Blogs 12 Long Island

How's He Doing?

by Jill Wagner

President Obama has only been in office about 60 days... but doesn't it feel a lot longer?  The economy is in a recession, and for awhile now, it seems like every single day there's just more bad news.  For his part, Obama has made the media rounds trying to shore up support for his economic policies and also to reassure the country that we'll make it out of this in one piece!  He's the only sitting president to appear on the Tonight Show, and he also had an in-depth interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday.  

Last night, for the second time since taking office, he had a formal, prime time press conference with reporters---55 minutes of questions and answers---and you guessed it, most of what he had to say involved the economy. 

It's not surprising then, that almost everyone has an opinion on how he's doing.  In an exclusive News 12/ Hofstra poll, we asked Long Islanders to rate the president.  Here's what they had to say:

22 percent say he's doing an excellent job
39 percent say he's doing a good job.
23 percent say fair.
9 percent say poor
7 percent are undecided.

I headed to Plainview yesterday and asked random people to rate the president.  Almost everyone had a strong and immediate opinion.  One woman from Bethpage said he was a "disaster," a "zero."  Another from Syosset said she'd give him an "A" for effort.  Only one person said it was too soon to know!  I think that's because after just 60 days, with all the country is going through, everyone's paying a lot of attention to the President, for better or worse!

So how do you think he's doing?

Can the Punishment Fit the Crime?

by Jill Wagner

Yesterday, 70-year-old Bernard Madoff pleaded guilty in what could be Wall Street's biggest investment scam ever.  He was whisked off to jail, and faces 150 years in prison when sentenced. 

A few hours later, victims of another alleged Ponzi scheme were learning about how Nicholas Cosmo supposedly cheated THEM of millions.  Prosecutors say Cosmo ran the scam through his company, Agape World, headquartered in Hauppauge. 

A bankruptcy trustee, who's investigating just where all that money went, told a federal judge what he knew so far: That Cosmo lost about 80 million dollars in bad investments in the commodities market; that he spent more than three million dollars on an indoor football field in Hauppauge; that he used the money to purchase tickets to the upcoming US Open Golf Tournament, seats at the new Jets/Giants stadium, and a Mercedes for himself.

Authorities say Cosmo swindled $370 million; Madoff--$65 billion.  Cosmo was arrested last month and is still in jail.  

AP

But assuming that both are guilty--what is the appropriate punishment?  Is there even an appropriate punishment?

The men are accused of stealing people's entire life savings, college funds, and in the case of a woman who called Long Island Talks tonight, money for her son's autism treatment.     

An investor who says he lost more than $1 million in Madoff's scam told the AP: prison is too good for Madoff; he'd rather "stone him to death."

Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel lost more than 15 million dollars.  The New York Post reported that Weisel told a Manhattan panel--something "new" should be devised to punish Madoff.  "Whatever [there] is to hurt him should be invented.....He should go before a group of judges who would imagine a punishment for him."                                                  AP

"He should be put in a solitary cell with a screen, and on the screen, for at least five years of his life, [would be] pictures of his victims."  That way he can understand what he's done. 

Any other ideas for creative punishment?  

Rihanna and Chris Brown

by Jill Wagner

1 in 5.  That's how many high school relationships involve physical abuse, according to Mindy Perlmutter, the Director of Education for the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.  To me, those numbers are pretty startling. 

I interviewed Perlmutter Friday for a story on pop star Chris Brown, and his alleged assault on girlfriend and fellow pop star, Rihanna.  This is a picture of the star obtained by TMZ website back in February.

   

Compare that to what she normally looks like, and it's clear, this was a serious assault.  Now an affidavit released by the Los Angeles Police Department says it all started when Brown and Rihanna were driving, and he got a text message from another girl.  When Rihanna saw it, Brown allegedly tried to push her out of the car--punching her as he drove.  Then, the affidavit says, the assault continued, causing Rihanna's mouth to fill with blood, and blood to splatter all over her clothes and the vehicle.

Now, a few weeks later, reports are that Rihanna and Brown have gotten back together.  

Whether or not you care about Rihanna and celebrity gossip, there is a bigger issue here.  Perlmutter and other social workers are concerned about what kind of message this sends to teens who look up to these rock stars. 

Perlmutter says she goes to schools across Nassau and talks to students about domestic violence.  Rihanna and Chris Brown are the couple that everyone wants to talk about.  And like Perlmutter says, if Rihanna is really back together with Brown, it could send the message that this isn't such a big deal. 

But domestic violence is a VERY BIG DEAL.  Perlmutter says last year alone domestic violence cases led to nearly ten deaths in Nassau County.  And for the attackers---the behavior is very hard to change.  She says it's likely this is not the first time Rihanna and Brown have had an issue, and unfortunately, it's likely this won't be the last. 

Hopefully teens can look at Rihanna and Brown and decide that this is one time they won't try to emulate pop stars.  Because if 1 in 5 relationships are already involved in some type of abuse, then the problem has already gone too far.    

 

Cartoon Controversy

by Jill Wagner

"Sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon."

So says the NY Post about this political cartoon that appeared in Wednesday's paper.  For anyone who still hasn't seen it, here ya go:

The cartoon shows a dead chimpanzee and two police officers---one with a smoking gun. The caption reads---"They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."

It appears to link President Obama, who signed the massive stimulus bill last week, to Travis the Chimp, shot dead in Connecticut. 

Al Sharpton and other African American leaders say the cartoon is racist and plays on old stereotypes, equating African Americans with monkeys.  They've spent the days picketing in front of the Post's Manhattan offices. 

In response to the outcry, the NY Post wrote this on their website:

"Wednesday's Page Six cartoon - caricaturing Monday's police shooting of a chimpanzee in Connecticut - has created considerable controversy. It shows two police officers standing over the chimp's body: "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill," one officer says. It was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill.  Period. But it has been taken as something else - as a depiction of President Obama, as a thinly veiled expression of racism. This most certainly was not its intent; to those who were offended by the image, we apologize. However, there are some in the media and in public life who have had differences with The Post in the past - and they see the incident as an opportunity for payback. To them, no apology is due. Sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon - even as the opportunists seek to make it something else."

Sharpton says the apology is NOT accepted, and wants the Post shut down....

So what do you think?  Has the Post finally gone too far?  Or is this a case of misinterpretation? 

 

Lewd and Crude

by Jill Wagner

A 44-year old Copiague man is behind bars---accused of masturbating in front of young teens.  But police never would have made the arrest without the quick thinking of some of the alleged victims. 

I spoke to the mother of one of these teens.  She says her 14 year old daughter was walking to school on Wednesday morning with three other young girls.  They were on Great Neck Road near Bethpage Road; that's about a half mile from the Copiague Middle School. 

She says a mini van pulled along side the girls.  The man inside rolled down his window and said hello.  The girls then saw that the man was masturbating.  Despite being horrified, the girls had the acumen to write down the license plate and give it to the school's principal.  

School officials told police.  Police staked out the area the next morning.  Sure enough, they say the suspect, Raul Lizcano, was back at it.  They arrested him on Public Lewdness and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. 

But now police say this same thing may have been going on--unreported--as far back as September.  They're asking for the public's help in identifying anymore victims. 

Police say the man drives a green 1994 Chrysler minivan.  The license plate is ACU 7872.  He also may have driven a white four-door vehicle. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 1800-220-TIPS.

"Safe Harbor"

by Jill Wagner

There's another plan to put a liquified natural gas terminal off our shores. Unlike the controversial Broadwater barge that would have been located in the middle of the Long Island Sound, this plan is calling for a man-made island in the Atlantic Ocean.

Private investors are behind the idea--The Atlantic Sea Island Group.   They call it "Safe Harbor Energy."  It's a 60 acre liquid natural gas terminal that they say would supply much-needed, clean burning natural gas to the New York area.

Today, some local legislators, including Dave Denenberg who represents the South Shore, and environmental groups, spoke out against the idea.  They say the project is an environmental disaster that will kill marine life and industrialize the ocean.  Plus, they say it relies on the importation of FOREIGN liquified natural gas--which is "far more expensive than DOMESTIC natural gas."

In response, a spokesperson for the group tells me:

"The science will prove that this is an environmental sound proposal.  The economics will prove that, in the face of a massive recession, this proposal will create thousands of jobs. The month of January will prove that Long Island will continue to have a genuine need for access to LNG for the foreseeable future."

The plan is controversial to say the least.  And complicated.  There's plenty of additional information on the project website.  The link is: www.atlanticseaislandgroup.com

The website includes a map of the exact location--13.5 miles south of Long Beach, 23 miles from the New York Harbor, and 19 miles east of the Jersey Shore.  There are also graphics of the plant layout from above and below the water.

There is still a long way to go before the plan moves forward.  Governor Patterson and Governor Corzine of New Jersey would have to approve the project before it could go through. We reached out to Governor Paterson's office for comment, and as of this writing, our call has not been returned.

And there will be a public hearing about Safe Harbor tomorrow night, Thursday, January 29th, at the Long Beach Public Library.  There is an open session at 4:30pm and the meeting starts at 6:30pm.

Poor Prince!

by Jill Wagner

It's not often that I feel bad for Prince Harry, because, well, he's a PRINCE!  But news today that his South African girlfriend of five years dumped him over FACEBOOK.... well, that's harsh.  A British tabloid says Chelsy Davy announced the end of her relationship with Prince Harry by changing her Facebook profile to: "Relationship: Not in One."

     AP

It's a story that's pretty much impossible to verify.  That's because, of course, neither Davy or Prince Harry will confirm and Royal officials have refused to comment.  I searched Facebook for Davy's profile and found what appeared to be her page, but unfortunately, we're not "friends!"  And that means I can't see any of her personal information. 

But let's just take a big leap and assume this report is actually true.  It really shows how Facebook and other social networking sites are changing the entire way people interact.  I remember thinking it was rude to break up with someone over the phone!  Now, with a few clicks of the keyboard you can let your significant other know you've had enough of the relationship and want OUT.  And you can do it while simultaneously telling all 500 of your closest friends.  This is courtesy of a "News Feed" that lets everyone know about the split when they log into their account.  The best part is that next to, "So and So went from 'in a relationship' to 'single, there's a little red heart with a jaggedy line down the middle.  

I admit I am a Facebook addict myself and there is plenty to love about the site.  As I've mentioned in previous blogs, it's great to catch up with friends from high school and college and old jobs.  But nothing can really replace face to face time --- whether it be for good stuff or even bad break-ups.     

Snuggie Part II

by Jill Wagner

 

There are few things I like more than coming into work and seeing a present waiting for me on my desk.  And today, that was the very way I was welcomed to the station.  News 12 Long Island's Consumer Reporter and my next door cubicle buddy, Andrew Ehinger, surprised me with a brand new royal blue Snuggie.  After my last blog post about the "blanket with sleeves," Andrew happened to spot one at Bed Bath and Beyond and decided it was time I had one. 

 

So, you might be wondering--is the Snuggie all it's cracked up to be? I can tell you---it is pretty snuggly and soft!  And the sleeves are rather convenient, especially for typing on the computer and watching the news.  Sure, almost everyone who passed by my desk stopped, looked, and laughed, but at least I was warm!

 

 

 

 

The new Snuggie commercial:

"Perfect for reporters on a deadline!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then Andrew and I discovered the blanket/sweater market is surprisingly saturated. 

Consider this, in addition to the Snuggie, there's also the Slanket and the Nuddle.  Who knew?  Even more shocking, the Nuddle actually sells for 110 dollars and is recommended by celebs like Deborah Messing and Angie Harmon.  Take a look:  http://www.nuddleblanket.com/

 

Hmmmm...  Maybe if the powers-that-be at Snuggie see these pictures, they'll ask for my endorsement!    

The Snuggie

By Jill Wagner

Baby it's cold outside!  So how will you keep warm?  Extra layers?  Hats, gloves, scarves?  What about... a Snuggie?  You know, the "blanket with sleeves."The mere mention of the Snuggie and the newsroom erupts with laughter... and a little debate.  Sure, the commercial is a bit odd--almost like a Saturday Night Live skit poking fun at an infomercial--except this one is real.  And yes, the family in maroon Snuggies at the football game looks a tad monk-ish. 

But now that the temperatures are dropping into single digits, a "blanket with sleeves" doesn't seem like such a bad idea.  I could see it now: hanging out in the News 12 truck, waiting to do a live report from the scene, snow is falling outside, but we're nice and warm wrapped in a Snuggie!

I don't think I'm ready to make the leap just yet.  I'm still relying on double socks, long johns and turtle necks.  But if the weather gets any colder, you might just see me in my News 12 jacket and a snuggie on top!

Here we go again!

by Jill Wagner

In this gloomy economy, there's been one bright spot: cheap gas prices!!  Ok, some people may not consider $1.75 a gallon cheap, but it's all relative.  Remember, it was just a few months ago, during the dog days of summer, when we were paying well over $4 a gallon.  Now THAT hurts!

But then the economy tanked, and so did the price of crude oil.  That's the raw stuff that gasoline and home heating oil is made of.  So when the price of crude goes up---inevitably, the price at the pump and the price of home heating oil will go up too.  And vice versa. 

Just look at the numbers: over the summer, a barrel of crude peaked at nearly $150 dollars.  Less than five months later, on December 19th, a barrel bottomed out at around $33.  And even though today prices dropped again, the trend since the 19th has been back up! 

I sat down today with Kevin Rooney, CEO of the Oil Heat Institute of Long Island.  He says prices were artificially inflated in the summer months.  And then, when prices began to come down, they collapsed further then they should have.  Now the rules of supply and demand are once again straightening themselves out.      

So what SHOULD prices be?  Rooney thinks anywhere in the $60 to $70 range would be realistic.  At that price, home heating oil should cost about $2.80-$3.00 a gallon. 

But where does that leave the many Long Islanders who locked in home heating oil prices a few months back when it cost a whole lot more?  If you're one of them, you may have noticed it's not so easy to get out of your contract.  Rooney says that's because when a customer locks in a heating contract, the oil company then takes out their own contract with an oil supplier, and usually they have to pay a price to get out of that.   

So if you haven't locked in a price, would this be a good time to do it?  Rooney says it's really a gamble, but prices do seem to be heading back up.  

At the gas pump, drivers don't have much choice but to grin and bear it.  But there is a good website you can check out: www.gasbuddy.com.  You can type in you zip code and it will give you the price of gas at stations in your neighborhood.   

And before you get too down about the prices, just remember those 4 dollar a gallon days!!!  Rooney says it won't go that high for a looong time.  

More MTA Fare Hikes?

By Jill Wagner

Yikes!  Just when the economy is tanking ... it could cost more for people to get to work!  And for that matter, to get around, period. 

The MTA has released it's so-called "worst case scenario" budget for 2009.  It aims to close a 1.2 billion dollar deficit.  To do that - some pretty dramatic changes could be headed our way. 

Bus riders in Nassau County could be hit the hardest.  The MTA says fares could climb by up to 75%.  In addition, some routes could be eliminated entirely.  Potentially on the chopping block: The N51 - 53 - 65 - 67 - 80 - 87 and 93 lines.

And if you don't use public transportation to get around, that doesn't mean you'll be immune to the potential changes.  The MTA says it could increase bridge and tunnel crossing tolls by as  much as 7 dollars in each direction. 

If you travel to New York City for work or play, subway rides could also cost more.  Possibly, three dollars a ride. 

Want more information, or the opportunity to let your voice be heard about these potential hikes?  There are public hearings scheduled in January.  For exact times and places, check out the MTA website at www.mta.info or call 212-878-7483.  

But before you panic, remember these are WORST CASE SCENARIO numbers, it depends what the state does about funding.

  

Home for the Holidays

By Jill Wagner

We're just about halfway between Black Friday and Christmas Eve, so it's fair to say the holiday season is in full swing.  And this year, despite the gloomy economy, Long Islanders seem to be getting into the holiday spirit! 

On a personal note, I can tell you I am THRILLED to be back home for the holiday season.  A couple years ago I moved to Michigan for my first on-air reporting job.  I really enjoyed my time in Lansing, the state's capital.  I made a ton of great friends and even more importantly, got some great reporting experience.  But at the end of the day, it wasn't home! 

So now I'm back on Long Island, lucky enough to report for News 12---the station I grew up watching!  And that means, in addition to some of the more depressing stories about the recession and crime, I also get to cover some of the wonderful holiday celebrations that are uniquely Long Island. 

I mean, where else would hundreds of people gather to light -- not a big Christmas tree -- but a big duck!  Yes, I'm talking about the famous East End Big Duck in Flanders.  It's quite a sight.  Hundreds of kids counting down for Santa to flip the switch that turns the lights on a wreath wrapped around a 20 foot toall and 30 foot long duck.   

And then there's the Freeport Christmas boat cruise.  What an image---dozens of boats decked in hundreds of lights cruising along the Nautical Mile.  You can see all the festivities on a special News 12 series, "Tis the Season," starting next week.  It's the type of holiday celebration you'll see only on Long Island!    

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.... 

"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."

Oh What a Night!

By Jill Wagner

Election Night 2008... and I was stationed at Nassau's GOP headquarters in Westbury.  By now, we all know the results:  the county's Republican incumbents (senators and assemblymen) won re-election, but it was not enough to keep the state senate in Republican control.  Thus, it was not a night for major celebration.

So, to lighten the mood, I thought I'd share some secrets from behind the scenes.....

Most of the time, when you see a reporter on tv, it's from the waist up.  So just in case you were wondering what my feet look like----here's a peek:

 

Yes, that's a massive amount of masking tape stretched across my shoes.  You might wondering WHY!!!

First, I can tell you this is mostly a joke (mostly!).  I'm not on the tall side.  I'm about 5'2 and I pretty much wear flat, comfortable shoes when I'm running around in the field.  My photographers usually like to have me stand on an apple crate like this one, so it's a better shot in background. 

In this case, I was standing on, not only an apple crate, but another platform that was about a foot and a half off the ground---take a look:  If I stepped backward too much, I could have fallen about three feet... ouch!                                                               

                                                                

In the end, they took the tape off my feet, but I did stand on the crate the entire night.  The only time it looked a little off was when I interviewed one of the politicians.  I wound up being a couple inches TALLER than them. 

All in all, it was a really fun and exciting night.  My live reports lasted about a minute and a half each, but there's a lot of work and preparation that goes into it.  The crew got to the location in the early afternoon---- candidates didn't start arriving until after ten p.m.  Hence---there's plenty of time to joke around... at my expense!

Hit and Run Horror

By Jill Wagner

 

A 14 year old girl crosses the street, gets slammed by an SUV, and the driver leaves her in the middle of the road.

Sounds like a nightmare, except that for Lindenhurst teen Jennifer Angelini, that actually happened last Friday night.

Now her mother wants to know who did it!

Donna Angelina, Jennifer's mom, told me she can't understand how anyone could hit a child and just leave her there.  In Jennifer's case, one of her male friends was with her and was able to pick her up and carry her to the sidewalk.

So maybe the driver didn't know he or she actually hit someone.....

Another friend who was there that night told me Jennifer literally rolled off the car, so there is no way not to have known.

Hearing the story got me wondering about how often this happens.   

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Board, more than TEN percent of all vehicle accidents are hit and runs, and it's a statistic on the rise.  That means for every ten accidents, at least one time the driver leaves the scene.  You might be wondering how someone could do such a thing.  Lt. Kelly at the Suffolk PD says many times drivers simply panic.   

In Jennifer's case, the mother thinks that perhaps the driver was coming from a local bar and was nervous about getting in trouble for DUI.  Of course, that is speculation.  But whatever the reason, Jennifer's mom is begging anyone with information to please come forward.  The accident happened last Friday night at around 9pm in East Farmingdale at Airport Plaza.  They think it was an older black SUV, possibly with tinted windows. Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers anonymously.  That number is 1-800-220-TIPS.  There's up to a five thousand dollar reward for information that leads to an arrest.

The Youth Vote

By Jill Wagner

We're deep into the election season in one of the most exciting presidential races ever... and just days away from the third and final debate right here on Long Island at Hofstra University. 

The big question--will the youth vote actually make a difference on election day?  Technically, "youth" is anyone between 18 and 30.  After spending some time at Hofstra working on some political stories, I can say that EVERYONE I spoke to on the campus has something to say about the election.  When I asked WHO they were going to vote for, students had their candidate picked and felt pretty strongly about it.  But when I asked them, HOW and WHERE will they actually be casting their ballots, that was a different story.  The hard part about college kids is that many are away at school and have to either drive hours back home to vote or vote absentee.  So it requires some advanced planning.  I was surprised at how many students had ordered their absentee ballots and couldn't wait to get them in the mail.  But there were also a ton of students who said they hadn't ordered ballots and also don't live close enough to home to drive there to vote.

I interviewed Meena Bose, a political science professor at Hofstra.  She said, most elections, the youth vote is pretty unreliable.  But this year is different.  Why?  She says it's because the election is so wide open---there's no incumbent and the country can go in a very different direction depending on who is elected.  Plus, there are the issues. This year, the economy is on almost everyone's mind.  For students, there is that big question---will they get a job when they graduate?  Will they be able to pay off student loans?  Many students told me that was their big concern.  Also the environment is a big deal.  I watched the first presidential debate at the Student Center, and some of the biggest applause came when the candidates talked about alternative energy. 

Many of my friends are for the first time paying close attention to the election.  Being very interested in politics, I was always frustrated that my friends didn't seem to care one way or the other about presidential elections or even vote.  But yes, this year is different.  Most of my friends not only say they're going to vote, but they want to have discussions about the candidates and where they stand on the issues.  Maybe it's because we're getting older or maybe it's just because of the nature of the election.

Either way, I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens on election day.  But there's more than 40 million eligible youth voters, so if they all -- or even a majority -- actually cast a ballot, it can make a huge difference! 

"Selden Speedway"

By Jill Wagner

Residents in the area call a quarter mile stretch of Middle Country Road in Selden--the Selden Speedway.  They say just last week there were three fender benders; Just last month, a young man killed. 

According to the Suffolk County Police Department there have been more than five fatal crashes in just the past few years.  Here's how it breaks down:

2004-1
2005-3
2006-0
2007-1
2008 (from 1/1 - 8/31) - 1.

Some community leaders say since state DOT added a turning lane and two shoulder lanes more than a decade ago, the road has become a drag strip. 

As one resident told me, when you drive on that street it's like playing Russian roulette with your life.

Now they're asking for a traffic light and some raised medians.

The DOT wasn't available to talk on camera, but here's what they had to say over the phone:

"As far as any of the safety issues the Civic Associations have, we will gladly look into them."

"Usually when we get a request for traffic signals, a traffic group will do an investigation, conduct field reviews and collect data on vehicle and pedestrian data."

"Installing medians is something we'd do as part of a bigger project.  We don't have any major projects going on in Selden right now, but it's something we'll look at in the future." 

"Reconstruction was done on Route 25 in 1990, then it was resurfaced in 1998.   Usually the pavement cycle is 12 to 15 years.  The pavement right now is in good condition so when that cycle comes near, we'll look at it again."

Residents say they don't want to wait that long! 

 

What a Dummy!

By Jill Wagner

There's nothing worse than sitting in traffic--especially in rush hour when you're trying to get to work!  But if you commute alone, how far would you go to gain access to the HOV lane and cruise on by?   

As Suffolk County Deputy Sheriff Robert Howard points out, you need at least two people--two LIVING people--to ride in the HOV lane on the LIE.  Sounds simple enough, right?  Grab a friend and commute together.

So I'm sure you can imagine Howard's surprise when he was patrolling the HOV lane last week.  As he told me, he saw what looked like two guys in a Ford Explorer.  The driver was only going about 60mph, but something else caught his eye.  There seemed to be some kind of strange reflection coming off the passenger.  Hmmm.  Then the driver started talking.  But the passenger just sat there, motionless.  There was no head turning.  No arm movement.  No nothing. 

Nope, this wasn't a Weekend at Bernies situation!!! 

Howard pulled over the car... and it turns out that the side passenger was made of plexiglass.  That's right--two pieces of plexiglass that fit together.  Take a look--this picture was taken by the Sheriff's department.

The driver dressed up his plexi glass friend in a baseball cap, sunglasses and a black coat!  And if you think that sounds like a lot of effort, the Deputy says the driver works at a plexiglass factory... and actually MADE the cut-out! 

Howard gave him a summons, which comes with a 90 dollar fine and perhaps some points on his license. 

That's actually not too bad, when you consider how some other alleged HOV offenders were punished. The picture below shows a cop holding the mannequin he confiscated from a driver in Denver.  According to the Denver Channel, not only did the driver have to pay a $115 fine, but a judge ordered him to stand on the side of the road with a sign -- "HOV LANE NOT FOR DUMMIES."    

 

Let the Games Begin!

By Jill Wagner

The weather is getting cooler, kids are back at school, and fall sports season is in full swing..... well, almost!

Some very frustrated parents in Wading River say they registered their pre-school and elementary aged kids for a soccer league months ago.  The 75 dollar checks were cashed and the kids couldn't wait to lace up.   Needless to say, the league was supposed to start early this month, but still has not!  To make a long story short, that league insisted a different sports organization was going to take over.  That other organization told parents it wasn't true.  The kids, unfortunately, seemed to be caught in the middle.

This week I met with more than a dozen parents in Wading River.  They were passionate, frustrated, and losing patience.  They said they didn't care about the money or who's to blame, they just wanted their kids to get out on the field with their friends and start to play soccer.  One of the mothers told me, "IF YOU COULD JUST SEE THEM OUT THERE."  She said these young kids, some of them just four years old, are working together, building self esteem and just having fun.

On the way home from meeting with the parents, my photographer and I started talking about the value of little league sports.  For me, the memories flooded back.  I grew up in Jericho, and at the time, there was no separate little league for girls.  As a result, I was one of just a handful who ventured out (pushed by my father who coached the team) and played with the boys. 

Through the years, no matter the sport, the lessons were invaluable.  You learn how to be apart of a team; how to work together.  You learn how to lose.  And you also learn how to win.  Hopefully you learn how to do both with grace.  And there's also the lesson of commitment; putting in the hours before game day.  In the case of my dad's team, you couldn't "start" if you missed practice that week. 

For me, they're all lessons I'll never forget.  So for the sake of the little kids in Wading River, I hope their league starts soon! 

Braving Hanna

By Jill Wagner

The sun is out and I've officially dried off!  I spent Saturday at Smith Point County Park in Shirley reporting on Hanna's descent on Long Island.  And as she drenched the area with pounding, horizontal rain, my photographer Brandon and I had nowhere to hide.  At first, we tried drying off in the truck in the minutes between our live News 12 reports.  But it soon became clear we were fighting a losing battle and decided to embrace it!  As I said on air, the rain was so strong at points, it literally felt like I was standing underneath my bathroom shower.  Only the water wasn't hot, and it was coming down sideways!

Still, the storm didn't pack quite the punch some forecasters feared.  Certainly, Hanna drenched the Island and caused minor flooding.  Areas like Dix Hills had nearly four inches of rain.  She also brought heavy winds that took down trees and put many in the dark (at least temporarily).  But all things considered, Hanna could have been much worse and Long Islanders can breathe easy---For now!

It seems like everyone I spoke to has a story about hurricanes past.  And in turn, an underlying fear of the storms that lurk in our future.  In Shirley, we found Mark Koch cleaning his gutters before Hanna rolled in.  He said Hurricane Gloria ripped the roof right off his house and put it in the middle of the road.  In Mastic Beach, Paul Berschard said that during Hurricane Bob there were white caps on the lawn across from his house, about 50 feet from his front porch.  During Gloria, he was without power for eight days.

So, yes, Hanna gave us a break.  But as Sam Kille with the Red Cross of Nassau County reminded me--hurricane Season is far from over.  The best thing Long Islanders can do is be prepared.  Here is the link to the Red Cross website, www.redcross.org, with information on all the items you should stock up on before a storm hits.  And a link to the National Hurricane Center website,

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/disaster_prevention.shtml, with a list of things you can do to make your home more secure and able to withstand a stronger storm.