“Angels” from Dowling College Make a Difference for World AIDS Day
December 12, 2007
(Oakdale, N.Y.) As a contribution to World AIDS Day on December 1, 2007, Dr. Bill Thierfelder, Associate Professor of English at Dowling College, started the “The Food Angel Project”. Through the collaborative efforts of the Dowling College community, this initiative raised $1,650.00 in super market gift cards that were distributed to The Long Island Association for AIDS Care (LIAAC) and Thursday’s Child, whose clients have been cut off from Ryan White Care Act funding. The Dowling community worked to make a difference, especially the Student Government Association, who hosted a bake sale that raised $375 for this cause.
Dr. Thierfelder along with Dowling College President Robert J. Gaffney and Student Government Representative Kyle Valentine, presented the super market gift cards to Leslie Ducet, Director of Client Services at LIAAC, and Greg Noone, Program Manager at Thursday’s Child.
“It is disappointing to see the effects of the government cutting off funds to AIDS organizations. Service providers like LIAAC and Thursday’s Child need help, and I felt I had to step up to the plate. I’m really glad the initiative was so successful and am grateful to the Dowling community for their support. It proves once again that we really are the Personal College,” said Dr. Thierfelder.
“Thursday’s Child of Long Island is extremely proud of Dr. Thierfelder and the Student Government Association of Dowling College. Families across the region who are living with and affected by HIV/AIDS have turned to Thursday’s Child for 18 years seeking essential and humane services. On behalf of those we serve, we are thankful to Dowling
College for helping us keep our commitment to our neighbors in need,” said Gregory Noone, Program Manager. “We implore all of good will to call upon Congress to restore the care in the CARE Act.”
Anyone interested in supporting this endeavor can send Thursday’s Child tax-deductible checks throughout the year.
About Dowling College
Dowling College is an independent, coeducational college that serves more than 6,500 students at its historic Rudolph Campus on the banks of the Connetquot River in Oakdale, NY, and the 105-acre Brookhaven Campus in eastern Long Island and a business center located near the Nassau-Suffolk border in Melville. Dowling offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in several disciplines through its four schools: Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Education.
Photo: Kyle Valentine, SGA Representative, Robert J. Gaffney, Dowling College President, Leslie Ducet, LIAAC, Dr. Bill Thierfelder, Dowling College Professor
and Greg Noone, Thursday’s Child
LIPA and National Grid/KeySpan Issue RFP for Repowering Study of The Northport and Port Jefferson Power Stations
December 12, 2007
(Uniondale, N.Y.) The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and KeySpan, now part of National Grid, today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to conduct a repowering study of the Northport and Port Jefferson Power Stations.
The repowering study will investigate options for these two sites using both traditional “hybrid” repowering scenarios which utilize the existing steam turbines and “backyard” or site repowering scenarios in which a new, highly efficient combined cycle facility is constructed on the existing site.
LIPA is also reviewing the option it has under its contract with National Grid to acquire other local power plants owned by National Grid and operated under contract to LIPA for possible repowering. These include the E.F. Barrett in Island Park, Far Rockaway, and Shoreham/Wading River generating facilities.
The main goal of these studies is to assess the engineering, environmental and economic feasibility of repowering projects at these sites. The benefits of repowering existing plants include greater efficiency, increased capacity and reduced emission rates.
“As part of LIPA’s commitment to delivering clean, safe, reliable and economical electric service to customers, this RFP is essential for us to assess the environmental benefits and the economic costs of repowering the Port Jefferson and Northport power plants,” said LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law.
“The feasibility of repowering our power plants is an issue we’ve been studying with LIPA for some time now,” said Robert B. Catell, Chairman of National Grid US. “This RFP is the first step in determining the achievable environmental and operational benefits as well as the potential rate impacts of repowering these plants.”
In performing the repowering study, LIPA and National Grid will jointly establish a Stakeholder Committee, which will include community, environmental, business, and government representatives. The Committee will be provided study information for review and comment and will interact with LIPA, National Grid and the selected consultant as the study proceeds.
The Port Jefferson and Northport Power Stations, located on the north shore of Long Island, were completed in 1960 and 1977 respectively and are strategically equipped to utilize either fuel oil and/or natural gas for economic electric power production.
The Port Jefferson and Northport repowering study will be performed in two phases. Phase I will provide a scoping study of repowering scenarios that will be ranked based on emission reductions, net power output, efficiency improvement, capital cost, operating costs, constructability, and licensing feasibility. Phase I will identify the most feasible re-powering options and an analysis of the rationale for their selection and the rejection of the other options examined.
The Phase II work will contain a detailed analysis of the recommended repowering cases. At a minimum, one hybrid case and one backyard case at each site will be studied in detail including the potential rate implications.
The RFP can be viewed or downloaded from the LIPA website tomorrow at http://www.lipower.org/company/papers/rfp/repowering.html. Deadline for responses is January 10th, 2008.
In the US, National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority. National Grid is the largest power producer in New York State, owning 6,650 megawatts of electricity generation that provides power to over one million customers on Long Island and supplies roughly a quarter of New York City’s electricity needs. It is also the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric utility, owns the retail electric Transmission and Distribution System on Long Island and provides electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. LIPA is the 2nd largest municipal electric utility in the nation in terms of electric revenues, 3rd largest in terms of customers served and the 7th largest in terms of electricity delivered. In 2006, LIPA outperformed all other overhead electric utilities in New York State in all three major reliability categories. LIPA does not provide natural gas service or own any on-island generating assets. More information about LIPA can be found online at: http://www.lipower.org.
ExxonMobil to Build Gas Terminal off Long Island Waters
December 12, 2007
(Long Island, N.Y.) ExxonMobil wants to build a $1 billion liquefied natural gas terminal between the waters of Long Island and the Jersey Shore, a project designed to deliver new supplies of fuel to a region where rising demand and tight supplies have led to steady price increases for consumers.
Anchored approximately 20 miles off the coast of New Jersey, the more than $1 billion terminal will be far from shore and away from shipping lanes, ports and recreational areas.
Senior executives at Exxon touted the project, dubbed BlueOcean Energy, saying the floating terminal will have the capacity to supply about 1.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, enough to meet the needs of more than 5 million residential consumers in New Jersey and New York, while creating a gateway to global supplies.
There is only one offshore LNG terminal currently in the U.S., located in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana, but a number of other proposals have been developed to build offshore terminals, largely because of the fears of siting the facility in populated areas because of the highly combustible nature of liquiefied natural gas. There are four onshore LNG terminals, including near ports in Boston and another in Baltimore.
Atlantic Sea Island Group is proposing to build a 63-acre artificial island where the LNG would be heated and converted to gas and sent through a pipeline to the New Jersey coast. Beyond that plan, there is a proposal pending to build a LNG terminal in Logan Township on the Delaware River, and another plan to construct a floating terminal in Long Island Sound, about nine miles off the Long Island coast.
In addition to BlueOcean Energy, ExxonMobil is involved in three other terminal projects. Receiving terminals are under construction near Sabine Pass, Texas; in Wales in the United Kingdom; and offshore Italy in the Adriatic Sea. With several years required for permitting, engineering and construction, BlueOcean Energy is expected to begin service around the middle of the next decade.
Interest Rates Reduced for Third Time
December 12, 2007
(Long Island, N.Y.) The Federal Reserve reduced the interest rate by a quarter-point yesterday, the third time since September. This brings the federal funds rate to 4.25% from 4.5%. The rate is down a full percentage point since global credit markets shook confidence in the world’s financial system in August. But many investors clearly had been hoping for a deeper cut of half a percentage point to stimulate the economy and head off an increasingly imminent-looking U.S. recession.
The Fed also lowered its discount rate, the interest it charges banks for loans, by a quarter point to 4.75 percent, making it easier for banks to obtain the cash they need for year-end obligations. Fed officials signaled that further cuts are possible if a severe downturn in housing and a crisis in mortgage lending worsen, but that was not enough to protect the markets. Wall Street plunged Tuesday as investors dumped stocks after some players out there were hoping or estimating they would cut a little bit more.
In its statement Tuesday, the Fed kept the door open for additional rate cuts. And late in the day some Fed officials were privately hinting to the media that they might take additional steps soon, such as by slashing the discount rate further.
The Fed acknowledged problems in its statement.
“Incoming information suggests that economic growth is slowing, reflecting the intensification of the housing correction and some softening in business and consumer spending,” the Fed said, adding that “strains in financial markets have increased in recent weeks.”
It added: “Recent developments, including the deterioration in financial market conditions, have increased the uncertainty surrounding the outlook for economic growth and inflation.”
Billionaire investor Warren Mr Buffett, chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway, said there was “enormous weakness” in housing markets. He gets daily reports from businesses owned by Berkshire Hathaway during the holiday season.
“We’re in the brick business, we’re in the carpet business and those areas have really gotten hit,” the “Sage of Omaha” said. “I’m not so sure we’re going to be beating last year’s figures.” He didn’t specify whether he meant revenue or net income.
The US economy may fall into recession if unemployment rises significantly, Mr Buffet said. “There are a lot of dominoes in the economy that would probably get hit by that,” he added.
On Monday, Morgan Stanley, a Wall Street investment bank, issued a full recession alert, saying it expects a sharp slowdown in business investment as the housing market’s problems spread.
Undefeated Middleweight Prospect Peter Quillin Closes Out Busy 2007 vs. Lowry
December 11, 2007
“Holiday Hits” Thursday night at The Roseland Ballroom also showcasing Joe Greene & Jorge Teron
(New York City) Undefeated Brooklyn middleweight Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin closes out a perfect year with his eighth fight of 2007 on Thursday night’s (December 13) “Holiday Hits,” against tough Minnesota import Troy “TNT” Lowry (27-7, 16 KOs) in an eight-round Special Attraction, co-promoted by Ring Promotions and Cedric Kushner’s Gotham Boxing, at The Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan.
NABA middleweight champion “Mean” Joe Greene (16-0, 12 KOs), the 2004 National Golden Gloves Tournament champion, headlines “Holiday Hits” versus veteran Patrick Thompson in the 10-round main event. Greene, fighting out of Queens, is the WBA No. 9 rated middleweight challenger.
Unbeaten Bronx prospect Jorge “The Truth” Teron (18-0-1, 11 KOs), WBC No. 20 rated lightweight and 3-time New York Golden Gloves champion, battles dangerous Mexican knockout specialist Adrian “Canon” Navarette (16-4-1, 13 KOs), former Intercontinental Mundo Hispano title-holder, in the 10-round co-feature for the vacant New York State lightweight title.
The very active Quillin (15-0, 12 KOs), rated No. 17 by the NABF, is 7-0 with five knockouts since February 22. Former WBF light middleweight title challenger Lowry has been in against Hector Camacho, Sr., Yuri Foreman, Anthony Bonsante, Santiago Samaniego and Steve Roberts.
“I’ve prepared to bring my top game,” Quillin said about his fight against Lowry. “I’m sure he’s coming to win, but I’ll have to change his plans. I give him credit for taking this fight and letting me display my talent in front of my New York City fans once again. I always love fighting here. It’s been a great place for me to start my career. I give people what they want. I’m a high-energyfighter who is an entertaining person…..I’m cool! There’s a glow around me that attracts fans like a moth to light. They want their Chocolate.
“I’m a boxer-puncher who can hurt people with either hand. My left is a tornado, my right a hurricane – just don’t get caught in the storm. 2008 is going to be a huge year for me, my manager, John Seip, promoter, Cedric Kushner, and especially my trainer, Colin Morgan. I have big plans. I want big things to happen for us in 2008. It’s going to be the Year of the Chocolate Bar.”
Newburgh (NY) heavyweight prospect Nagy Aguilera (4-0, 2 KOs), two-time New York Golden Gloves champion, faces Darryl Holley (6-5, 1 KO), of Brigantine (NJ) in a 6-round bout. Also fighting on the undercard in 4-round matches are Paterson (NJ) light welterweight Jeremy Bryan (1-0) takes on Broderick Antoine (2-3, 1 KO), of Troy (NY); Canadian bantamweight Noriko Kariya (7-2-1, 1 KO) meets Salina Jordan (2-2, 1 KOs), of Denver; Islip (NY) heavyweight Darrel Madison (7-1, 3 KOs) fights Sam Comming (4-4, 3 KOs), super featherweights Raphael Luna, of Albany, and Joe Arroyo, of the Bronx, make their pro debuts against each other.
Special VIP seats in the balcony, four seats to each table, are available for $200.00 per seat. A private bar is located in the VIP area – barstool seating is available for $100.00 — as well as cocktail waitress service at each VIP table. Exclusive VIP balcony access looks directly down into the ring without any obstructed views. Other tickets are priced at $150.00, $100.00, $75.00 and $50.00. To purchase tickets or for more information call Ring Promotions (516.313.2304) or Gotham Boxing (212.755.1944). Doors open at 6:30 PM, first bout at 7:30 PM.
Teen Drug Survey Reveals Disturbing Trends
December 11, 2007
Drug Use Much Higher Than 15 Years Ago; Teens Badly Misinformed About Dangers
(Long Island, N.Y.) The latest Monitoring the Future survey of teen drug use, released today, reveals disturbing trends in teen drug use and attitudes, officials of the Marijuana Policy Project said today.
“This new survey documents the complete, utter failure of current government policies on marijuana,” said Aaron Houston, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C.
The new survey shows that rates of teen use of most drugs, including marijuana, remain far higher than 15 years ago. For example, in 1992, 3.7 percent of eighth graders were current marijuana users, compared to 5.7 percent in 2007. For twelfth graders, the figures were 11.9 percent and 18.8 percent, respectively. Use of cocaine and hallucinogens has also risen sharply in the last 15 years. Current cocaine use was up in all age groups, with the rate among tenth graders nearly doubling from 0.7 percent in 1992 to 1.3 percent in 2007.
Perhaps most disturbing, Houston noted, are misunderstandings regarding the dangers of drugs shown in this survey, particularly among the youngest teens surveyed. For example, 50.2 percent of eighth graders saw “great risk” in smoking marijuana occasionally — more than saw great risk in trying crack or powder cocaine, trying LSD, or in drinking nearly every day. Twelfth graders were more likely to disapprove of occasional marijuana use than of binge drinking (having five or more drinks at one sitting) once or twice every weekend.
“Drug Czar John Walters touts minor, short-term improvements, but deliberately ignores the big picture,” Houston said. “Over the long haul, teen drug use is up, not down. As a parent, I don’t want any kids smoking marijuana. It’s truly scary that the White House has convinced millions of teens that drugs that can literally kill them are safer than marijuana. We’re pursuing policies whose costs will be paid in lives.”
With more than 23,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit http://MarijuanaPolicy.org.
Marijuana Policy Project, POB 77492 Capitol Hill, Washington, DC 20013 United States
Academics Join to Endorse Congressman Ron Paul for President
December 10, 2007
(Long Island, N.Y.) A group of professors from a wide range of academic disciplines have formed an “Academics for Ron Paul” group to declare their support for presidential candidate Ron Paul. The academics hold positions at national institutions including Northwestern University, University of Alabama, American University, The Citadel, Brigham Young University, Hillsdale College, Indiana University, Ohio University and The Hoover Institution.
In their announcement they wrote:
“Americans have lost faith in politicians, and for good reasons. Taxes, spending, and the national debt continue to rise, special interest bribes riddle the Congress, courts, and executive branch, and our schools are in shambles. Yet our government continues to wage a ceaseless assault on the American people’s rights to make their own choices. It has done so through the USA Patriot Act, the REAL ID Act, the War on Drugs, McCain-Feingold, and countless other initiatives. The endless and inept foreign policy of interventionism of the establishment politicians has put our country in grave danger not only of a destructive war with Iran but a new financial crisis.
“The 2008 election thus comes at a critical time in the history of the United States and the world.
“We endorse Ron Paul for president because we believe he is the candidate best able to solve these profound problems. We come from a broad and diverse range of academic fields and specialties. We unite under the banner of liberty and are proud to announce our support for Ron Paul.” The full endorsement can be found here: www.academicsforpaul.com
Woman’s Body Found in Long Island Creek
December 10, 2007
(Long Island, N.Y.) A 46 Year old women from Massapequa Long Island was found floating face-down in a creek not far from her Lake Street home. A local resident who was walking their dog discovered the body which has now been identified as Yvonne Boykin, who worked for the Nassau County Courts. She was found on the river banks of the Narrasketuck River at about 11 am on Saturday. The woman’s family said she had been missing since Wednesday.
At this time it is unknown what the woman may have been doing walking along the river. Police have been working the case since the body was found on Saturday and are not releasing too much information other then the fact that it is still under investigation and that she was found wearing green sweatpants, a blue shirt and a white tennis shoe on her left foot.
Detective Sergeant Richard Laursen says it does not appear that she was in the water long. He said there are no signs of trauma to her body and they are neither confirming nor denying foul play.
The Narrasketuck River is considered to be the banks of the south eastern boundary of Massapequa. The river is a narrow body of water that ends a few hundred yards south of Merrick Road. The river is located in the east and runs parallel to Clocks Boulevard.
Anyone with information can call the Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS
Mall Shooting Forever Changes Lives in Omaha
December 10, 2007
(Long Island, N.Y.) On Wednesday, December 7th life changed forever for Omaha, Nebraska residents. At a popular mall in Omaha a 20 year old man by the name of Robert Hawkins entered the Von Maur department store and looked around for awhile, leaving just a short time later. Six minutes after he left the young man came back into the store carrying something inside of his hooded sweatshirt and moments later shoppers in Von Maur would find out that what he had concealed in his hoodie was a loaded rifle.
The young man went on a rampage that would ultimately leave eight people dead and several others injured. When the young man was done with his shooting spree he then turned the gun on himself and ended his short yet troubled life. Many have reported that Hawkins was aiming the gun at the heads of people and others reported that he was simply firing into crowds, seemingly wanting to hit anyone that he could. Witnesses claim that as he walked by a teddy bear display he fired into the stuffed bear and seemed satisfied with his actions.
Since Wednesday many more details about Robert Hawkins have been reported and the picture that is being painted of this young man and the life that he led is anything but comforting. Apparently, Hawkins left a suicide note that said, “I can’t take this meaningless existence anymore. I’ve been a constant disappointment and that trend would have only continued.” Hawkins has had a troubled life as he spent much of his youth as a ward of the court and is known to have suffered from severe depression and Attention Deficit Disorder.
Shock has turned to grief, and now the community and families of the deceased have begun to hold wakes and vigils starting on Sunday and then planned throughout the week. A funeral will be held Monday at St. John’s Parish on Creighton University campus for 65 year old John McDonald. McDonald was hiding behind a chair with his wife during the shooting when he was shot in the department store. Paramedics were not able to tend to him before he died. McDonald’s is just one of the smaller stories in this massively tragic nightmare. Visitations were also held for three store employees and a shopper that were killed in the shooting on Sunday, making this a week of goodbyes for the friends and family members of the victims.
This story has shocked Omaha residents as well as people around the nation and it hits just a bit too close to home for many holiday shoppers this season. This is the deadliest mall shooting on United States record and it is getting worldwide attention because it is so tragic. It is especially sad because many people think it could have been prevented if this obviously troubled young man would have gotten the help that he needed.
Long Island Could See New York State Run Health Care System
December 9, 2007
(Long Island, N.Y.) New York State Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried on Wednesday proposed a state-run, universal health care system that likely would be paid for by new taxes. Under the plan, all state residents would be enrolled in health insurance similar to Medicaid or Medicare, and there would be no deductibles or copayments. The system would be funded by an income tax on individuals and businesses.
The proposal would allow residents to retain private health insurance if they choose, and it would allow private, not-for-profit insurers to contract with the state to provide coverage for beneficiaries of the state plan. The state would set insurance premium rates, and insurers participating in the state plan would have to accept them. The plan would not include mandates and would build on the state’s Family Health Plus and Child Health Plus programs.
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer on Tuesday announced that the state has hired the Urban Institute, an independent research organization, to prepare a report evaluating different universal health care options for the state. The report is due by May 31, 2008. Several groups already have developed plans to expand health coverage in the state, including the Community Service Society, which presented a plan on Tuesday that would expand Child Health Plus. The proposal was presented at the final meeting of the Partnership for Coverage, an initiative by Spitzer to promote universal coverage in the state .
Currently about half of Long Island residents get health insurance through their work, either receiving it as a benefit free of charge or splitting the cost with their employer. Another quarter of the population receives health insurance through a public health plan like Medicaid or Medicare. Funded by various levels of government, these programs are available to the elderly, the poor, and other disadvantaged populations. But 1.7 million New Yorkers have no insurance at all.
“There’s nothing more fundamental in our lives than basic health care. The needs are clear, but meeting those needs can be very difficult. It requires consumers to understand an often bewildering array of health care choices and options. Long Island consumers especially need to educate themselves on how the health care market operates, on their rights under state law to obtain care and on the various forms of assistance that are already available.” said New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
Over the past several years, New York State increased the number of people who were eligible for programs like Family Health Plus, and Child Health Plus. It also tapped into private groups like community organizations and Health Maintenance Organizations to enroll people in public health insurance.
Better Coverage for All of Us at Lower Cost, By Richard N. Gottfried, Chair, Assembly Committee on Health, Full Report: http://assembly.state.ny.us/member_files/075/20071204a/fullreport.pdf Brief Narrative: http://assembly.state.ny.us/member_files/075/20071204/
