with picking a replacement for Clinton in the U.S. Senate. Technically he could appoint himself, but earlier this week Paterson ruled that out, saying he wants to keep his job as Governor, especially with the economic crisis facing the state.

So I sat down with News 12 Political Analyst Jerry Kremer and picked his brain about just who Paterson could choose. He says the Governor will make a decision based on who could help him win the Gubernatorial race in 2010. And that means he'll choose either a suburban legislator, an Hispanic official, or someone from upstate.

Here on Long Island, there are two people on the short list----Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and Congressman Steve Israel. Kremer says both could help him raise money and secure votes with suburban voters (Suozzi's picture is below left, from Nassau County's website, and Steve Israel is below right, from his Congressional website).

In terms of Hispanic choices, Kremer says Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion is the front runner. There's also speculation about Brooklyn Congressman Nydia Velazquez, but Kremer says she's not interested in the position.

There are plenty of other names floating around to fill the seat: Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, New York City Congressman Jerrold Nadler and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, even Caroline Kennedy.

But Kremer says Cuomo seems to be enjoying the Attorney General job, and could be interested in running for Governor down the line. And Obama might offer Caroline Kennedy another type of position, perhaps something involving the United Nations.

Whatever happens, for anyone interested in politics, it should be fun to watch!

As Kremer told me, "This is called political musical chairs and we love it."

Enough Already

By Bill Korbel

Things have gotten way too complicated.  I grew up at a time when we had one television in the house and it could only tune 7 channels:  2,4,5,7,9,11 and 13 (which by the way no one watched even 40 years ago).  There were no remotes so you tended to keep the set on one channel and channel hopping was a very limited option.

Look at the remotes I now have to accomplish the same thing. Here's what I found on the table last night.

 

From left to right you see the DVD remote, TV remote, portable phone, cell phone at the very top, cable remote and Audio remote.  Those two white things are Wi controllers.  And this is not all.  I have a similar collection of devices in the bedroom and televisions in 3 other rooms.  Of course there is an advantage to all of this. I would not be happy without the wide screen HDTV, stereo surround sound and ability to answer the phone without getting off my butt.

Bill

All You Need is Love

By Carol Silva 

I have a little cultural whiplash over this one.

The Vatican says it's over. Its fight with the Beatles.

The Holy See is marking the 40th anniversary of the Beatles White Album - by saying they're over John Lennons' 1966 comment. That's the one where Lennon said the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus."

That bent a lot of people out of shape at the time. But now the Vatican newspaper (L'Osservatore Romano) says it was really the remark of a young man - with unexpected success - shooting off his mouth.

In fact, the Vatican has gone so far as to say the "White Album" shows the Beatles were a heck of a lot more creative than what you hear in what they call today's "standardized stereotypical" music.

Do you think 40-years from now, the Vatican will be saying "sorry" to Kanye West, Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears for that "standardized stereotypical" comment!?!

I Want My Water Pure

By Mary Mucci

Water company officials insist that tap water is safe. 

If only it were so.  Safe compared to what?  Very little in our environment is really safe these days.  There have been newspaper articles about pharmaceutical drugs being detected in tap water.  And there have also been fuel additives. It’s a given that there are some nitrites, and pesticide residues.  Don’t forget that chlorine is added as a disinfectant.  Chlorine can interfere with thyroid function in that it blocks the absorption of Iodine.   Well nothing is perfect, but when it comes to water I want it pure.

I have both a whole house filtration system, as well as what is called a” reverse osmosis” at my sink.

I’m glad I installed them when I moved here.  Sure they’re not cheap,  but I don’t have to ever buy water when I go to the gym or out for a long day.  I always take my own.

The people at Clean Water Service in Plainview say they can offer rentals, or let you rent with the option to buy if you can’t afford to buy outright.  I don’t know about you, but with all the water I drink and all the water I absorb in a hot shower, it’s a must have.

 

To Your Health,

Mary Mucci

Environmental Working Group

www.ewg.org  reviewed bottled waters

Mark Schmidt  516 694 7873.

Clean Water Service, Plainview

Mike Cannizzaro, Certified Nutritionist, Herbalist

Wantagh, 516 221 8177

Recessionista

By Elisa DiStefano

Everyone is feeling the pressure...the economy...the holidays coming up. I (like just about everyone else I know) have really limited my purchases. This was the topic of conversation at a recent outing with my friends (who are all firm believers in retail therapy).  These ladies don't just love fashion, they live fashion. City sample sales are a major sporting event ( I wish we had more on Long Island-- you can get great deals!). They are always on the cutting edge. They always look fabulous. They always know the best new products and trends-- and know how to get the best deals! They all had advice on how to be a smarter shopper-- or in their words-- a "recessionista". I took notes! 

I'm sure you've heard of the "lipstick effect". Basically, it's the theory that during difficult economic times women buy smaller feel-good items (like lipstick) rather than bigger more expensive luxury items (like handbags and clothes). Makes sense, new make-up always makes me feel better. I think the key is to stay away from the high priced counters and find some great alternatives!  By the way--now is a great time to get great make-up deals. Stores like Ulta, Sephora, and department stores are selling holiday gift sets.  I've already picked some up for gifts because they usually run out quickly. I've also been picking up inexpensive cute make-up bags and collecting my favorite make-up finds when they are on sale. I am going to put together little gifts for friends and also to donate (charitable organizations are always looking for gifts for teenagers and parents).

I listed some of my friends' recommendations below!

If you love Dior Show  ($24)-- try Cover Girl lashblast for $7.99 . You can get it on sale for even less.

If you love Kiehl's Lip Balm ($6.50- $9.50)-- try Carmex for $1.69 at CVS. (Many stores sell the 3 pack for $2.99-- great for me because I always lose them!)

Try a drug store brand exfoliant like oldie but goodie--  St. Ives Apricot scrub.

All of my friends switched from their very, very expensive moisturizers to Oil of Olay Regenerist. It's under $24 in most stores. My friends overseas stock up on it when they visit! 

Try Cetaphil moisturizer and face wash.My dermatologist recommends it!

Relieve stress by soaking in a Epsom salt bath. You can get a lot of it for just a few bucks!

Raid Marshall's and TJ Maxx in upscale neighborhoods-- they tend to have better items!

Make your manicure last twice as long, and make your nails stronger by applying duri's Rejuvacote. It's about $5 in any beauty supply store.

Instead of a whitening treatment, try a whitening stick like Dental White Quick Stick.

Accessorize! Instead of buying a new outfit, buy a new accessory! Get a great belt, scarf, or feather for your hair or to add to a bag or belt! Feathers are huge for spring too!

Check out Glamour Magazine for cool coats under $200 and great glosses for under $10  . My friend just picked up a really chic designer coat for a fraction of the price at Burlington Coat Factory.

I've been getting calls from local spas and salons saying their business is really hurting. Spa 190 in Mineola extended spa week to spa month. I asked the stylists in Salon Blue for some tips to make hair cuts last longer. They recommended a "fringe trim" (I had never heard of that! ) in between regular appointments. Face framing fringe trims dust off split ends up front to refresh your cut. Ask your salon about it. Salon Blue offers it free of charge for their clients.

They also recommend that you ask for a "precision haircut" (something else I've never heard of!). It's done when the hair is both wet and dry to insure the ultimate in accuracy. They say this cut will stay fresh up to 10 weeks.

I am not picky about my shampoo or conditioner. Pantene works for me. I've tried others that are more expensive, but since my hair is pin straight, I never saw any difference in volume or shine. I get overwhelmed in the shampoo aisle too! They recommended I try Kerestase shampoo and conditioner. They said it will heal my split ends and prevent the damaging effects of blow drying and cold weather. I'll let you know how it works out!

I don't use any color so I don't know much about it.... but they recommend Goldwell Soft Color Semi permanent dye. They say it's ideal for those who want their hair color refreshed but don't want to pay for a full price color. They say it brightens dull strands and blends grays in about 10 minutes. They also suggest going for a more subtle shade highlight because it's not only only sexy for fall and winter, but it's easier to maintain. The natural look won't show an obvious line of regrowth and won't need to be touched up as frequently. They say Kerestase deep conditioning treatment locks in color and makes it last! I guess they really like that brand :-)

If you are dying for designer handbags, check out Bag Borrow or Steal ( as featured in Sex and the City movie). There are some amazing ones!

Why not do some early holiday shopping? Simon Malls host their Evening of Giving on Sunday night. Get big discounts and give back to our Long Island Charities!

I love this site "The Budget Fashionista" -- there are some great tips and coupons! My favorite: Store your pantyhose in the freezer. It makes them last longer! Brrr!

 

  

 

Packing on the Holiday Pounds!

  By Jackie Lukas

Now that the holiday season is here... all I can think about is Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas roast, cookies and goodies galore! YUM!!!    The holidays are not only the most festive time of the year - but the food is amazing... and there's plenty of it! Holiday parties, family get-togethers, you name it!

Now, anyone who is close to me knows I LOVE to eat! I'll eat anything and everything. (Ok, maybe not peanut butter...don't ask.) But give me extra bacon - load on the cheese and I'll be a happy woman.   I personally don't have the will power... so I'm not going to deny myself all the delicious holiday treats. The food itself is one of the reasons it's my favorite time of the year!

 

So guess how I felt when I received an email from my wonderful employer Cablevision (the parent company of News 12). It was titled........"Work Healthy. Work Smart. Healthy Holiday Eating Tips" Are you serious!?! Out of all the times in the year, this is NOT when I'm going to be watching my waistline or worrying about the scale!

But just in case you were curious what some of the "healthy tips" were, I'll share a few of my favorites with you... which will include my initial response as well.  

 

Don't treat Thanksgiving like an all-you-can-eat- buffet: Fill your plate half with vegetables, one quarter with a lean meat and the rest with a starch. Eat slowly and stop when you are full.                    My response: If there's going to be one day out of the year anyone should stuff their face and chow down all-you-can-eat style, it's Thanksgiving!

Turkey- go skinless:  Choose your 4-oz turkey portion skinless to cut down on fat and cholesterol. Save your appetite for the side dishes and dessert. My response: The skin is the best part! Especially if it's extra crispy!  

Limit high fat items: Cut down on anything fried, creamy or cheese-filled. My response: I think you know what I'd say to that!  

Drink plenty of water: Alcohol and coffee can dehydrate your body. Drink calorie-free water to help fill up your stomach and keep you hydrated. My response: One glass of wine won't hurt! But don't drink and drive! 

Now if you are one of those health nuts - I hope I'm not offending you! You have every right to cut back and not indulge during the holiday season. But I want you to read this next part. It also comes from the SAME healthy eating email. And it's titled: "The Truth About Holiday Eating"

Myth #1: Most people put on five to seven pounds during the holidays. Reality: The average weight gain during the six-week span from Thanksgiving to New Year's is just under one pound, according to a yearlong study of nearly 200 people published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Even though enjoying delicious holiday dishes might not increase your waistline by as much as you'd expect, calorie consciousness is still important.

I repeat, the average weight gain during the holidays is just under one pound! So there you have it! Please enjoy all the delicious food this holiday season. Stop worrying about calories and be happy! And just think, if you really feel guilty about overeating -- New Years is right around the corner. Your resolution can be to start eating smart and working out. Me... I'll likely break that resolution on January 2nd!

School Threats Continue

By Holli Haerr

As you may have noticed, News 12 Long Island has been reporting on a string of threats at local schools in the past month. Some schools have gotten several threats - including North Babylon, West Babylon and Miller Place. (Although there are many other schools that have faced threats as well.)

When photographer Ron Vilca and I headed out this morning to talk to different districts about how they're handling things, we didn't know we'd be seeing yet another possible bomb threat. As we pulled up to West Babylon High School, we noticed police cars parked outside. Then, we saw students standing in the field.

Fortunately, nothing was found and school resumed. But this is a situation that has been repeated all too often lately at our schools.

Districts are taking different approaches to handle the situation. For example: they're monitoring where students are in the hallways during the day, closing certain bathrooms, putting in surveillance cameras and making students sign out with a teacher when they leave a classroom.

Officials hope these measures will give students less of a chance to write a threat on a wall. They're also hoping if students lose privileges - they may pressure other kids NOT to make threats.

Suffolk's Police Commissioner says it's not just a waste of time for students and teachers, it's also a drain on county resources. He says they have to take every threat very seriously; and they send patrol officers, forensics and detectives to schools that receive threats.

He also says he wants everyone to know, that making a school threat - even for a hoax - is a felony, and someone convicted could face up to seven years behind bars.

Police and school officials are urging anyone with information on who is making the threats to call Crime stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. The caller can be anonymous.

When the Giving Stops

By Shari Einhorn

I've spent the last few days working on a series called "When the Giving Stops."  First of all, I have to say I really hope that never happens -- and honestly I don't think it will.

When it comes to taking care of each other, I think we all have to play a part.  It doesn't matter how much you have -- or how much you give -- just as long as you do what you can to help those who can't help themselves!

In Patchogue, I met a homeless couple who came in to The Lighthouse Mission for help.  They politely and understandably declined to speak on camera telling me it would only make things more difficult with their families.  

I also met Sonny who describes himself as homeless.  He's currently staying with the person he does housework for.  He has so much gratitude for the folks that help him -- that he volunteers at the mission.  He told me "If everybody would pitch in and do their part" the help would be around forever.

There was Regina from Huntington Station -- a single mother of 2 who said without the food she gets from the local church food pantry, she would not be able to feed her family.  When food runs low -- she makes sure her kids eat first because in her words "That's what mothers do.  You love your kids and you put them first no matter what the situation is."

I spoke to a woman with several kids in the car who wanted to know if and when turkeys were going to be handed out for Thanksgiving.  If she doesn't get one as a donation -- she won't have one!

At the INN in Hempstead, we found out that they served a hot meal to 475 people this past Monday.  The room capacity is only about 200 -- so they feed people in shifts.  The volunteers now come in earlier and stay later -- just to accommodate the crowd!

According to Island Harvest, which supplies food to most if not all of the food pantries and soup kitchens on the island -- there are 1/4 million Long Islanders who rely on emergency food programs to help feed their families.  That was two years ago -- no doubt the numbers are much higher now.  The agency usually collects 1 million pounds of food between November 1 and the end of December.  

I'll end with a quote from Rich from Huntington Station.  He used to donate small change and clothing -- now he's the one in need.  He told me "What goes around comes around."

Here's a list of some organizations in need of donations.  Click on each one to get to their homepage and find out what specific items are being sought after.

Island Harvest

The Interfaith Nutrition Network  

The Lighthouse Mission

Long Island Cares 

Marine Corps Toys for Tots

Please do whatever you can to help!  Thanks!

Shari

'Cmon, Really?

By Erin Colton

I get angry with professional athletes who don't appreciate what they have. Maybe that's because I would literally cut off my left foot to be one. (Well, I guess then I wouldn't be so  good.) Anyway, when I hear or see pro athletes either take advantage of someone, not take a picture with a fan, sign an autograph, not give back, or do something either illegal or disrespectful, it bothers me. A lot.

I think it gets to me because I'm around younger athletes so much, who look up to the pros like they're heroes. And to be honest, most of them are. Kids grow up playing the sports they love, but more importantly, wanting to become the athletes they admire.

So when Adam "Pacman" Jones, a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys, continues to do things to get himself arrested and kicked out of the NFL, it's a problem. A big one.

Back in October, Jones was suspended indefinitely from the league after he got into an "alcohol-related scuffle" with his bodyguard during a party at a Dallas hotel. (The bodyguard was given to him to make sure he stayed out of trouble.) This is after Jones missed the ENTIRE 2007 season -- suspended for repeated legal troubles while with the Tennessee Titans. He was traded to Dallas in the off-season, then given another chance by Commissioner Roger Goodell. Well, Goodell has now given him yet ANOTHER chance, letting Jones back into the league after being suspended for just 6 games this season.

'Cmon, really?
 
Roger Goodell should be ashamed of himself. Nearly as much as Jones should be. He let a criminal back into his football league to probably just cause more trouble. Jones should be kicked out of football for good and not even be allowed to coach Pee Wee kids. Especially not kids. Don't let the guy near any of them!

To wrap up Jones' career (as an alleged criminal) he's been arrested 6 times in a span of 3 years. With a record like that, a normal person would find it hard to get a job, or would probably even be in jail. But nope, "Pacman" got a free ride back into the NFL today.

Who else is tired of this? I actually can't even believe I'm wasting my time blogging about it. But it continues to infuriate me when athletes blatantly use their status to get away with anything. It's making me sick to my stomach thinking this guy is going to once again, collect a six figure paycheck. And he probably has not once thought once about spending more time on the football field, instead of inside a bar or nightclub.

So if you get a chance to sit with your little athlete tonight, let them know all pros aren't Gods. They don't all live in the real world. And they certainly -- do not all deserve the praise fans give them.

Happy Tofurky Day!

By Holli Haerr 

Hi, I'm filling in for Elizabeth Hashagen again for this week's Go Green report.

Now that we're past the introductions, are you ready for Thanksgiving next week?

I am! I went to Whole Foods for this week's Go Green piece, and their Thanksgiving spread really looked delicious. I'm not quite ready to substitute a real turkey for a Tofurky (a turkey made from tofu) on Thanksgiving, but I think I might try a small one at some point.

When it comes to next week's meal, I'm going to try to add more organic and natural foods to the feast.

The people we talked to at Whole Foods and environmentalists say organic foods are better for you and for the planet - because they don't use pesticides. 

Some of the turkeys and other foods at Whole Foods are organic - which can be more expensive. Other items are what they call "natural." Marketing team leader Chris Ivers says that means they don't have artificial preservatives, sweeteners or anything else that's fake.

There are several grocery stores across Long Island that sell organic items.

Also, environmentalists say you should try to buy produce that's grown locally. When there's less shipping, there are fewer trucks on the road and less pollution.

However you slice it, I hope you and your family have a good Thanksgiving.

And, I must end with a pitch - to help local organizations that provide holiday meals to families who can't afford them.

Am I A Meteorologist?

Norm Dvoskin

Very often I'm asked, "Are you a meteorologist?" I assume they mean, "Are you a meteorologist or a weatherman?" I'm not sure what the difference is. I looked up weatherman in the dictionary and it said, "A person who forecasts or reports weather conditions." I do that, so I guess I'm a weatherman. Then I looked up meteorologist. There are many variations but one that seems to be most suitable is, "A person who is professionally employed in the study or practice of dealing with the phenomena of the atmosphere. It often refers to individuals who have a degree in meteorology. I qualify. So I guess I'm a weatherman and a meteorologist.

These terms should not be confused with other similarly sounding words.

Meterologist: Someone who works for LIPA and reads meters..or perhaps a taxi driver.

Meatyurologist: A chubby doctor.

Whetherman: A person (man) who can look into girls eyes and tell whether? (This one is really old.)

When I tell someone that I'm a meteorologist, they sometimes ask, "Then why don't you forecast meteors?" This question seems logical and stems from confusion about the word meteorology.

The word meteorology is derived from the Greek word meteoron, which refers to any phenomenon in the sky. Astronomy, including the study of geometeors or "shooting stars" later became a separate discipline. The science of meteorology was restricted eventually to the atmosphere. Various weather phenomena are still referred to as "meteors." Liquid or frozen water...rain, snow, sleet, clouds and fog are hydrometeors. Dry particles...sand, dust and smoke are lithometeors. Optical phenomena such as halos, rainbows and mirages are termed photometeors. Lightning and Saint Elmo's fire are electrometeors.

Whether you call yourself a "meteorologist" or a "weatherman" and you work on television, it's important to have the "American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval." If I didn't have it and someone came up to me and asked, "Hot enough for you?" I'd  have to say," I can't comment."

Thanksgiving Turkey Donations

By Mike Stevens

While there is still plenty to give thanks for, several hundred Long Island families may have to go without a Turkey dinner this year.

I found that out when I went to the Lighthouse Mission in Patchogue, Wednesday, and saw half empty food shelves and  trucks that used to be overflowing with food -- now half empty.

The mission has been feeding needy families for 17 years, but now says it does not have enough food to go around this holiday season. According to Pastor James Ryan, 1,200 to 1,500 families will be expecting to get a turkey and trimmings this year, but they have only enough food to feed 400 of them.   

The mission says it's not so much that people are donating less, it's that the need is greater. More families are barely making ends meet, because prices for just about everything have risen so high and there's high unemployment.

At one of the locations where the mission gives out food throughout the year, I met a woman named Sheryl from Central Islip. Her husband has been out of work 4 years. She says if it weren't for the mission, they might not survive. 

The Lighthouse mission says don't assume your next door neighbor has enough to eat -- they may not. The mission says there are many 'Sheryl's' out there and many are too proud to ask for help. The mission and its volunteers are hoping more people will step up, and share food for the holidays, during these very tough economic times.

To make a donation call 631 758 7584, or email at [email protected]

Overwhelmed by the Ignorance

By Christine Insinga

  It's been more than a week since Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero was stabbed and killed around the corner from his East Patchogue home.  Cops say 7 local kids took his life just because he was Hispanic.  Yesterday, a grand jury indictment was supposed to be unsealed on the group of Patchogue/Medford teens prosecutors have labeled a "lynch mob." According to officials close to the case, boys were hanging out a local park when they hatched a plan to "go f$%# up some Mexicans."  The 16 and 17 year olds are accused of surrounding the 38 year old Lucero, and yelling racial slurs at him before one of them allegedly plunged a knife in him and they all left him for dead. 

Yes, this is the United States of America and the teens are presumed innocent until proved guilty.

    Now, is this all true?  Was is Jeff Conroy with the knife that night?  Were ALL the guys involved?  Was Lucero's death really the result of hate crime, a crime of opportunity, or something different completely?  For that we'll all have to wait for the trial of these young high school students who--for all intents and purposes--have basically been stripped of their youth and will face trial as adults.

Even if ALL of it isn't true, fellow classmates say Conroy has a swastika tattoo on his leg.  Who permanently injects ink in that design into a 17 year old??  Does he think it's ok?  I'm guessing not--otherwise he'd probably have gotten it somewhere a bit more visible.  Or maybe he just wanted to hide it from his parents.  I hope in some small/odd way that actually is the case--that his parents would be infuriated if they saw such a symbol of hate basically engraved in their son's body.  

This is far from the only act of ignorance in recent months.  It feels like every other day we are covering a story of hate:

Racial slurs slopped in shoe polish on people's cars in Mastic, and scribbled on streets and a school in North Babylon.  Anti-semitic symbols and holes from a BB gun found at a Nassau Jewish Center--not to mention hundreds of Ku Klux Klan fliers tacked onto cars at the Deer Park train station and on folks' front lawn in Islip Terrace. 

Where does all the hate/intolerance/ignorance begin?

More importantly WHEN does it all end?  {##}

The Foreclosure Crisis on Long Island

By Andrew Ehinger

The American dream is turning into a nightmare for more and more Long Islanders.

The national foreclosure crisis is now in full swing here. In fact, Nassau and Suffolk counties have some of the highest foreclosure rates in New York State. There are dozens of theories on why it's happening now - but let's not look to the past, let's look forward. How do we stop the slide?

The credit experts say stick to the obvious ways of keeping fiscally sound - pay your bills on time. But in the slowing economy and when some people are losing their jobs - that's getting more and more difficult for some. So what can you do? Lots of companies are popping up which for a fee will negotiate with the mortgage companies to help avoid foreclosure. You can find there ads in newspapers and local penny savers - sometimes even on TV. The fees can be just about anything, but we're told they're usually one or two mortgage payments - sometimes more. 

When homeowners are already struggling to pay their bills, coming up with money up front can be difficult. Still, lots of people will fork over the cash in the hopes that a deal can be made to save their home. However, do you really need to pay that fee? The answer is bluntly: NO. There are dozens on HUD (Housing and Urban Development) certified agencies on Long Island who don't charge a nickel for their help. You could make the argument that a non-profit may not work as hard as someone you are directly paying to get you a good deal, but wouldn't you rather put that fee towards paying off your debts? Seems logical right? On top of that, in my experience the HUD certified counselors have been in the business of helping struggling homeowners for years, whereas other new companies may not have counselors with that same level of experience. In the end, it's a personal choice, but the bottom line all mortgage counselors tell me, is if you feel you're struggling with your debts - get help sooner than later. Here is a list of HUD approved mortgage counselors in New York State.

Watch Out For Deer!

By Doug Geed

    I admit it, I was one of them. One of those tourists who loved spotting a deer on the side of the road or grabbing a bite to eat in someone's yard. And while they still are beautiful animals to look at, I've become all too familiar with the damage they can cause. They can literally wipe out a farm or a vineyard or a nursery, not to mention a neighborhood filled with flowers and shrubs. Deer damage to the agriculture industry is a story unto itself.

  But I want to talk about the other kind of damage deer can do -- to a car. November is mating season -- or "rutting" season as it's called. And since the deer have only one thing on their mind, they can run out into the road in an instant. In the small town of Southold alone, on the North Fork, they average more than 200 deer-car accidents in November, the busiest month.

    And these are serious accidents. On average, they cause anywhere from 15-hundred to 5-thousand dollars damage to the vehicle. There was also a fatality -- someone on a motorcycle.

    Bob Jester -- a well-liked and well-respected science teacher at Riverhead High School says he's had an accident in each of the past three Novembers involving a deer. And he says no matter how carefully you drive, he echoes what all other deer accident victims seem to say "he just APPEARED."

    A close friend of mine hit a deer driving in Connecticut once and I can tell you, it is very, very scary stuff. So, especially at dawn and dusk, if you're driving anywhere in eastern Suffolk, take it nice and slow -- make sure those seat belts are on -- and keep your eyes open -- wide!

Who Stole the Love?

By Doug Geed

  It's really one of my favorites "downtowns" on Long Island, even though it technically isn't a downtown. I'm talking about Love Lane in Mattituck, on the North Fork.

   Route 25 runs through the heart of the hamlet, but if you make a left turn just as 25 makes a sharp bend to the right, you'll be on a quiet, quaint, picturesque road lined with trees, flags, flower planters, a chocolate shop, a cheese shop, a terrific market that's like something out of New England, a quirky furniture shop on the corner, about a half-dozen other unique shops, and, of course, a post office.

     But what you won't find on this street (that someone referred to as the "Mayberry of Long Island") is the historic street marker "Love Lane." It's a metal sign, heart-shaped, with an arrow through it and it has sat on the corner of Love Lane and Route 25 since the 1970's. But somebody stole it -- twice. It was taken last month but found a few days later in an alley way between stores. The town put it back up, but it was taken again and this time, there's been no "sign" of it.

    The fact that anyone would steal anything from here is shocking enough to residents and shopkeepers, but the fact that it's their beloved little sign makes them even more disappointed. Couples and lovers would often pose for a picture under the camera.

     Southold Town Police Chief  Cochran says for now, his officers don't have a whole lot to go on. Maybe it was a teen-aged prank -- maybe it was a souvenir hunter. But he says in a small town like Southold "people talk. Word gets around." We'll find it, he believes. Let's hope he's right.

   

Heartbroken

Danielle Campbell

 

It is heartbreaking.
7 teenagers, allegedly hunt down a Hispanic immigrant in the streets of Patchogue--- an attack that led to Marcelo Lucero's horrifying death.

Marcelo, who was 38, was beaten, and then stabbed.  He tried to fight back with his belt.  Moments before he was walking to a friends house, to watch a movie on a Saturday night.  Marcelo, who had been in our country for 16 years, struggling to make his way in the world, liked to rent movies.  Most likely movies with a happy ending, that's because Marcelo truly believed in the American Dream.

Marcelo who grew up in the mountains of  Ecudor, was described as a gentle, joyful man, who lived his  life as a peacemaker.  Marcelo was happy with the election of Barak Obama. He saw it as a moment of healing, and was hopeful it would bring  an end to judgements based on the color of the skin.

Marcelo never missed a chance to call his mother, several times a week, letting her know he was ok and that he loved her.  Because I am a mother, I think of Marcello's mother, so far way, so helpless, unable to change what has happened to her beautiful son.  The thought of her heartbreak is unbearable.  Because I am a mother, I think of the 7 mothers of the teenagers arrested.  I can't imagine their pain, their grief, the feeling of helplessness they must have, how broken their hearts must be.

Wheat Free and Feeling Good

By Mary Mucci

After being a pizza and pasta vegetarian for two years, a friend of mine was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.  I suggested she get off wheat to relieve the inflammation that was causing her so much pain.  She did and guess what : the pain stopped.  It returned every time she ate wheat or other gluten grains. It also returned with other foods like tomatoes and other nightshades.  Now, years later she has been treated for her allergies with NAET.  She can now eat wheat without reacting.  But she doesn’t eat it often.  Neither do I.  I no longer react to wheat either.  But I find that when I eat wheat I gain weight more easily.  Meanwhile, I’ve discovered many other delicious grains. And because I often make my own, choosing to avoid wheat means that bread, cake and pasta become occasional treats.

No one knows for sure why so many people are having problems with gluten grains. 

The experts guess it’s because we eat so much wheat all day long and all year long.  Then of course there’s the likelihood that much of the wheat we eat is genetically engineered to contain more gluten and make it easy to work with. Another friend took a baking course and was told that American wheat had more gluten than European wheat.   I used to wonder why whenever I traveled to Europe I was able to eat wheat and dairy, two foods that bothered me here at home.

The very idea of giving up wheat sounds ridiculous to most people .  Well that’s a sure sign they’re eating too much. But if you’re having any kind of inflammatory condition, I strongly recommend you give it a try.  Unfortunately, in this case you have to avoid it completely.  That means you need to read every label.  Also it takes about six weeks before you can be sure your intestines have healed.  Then you will know if your health problems are gluten related. 

To Your Health,

Mary Mucci

 

Contacts:

Dr. Steve Nenninger, Naturopathic Physician, Port Jeff

631 235 2111

Gluten Free Long Island, a local place to come together for food reviews, stores, tips, recipes, and idea exchange

www.glutenfreelongisland.com

 

 

 

The Mortgage Crisis

By Doug Geed

   Ironically, Jean from Bethpage was on the phone with her mortgage company when she heard a knock at the front door just about a year ago. It was a processor -- delivering papers that told her she was in foreclosure and that she might lose her house. Her husband had lost his construction job and they fell behind in their mortgage payments.
    The story will probably have a happy ending for her family. After a year of draining, aggravating negotiations, it appears her lender has accepted a new deal and they'll be able to keep their house.
     But thousands of other Long Islanders may not be so lucky.

    Economists say Long Island was hit hard by the mortgage crisis -- harder than any other area of New York State and harder than most areas of the country.

    The problem is that house prices in Nassau and Suffolk sky-rocketed to artificially high levels. That's great news if you sold at the right time, but terrible news for those who bought -- and many people bought well over their heads with low, temporary "teaser" rates that have now jumped substantially.

   Dr. Pearl Kamer -- chief economist of the Long Island Association -- expects house prices here on the island to drop another 15-percent through next year. That's on top of the significant drop they've already gone through.

   She says that's bad in many ways because as house prices go down, a whole new crop of homeowners will have mortgages higher than what their homes are worth. But she -- and other economists -- say this is just a big "correction" to get prices back to where they should be. Most experts agree that prices on Long Island are STILL artificially high and need to go down.

    Of course that's of little comfort to you if you're struggling with a whopping monthly mortgage that you simply cannot pay. Experts urge anyone facing that situation to seek help. Here are some links below where you can find that help.

   They also say not to panic and budget very wisely. Carefully break down what you need and what you want and -- painful as it is, especially with the holidays right around the corner -- only go with things you need for now. CD's, Treasury Bills -- safe investments with not-so-great interest rates -- may not be a bad choice until things settle down, they say.

    Let's hope for everyone's sake this is temporary and good times wait ahead.

Long Island Housing Partnership

www.lihp.org

 http://www.mlsli.com/housingresources.cfm
 http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/1800Vol/long-island-volunteer-center/OpenAboutOrganizationAction.do?organizationId=235883
 http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/webtemp5.cfm?dept=31&id=1677
 http://www.lifairhousing.org/home.htm
 http://www.volunteermatch.org/opps/opp273565.html

I've Seen It All

By Bob Wolff

     Like so many others, I had tears in my eyes on Tuesday night, November 4th -- tears of joy for our country -- a country that believes in equal opportunity for all -- and now has proved that to the world without any doubt.
     I remember when Jackie Robinson broke the color line in baseball and won the respect he so richly deserved. But Jackie was told to keep his emotions in check and accept taunting remarks -- answering with his enormous skills as a player.
     Today, color, country, and heritage are no longer factors in accepting athletes. Now it's more than respect. Athletes are idolized, loved by devoted fans. Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Willis Reed, Walt Frazier -- the list goes on -- had that magic quality and the same is true of foreign stars who receive affection -- white, black, brown, yellow -- it makes no difference.
     The record crowds that came out to cheer and vote for Barack Obama loved his style, his graciousness, his leadership -- what he had to say.
     There was love there for a fellow American and pride that Barack and all of us Americans are members of the same race -- the human race.

A New Way To Look At The Weather

By Bill Korbel

 

For the better part of a year, the News12 weather department along with our cohorts at News12 Traffic and Weather and our own News12 graphics department have been laboriously working on a massive overhaul of the weather graphics you see on air.

It might seem like a relatively simple thing, but it isn’t.  In fact, we all shed a lot of blood, sweat and tears on the project but now that it’s done, I know you will like what you see.

 

The graphics themselves are clear, clean and much more contemporary then our old weather images.  We took a great deal of care to make sure everything was positioned on the screen so we wouldn’t block any information.  But it’s more then just the look that has changed.  The entire way we present the weather has evolved into something completely new.  We call it Hyper Local.  We’ve been using the term for a few months now finally we can really show what it means:  weather on a tighter scale then was ever possible before.  Long Island has a very diverse climate but in the past we really couldn’t get the details we needed to confidently show you just how different Merrick is from Manhasset or Shirley from Smithtown.  

 

Now, that has all changed.

It was only a couple of years ago that the only reliable weather observations came from L.I. airports and there were only seven stretching from NYC to Montauk.  Then News 12 installed several of our own weather stations along the north shore from Woodbury to Port Jefferson.  Combined with Dual Doppler 12, our twin radars, we started filling in the gaps.  Within the last couple of months, we have expanded the observing sites to  over 75 weather stations.   You can already access these hyper local weather reports on our web site News12.com.  and we have begun incorporating them in our News12 weather reports as well.  Click on this link to Hyper Local Weather Stations  and you'll see our new weather stations on a map of your area.

 

Mark Twain once said evrybody talks about the weather but no one does anything about it.  Not at News 12.  Here, we do a lot about the weather.

 

 

 

Eco-Friendly Building

By Holli Haerr

As you may have noticed, being green sometimes costs extra money at first. For example, a CFL lightbulb costs a few bucks more than a "regular" lightbulb - but you save in the long run. 

If you're building a new house, being green can cost tens of thousands of extra dollars. And that can cause people to forgo solar panels, geothermal heat, special wood, extra insulation and other environmentally-friendly features.

A company based in Westhampton Beach is working to change that, and make building green easier on the wallet. Brian MacKinnon and Kyle Collins from The Green Nest recently showed me and photojournalist Dave Garden a home being built in Remsenberg that eliminates much of the cost factor.

How? It's a prefabricated house, built in a factory and assembled on site. Before you think, "Oh, it probably looks like a shoebox", guess again. As you can see from the pictures, the house that's under construction is not the type of pre-fab house that you see on the back of a truck, trundling down the LIE.

MacKinnon and Collins say the materials in the house are eco-friendly. In addition, since they just have to be put together at the construction site, they save more than 30 percent of the cost of a conventionally-built house. That savings can then be put into environmental features such as solar panels.

In addition, there's less waste. Since the items are pre-cut, the construction crew does very little sawing -- generating few scraps. Collins says they'll fill about 5 dumpsters of trash during construction instead of the 15 a project that size usually uses.

So, they'll cut down on trash AND on the trucks needed to transport the trash. (They also use a company that recycles whatever it can from the dumpster.)

If you want to find out more, you can check out their website at www.thegreennest.net.

Got Your Flu Shot?

Drew Scott

 I got my flu shot today. Maybe you should too.

 It didn't hurt, and doctors say it will provide me some measure of protection from joining thousands of Long Islanders who get sick with the flu every year. 

 Did you know that the flu claims 36,000 lives each year across this country? Mostly those with compromised immune systems, the very young, and old timers (like me).

Most insurance companies reimburse doctors offices for the shot.  

I got my shot from Maria Amorusso, a registered nurse. She was so good with the needle, I didn't feel a thing. She says, later I may feel a little discomfort in my right arm. She says it's an "inactivated" vaccine, not live, so the chances of me getting "a little sick" are near zero.

Who should be SURE to get a flu shot? Again, nurse Amorusso tells me all kids ages 6 months or older up to 18 years, anyone age 50 or over, anyone with chronic medical problems, and anyone who works in the health care field or works closely with kids and older folks.

It takes 2 weeks for the flu shot protection to "kick in." You only need to get one shot per year.

If you want to learn more about the flu, check this website www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

The only downside to all this: There are many types of flu bugs out there and the vaccine I got will protect me from most of what doctors believe will be "prevalent" infections this year. Still, getting a little stick in my arm is a lot better than spending a week of misery in a hospital bed!

       

Two Terrible Cases

By Holli Haerr

In court today in Riverhead, 16-year-old Christopher Overton stood before a judge. He is now accused in connection with two terrible and deadly crimes on Long Island.

This past weekend, he was arrested along with six other students from Patchogue-Medford High School and charged with gang assault. Police say the group was involved in a hate crime - the stabbing and beating death of an immigrant at the Patchogue train station. Another teen (not Overton) was charged with the stabbing.

In 2007, Overton was involved in a deadly home invasion in East Patchogue. You may remember the story, the victim, Carlton Shaw, tried to confront burglars at his house and was shot. His body was found, with his three-year-old son lying on top of it, asleep.

Another teen was convicted of shooting Shaw in that case. Overton pled guilty to burglary and was waiting to be sentenced. In his plea deal, he could have avoided jailtime. But that deal may now be changed or thrown out.

In court in Riverhead today, the prosecutor said Overton violated terms of the deal because he was out past curfew and he's been charged in another crime.

Overton's lawyer says the teen was not involved in this weekend's deadly attack. He'd been hanging out with some of the teens earlier, but left before it happened. His friends who came to court said there's no way Overton would be involved in a hate crime.

After court, we visited Shaw's fiancee from that 2007 case. She spoke very little English but her message was clear. She said she was surprised to find out that someone could be involved in both crimes, and she's hoping for justice in both.

She also said that her son still looks for his father, more than a year after his murder.

Selden is Horse Country?

By Holli Haerr

(Update Wednesday: After this story aired yesterday, a person from the house in Selden called News 12 Long Island and said there was a miscommunication with the town over the property size and the horses would be taken to a stable. The SPCA confirmed this afternoon that the horses are no longer in the backyard and are now at a stable in Manorville.)

I have to admit, when I was little, I dreamed of having a horse in the backyard. But my parents said no. Not having a big enough yard was just one of the many (valid) reasons they gave.

Fast forward to today. My assignment was to check out a backyard in Selden where two horses are staying. Even though the notes said the property was a third of an acre, I was picturing something, well - bigger. This was just a regular backyard and the horses were in an area blocked off by ropes.

Photographer Dave Leibowitz and I talked to a couple of neighbors. One said, they were now joking that Selden had become "horse country." Then, we knocked on the door of the horses' house. No one answered.

I was really hoping they would. I wanted to hear their side of the story. Where did the horses come from? What would they do with the manure? Where will the horses go now? Maybe they have a friend with horses, who couldn't afford a stable?

Anyway, Brookhaven Town Code says if you want to have two horses, you have to have at least an acre of property. According to records, this property is about a third of an acre. The town has issued a couple of violations - one for the horses and one for a lack of property maintenance. A representative from the town and the neighbors said, there is a dumpster in the front yard, so it does look like they were trying to clean stuff up. (Below is a picture of the house and the dumpster.)

Right now, the people who live there have to find other accommodations for the horses, or the town will take them away.

I also called the Suffolk SPCA, which sent investigators to the house. A spokesman said the agency is concerned about the horses' safety in the backyard so they're giving the people in the house 24 hours to take care of things -- or the SPCA will take further action. Right now, he said they're working with the people to make sure the horses are ok.

By the way, we didn't see any shelter for the horses back there; but the SPCA spokesman said that is NOT a safety violation. He said horses live in the wild, so most can stay outside on Long Island without any problems, even in the winter.

I hope a new, good home is found for them.

In the meantime, here are links to the Suffolk and Nassau SPCAs - if you see horses or other potential problems with animals in your neighborhood.

http://www.suffolkcountyspca.org/

http://www.ncspca.com/

Gas Bug

By Jill Conway

Hi Everybody!  

Trish Bergin has been reassigned - so now I am filling in for Elizabeth Hashagen on Future Files!  I read about something called "the gas bug" - and I thought it was pretty amazing! 

 

How scientists got the idea of using E-coli bacteria for something positive boggles the mind.  Here's how it works, they essentially feed the microscopic e-coli bacteria with sugar - which then creates blobs of hydrocarbon.  Viola! A new exciting form of biodiesel.

    

Scientists have been working on ways to stop the U.S.'s dependency on foreign oil- and this may be a step in the right direction.  As I  mentioned in my piece, The first plant should be up and running in a few years in California, then a few years later , drivers on Long Island may be pulling into a gas bug station! 

 

 How exciting!   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

Building Hope

By Virginia Huie

I saw true community spirit at work this weekend in Holbrook. Dozens of volunteers building hope for wounded warrior. In March a roadside explosive took Chris Levi's legs and damaged his right arm. News of his grave injuries spread quickly in his hometown. Family friend Teresa Leonard wrote a letter -- asking the public for financial help to build a wheelchair ramp at the Levi home. Holbrook's bravest answered the call. Now, a simple request for a ramp has turned into a $100,000 renovation. Holbrook's fire chief Rick Gimbl gathered an army of volunteers to convert the ground floor of Chris' home into a handicapped accessible apartment. They've been working 7 days a week since August. Their goal -- to complete the job by Christmas. The community's efforts will enable Chris to live in comfort at his home after he finishes rehabilitation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Chris' mom, Debbie, gives him daily updates about the renovation. She says it's the best medicine for her son. He can't wait to come home to see his new apartment. And his hometown can't wait to welcome him home. In the meantime, volunteers are holding various fundraisers to help Chris.

Click here to find out how you can help

Click here to learn more about Chris Levi

Big Budget Ax

By Scott Feldman

The fiscal picture from Albany is not pretty. Governor Paterson says $2 billion in spending has to be cut from the state's $120 billion budget that ends March 31st. So, where's the money coming from? Paterson is looking for billions in cuts in Medicaid, along with midyear reductions in school aid. The possibility of cutting Medicaid outrages advocates for the poor, sick and senior citizens. Bill Ferris, a New York state lobbyist for AARP says, "Cuts could deny personal care services to an elderly person living alone, cuts could deny a homebound senior a meal, as well as force a family to institutionalize an elderly loved lone because they no longer have the caregiver support in the community to keep the person at home."

School Superintendents are clearly nervous about potential cuts to their districts. Connetquot Supt. Dr. Alan Groveman tells me midyear school aid cuts are much more difficult to deal with than those that begin with the budget cycle. Connetquot could tap a reserve fund to make up some of the shortfall this year. But administrators, clerical, teachers, counselors along with a whole host of after school activities and programs could be cut. Groveman says for every million dollars less the district gets in school aid, taxes would go up about 85 dollars annually for the average homeowner, if the district wanted to keep the programs alive for next year. 

Parents are clearly not happy. One mother of five told me her kids are in all kinds of after school activities. But an 83 year old retiree on a fixed income says he just can't afford to pay higher taxes.

Albany lawmakers head back to the capital on Nov. 18th for a special session. They're facing some tough choices. But it is what it is. Governor Paterson knows he's going to get a lot of resistance from legislators and others. A lot of what he is asking to be cut he fought to protect during his years as a State Senator. But as he told the New York Times, "I'll feel the pain my stomach, but my conscience will be clear." 

Long Island Music Hall of Fame

By Elisa DiStefano

   My friends live around the country and the world. It's easy to envy the Floridians calling me from lunch on the beach; my friends in Europe and Asia sending photos from the different countries and cities that they travel to each weekend.  My dear friend from Norway visited last week--she couldn't get over how beautiful our leaves are. She misses living here!  My other dear friend in Hong Kong (if you plan on visiting HK, check out her recommendations)  can't wait to get out to the Hamptons -- and hopes to make it back before all of the leaves are down!  We truly live in a special place, a place some of the biggest names in music are proud to call home.

Miami                    Tampa                Thailand                Italy 

            

Cannes              Barcelona          Norway

              Last week I had the honor of attending the Long Island Music Hall of Fame Inductions at the Garden City Hotel. I know people say "there is something in the water" -- because so much talent comes from Long Island. It's true! Among the famous faces there to celebrate the Hall of Fame inductees were my childhood favorites Paula and Carole from the Magic Garden (they finally said my name! If you watched the show, you know what I'm talking about!), Peter Tork from the Monkees, Cousin Brucie , Fingers from WBAB,  and Grandmaster Flash. They were all so nice. Grandmaster was there to induct LL Cool J. He told me that he loves spending time in Suffolk County, "Suffolk County is very relaxing. It lets me turn off Grandmaster and just be Joe".
           

               

            I also had a chance to chat with LL (who is even better looking in person :-) ) Here's what he had to say in the Press Room after he received his award from Grandmaster...
"First of all I was born in Bay Shore. Everybody knows I was raised in Queens, but I also have a huge extended family on Long island, and went to school on Long Island. I went to Belmont Elementary. At one point I went to Robert Moses Junior HS.  I played little league football on Long Island. I spent a lot of time out here ... it's amazing to just be recognized and every award matters, and in your own community, this is truly my roots, this is part of my roots, and part of where I come from, so when the people honor you from where you come from, it just feels a little bit more sincere, a little more truthful, so I am very thankful."
                Chuck D (of Public Enemy) stopped on the red carpet to talk about how proud he is to be a Long Islander. Here's what he said... "I went to college down at Adelphi--where all our beginnings are. I went to high school down at Clark and we are all from Roosevelt. That triangle right there is the birthplace for a lot of hip hop history." Chuck D's studios are in Roosevelt. He did a rare performance with Darryl "DMC" McDaniels  (of Run DMC) who also inducted him. DMC called Chuck his "idol" and "the best rapper that ever lived". DMC was inducted last year--when I questioned his Long Island roots, he was quick to remind me that he is a Long Islander because he lived in Freeport for 6 years! Plus, he's on Long Island every day working in Chuck D's Roosevelt studio. He said he loves Long Island because we have " a lot of flavor."  I agree--and DMC has a new fan! Some inductees, like members of The Ramones, Blue Oyster Cult, The Good Rats, Jean Ritchie, The Tokens and Kenny Vance, joined in the festivities. Others, like Pat Benatar, Neil Diamond, Carole King, Barbra Steisand, Eddie Money, & Mariah Carey, had others accept on their behalf... and sadly, missed out on an amazing night!

                               




           

               

A Life Cut Short

By Alison Kosik

For many people who live in poverty, America is the place for opportunity. That's what Marcello Lucero believed. So, 16-years ago he left Ecuador and moved to the United States.

Saturday night the 37-year old was stabbed to death, police say, because of the color of his skin. They say it was a hate crime.

Friends and relatives now mourn for a man who they say was a kind, giving, hard worker, who would always be there if you needed help. He didn't have much. He lived on the top floor of a home in Patchogue. He worked at odd jobs and most recently at a dry cleaner. But he always had enough money to send some home to his mother in Ecuador.

He found his own American Dream here on Long Island, only to have it taken away by a knife attack on a dark street. That night, he was headed to a friend's house to do something all American: watch a movie. Instead, his life was tragically cut short.

Disaster Shirts

Norm Dvoskin

It always amazes me that one day after the occurrence of a major natural disaster you can go on line and order a t-shirt that marks the event. You can buy a shirt that reads, "TSUNAMI SURVIVOR," or even one with, "HURRICANE KATRINA--I WAS THERE."

I remember working with meteorologist Joe Rao during the vicious blizzard of March 14-15th, 1993 here at News 12 Long Island. During that severe coastal storm, 8 to 12 inches of snow fell on Long Island followed by heavy rain which turned to ice. Winds were gusting over 90 miles an hour. The two of us were supporting each other. While one of us was on-air, the other was on the phone collecting observers data. There were more than 200 deaths attributed to that storm as it made its way up the East Coast. The next day I went on line and bought two shirts showing a drawing of two laced-up boots sitting on a mound of snow. Underneath, the caption read, "The Blizzard of 1993,"

Another eventful storm on January 22-23, 2005 was covered live by me, Rich Hoffman and Bill Korbel. This blizzard dropped up to 20 inches of snow across Long Island. Visibility was down to near zero and wind gusts exceeded 75 mile per hour. The next day I bought three t-shirts saying, "I Survived The Blizzard of 2005." The shirt has a cartoon of a hand extended up, holding a shovel sticking out of a deep snow drift.

The "disaster t-shirt" can make a great gift. After a hurricane damaged my friend's condo at Boynton Beach, Florida, in October, 2005, I sent him a shirt similar to the one shown below. The only difference is the shirt I bought read, "I Was BL_ _ N by Wilma."

Remembering Our Veterans

By Ken Grimball

Seated comfortably in their Home and Careers Class, students at Selina's Junior High School in Setauket, were very busy with a special project. They were using thousands of small red, white, and blue beads that were in a large bowl on a table before them. Next to the bowl, there was a tray of large golden safety pins. With a few giggles now and then, the Eighth Grade girls were placing the beads carefully on the pins. This was not being done randomly. There was a purpose. They were making creative flag pins, that could be worn on clothing or placed on the wall.  The flag pins were for Veterans, living at the nearby Long Island Veterans Home in nearby Stony Brook. Students in this class reach out to people in their community who are not often on the front page or identified at the Shopping Malls.

The youngsters appeared to be delighted with their project. While speaking with them I detected a level of appreciation for the people who had fought so galantly for them in Viet Nam and other conflicts. As a Viet Nam era Veteran, I felt quite honored to think that children today had so much feeling and gratitude for these people who faced battles and who still have scars mentally and physically from being in all sorts of conditions while defending the freedom that we have here in the Good Old U.S.A.

By the time the project is completed, the students will have made Two-hundred-fifty flag pins to be given to the Veterans on their well deserved day, November 11th.

Christmas Giving Going to the Dogs... and Cats?

By Jackie Lukas

As we approach this upcoming holiday season, there are some interesting new facts coming out about spending. So let me just be blunt. If your name's not Fido or Buster -- you probably won't be getting as many presents under your Christmas tree!

A recent consumer report shows that 76% of Americans are going to be cutting back on spending this holiday. That's gifts, travel, decorations, holiday cards... you name it!       

84% of people said that they will cut back on spending for themselves.                                            40% are scaling back on family and friends.

But - only 23% of shoppers said they would cut back on spending for their pets! I mean, why should our furry friends suffer? The struggling economy and volatile market is no reason to not get those extra treats for your pets. I know my Mitsy and Kit Kat will get as much catnip as they want this holiday season!  
 

And some of my co-workers feel the same way. Who could deny these lovable pooches anything?

     

But in all seriousness, I can see why pet presents may not be on the holiday budget chopping block. You're not really breaking the bank buying that extra dog bone - or mouse toy.

    

Since times are hard, I am curious to see how the holiday season is going to be. I still haven't really thought about whether or not I'm going to cut back on spending this year. I believe my family deserves the best of the best. Especially if you throw in some door buster sales and coupons!

But - recently for my birthday my brother showed me that you don't have to spend a lot of money - to give a great and thoughtful gift! Check this out!

   

He actually made me a tea box from scratch! How cool is that?! He took the time to build, stain and stencil it. It's the best present he has ever given me - and far better than anything he could buy in a store! My new tea box is a reminder that special occasions like birthdays and holidays are not about how much money you spend. "It's the thought that counts!" We've all heard the saying - but how often do we really act on it? So whether it's a present for your family, friends or Fido -- be sure to add that extra special touch to show them how much you really care this holiday season! And who knows - maybe you'll be able to keep some extra cash in your piggy bank in the process!

Say Thanks to a Veteran

By Doug Geed

    I watched "Saving Private Ryan" again last night, an incredibly powerful movie that I think everyone in this country should be required to watch.

In case you've never seen it, it's Steven Spielberg's outstanding film that tells a fictional story in the all-too-real setting of D-Day -- the invasion at Normandy, France, in June of 1944, that turned around World War Two in the Allies' favor.                                                                                                     

    It's an amazing movie and among the many images that remain in my mind is the final scene. The national cemetery -- all those white crosses and stones commemorating our brave men and women who served our country. I think of Long Island's national cemetery in Pinelawn, the nation's largest, and the final resting place for my dad, an uncle, my godfather and thousands of others.

  Fortunately, none of my relatives had to go through what so many others did on that day in Normandy, but I'm sure they saw their own horrors that haunted them for the rest of their lives -- horrors that they never shared with anyone else. Typical of that generation.

     Then I think of all the veterans who served in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and now Iraq and Afghanistan. How many of them carried or will carry physical and/or emotional wounds because of what they went through?

    No matter where we are -- stuck in traffic, getting angrier by the minute on the L-I-E, frustrated by the long line we're on at the supermarket while we're trying to rush home to catch our favorite show, or cursing at our television set because our favorite team is losing -- let's always remember that right at that moment, there are thousands of men and woman scattered all around the globe far from their families.  And the only reason they're there is to protect the freedoms we enjoy back home.

   So on this Veterans Day, if you see anyone who served our country or does so now, just give them a thank you. I bet it'll make them -- and you -- feel good.

This Time It's REALLY Big!

By Jamie Stuart

Stop me if you've heard this before.

No Tom Brady.  The Jets have Brett Favre.  THIS is the time where the Jets put their foot down and show the Pats who's the new king in town.

Sound familiar?   It should.  All that was said a little more than two months ago, when the Jets were getting ready for their first showdown with the hated Patriots.

You remember, New England had just been blasted by the Death Star as Tom Brady was lost for the season.  They were supposed to basically "lay-down" the rest of the season while Favre and the Jets took flight.

One problem.  No one told high school QB Matt Cassell that.  He was 16 for 23 for 165 yards in the Patriots 19-10 win over Gang Green.  So when the Jets meet the Patriots in Foxboro this Thursday night, it's THEY who are looking to prove something.

Prove they're ready to dethrone the Patriots.  Prove Brett Favre can have a big game WITHOUT throwing an interception. 

A win and the Jets are in sole possession of first place in the AFC East with six games to play.  A lot of season left, no doubt.  But, a 7-3 mark almost assuredly would lead to a playoff berth.

Once again, it's RIGHT THERE for the taking.  The Jets are coming off 44 point demolition of the Rams.  It's their most complete victory in years.  They've won 3 in a row, and 5 of their last 6.

The Jets failed their first test with the Patriots.  Pass this next one, and things could get special.

Witch Wedding

By Virginia Huie

A devil witnessed the wedding of Tara Hughes and Nick Tomeo in Lindenhurst. So did a pirate and an angel and a fairy. The guests came in costume to get into the spirit of the Halloween day ceremony. An unconventional wedding for a nontraditional bride. Tara Hughes of Centereach is a follower of the Wiccan religion. That makes her a witch. Not the wicked, wart-on-the-nose creatures made infamous in storybooks -- but a worshipper of an ancient earth-based religion. Wiccans believe the divine exists in everyone and everything, and they pray to a god and goddess. Wicca has been recognized as a religion by the U.S. since 1986, when the Internal Revenue Service ruled that contributions to it were tax-deductible. Followers estimate there are about 1 million Wiccans in the country. Tara and Nick tied the knot the Wiccan way with a handfasting ceremony. Colored cords bound their hands together to symbolize their union. They exchanged vows and rings. The ceremony ended with the couple jumping over a broomstick to signify their leap into life together. I've seen many nontraditional weddings -- ones held atop skyscrapers, on the ice, under water and in the air. Tara and Nick's wedding was out of the ordinary. But it was touching and romantic -- a true celebration of love. Tara told me she was a rebel as a kid and made her share of mistakes. She never thought she'd find lasting love. But then she met Nick -- and her fear of commitment melted away. She says he takes care of her. Nick is not Wiccan. But he says he embraces Tara for everything that she is. That's true love.