Letter to the Editor: Response to “Student Gives New School Failing Grade”
June 11, 2008
by Alyssa Blumenthal
(Long Beach, N.Y.) As a sophomore at Long Beach High School, enrolled in all Honors and AP classes, I hold a much different perspective of our school district and its education standards. There are a great deal of higher level classes offered within the school, and those conscientious students who wish to challenge themselves and receive the best education possible must take it upon themselves to enroll in those advanced courses.
Numerous unjust generalizations were made in Mallorie Faubert’s article regarding the school’s performance and education standards. A comparison cannot be drawn between the New York State Regents Exams and the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests, as each of these tests serve entirely different purposes, assessing the student and school district in extremely different subject matters. It is also important to consider that the NYS Regents Exams, and their corresponding subject matters, are mandated by the state education department and not by the Long Beach High School specifically. Any discrepancies regarding the course curriculums or grading methods (as the state also provides strict answer keys), therefore, should be directed toward the state and not toward any specific school system.
I completely agree that “a teacher’s role is to push students to their fullest potential,” but with the self-selection policy initiated recently by the school district, any student who finds that he or she is not being challenged with their current curriculum has the opportunity to move to a more advanced level class. The Regents classes offered in the high school are designed in such a way so that every student can keep up with the lessons being taught. Though this pace may be considered slow to some, other students enrolled in these classes would never be able to follow the teacher if he or she taught at a faster pace.
In Mallorie Faubert’s article, she stated that because of Long Beach’s different graduation requirements, she will now be graduating a year earlier than she otherwise would have at her old school in Pennsylvania. She is not alone in deciding to graduate ahead of schedule, but by doing so, she is missing out on many of the more entertaining and enjoyable electives offered at Long Beach High School, such as AP Art History, Psychology, Culture and Foods, Forensics, and Contemporary Issues in Literature & Media. These courses allow students to broaden their education beyond the traditional academics.
Education is strongly emphasized at the Long Beach High School. Posters of students’ work cover the classroom windows. Newspaper clippings and plaques praising students and organizations on their work can be seen all around the school. Plaques line the music department, honoring past New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All State ensemble members and other exemplary musicians who have brought much to the school. The science research room is filled with posters and awards from all different competitions in which our students have competed and triumphed. Furthermore, the daily morning announcements congratulate students and teachers on their recent accomplishments and participation in clubs, ranging anywhere from Model Congress to Mathletes.
The strong Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the school is continuously involved in ensuring that Long Beach students are given the most opportunities to succeed. This article by Mallorie Faubert stated that the PTA listed five specific goals, “none of which involve stressing a good education,” but this is not so. According to the very same website which the author based her assertion on, our PTA strives “to develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.”
This “quaint little island of Long Beach” does take pride in its community, and just as much so in its public school education. Many families here, mine included, are second or third generation residents of this city and have become quite successful after graduating from the Long Beach Public School District. They continue to send their kids to the same schools in which they received their education because they know, from personal experience, how much this district has to offer in regards to a well-rounded experience and education.
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Please note: The above is a letter to the editor from Alyssa Blumenthal, a sophomore at Long Beach High School. Letters to the editor are not necessarily factual or accurate and, if opinion, are not necessarily the opinion of the owners and operators of NewsLine Inc.
Marshall Gets “Revved” Up for His Special Wish
June 4, 2008
(Walden, N.Y.) – A remarkable teenager from Chestertown, MD recently received a very special gift thanks to his friends at Kids Wish Network and some incredibly amazing ‘Guardian Angels’. Marshall, a truly courageous teen who is battling a brain tumor, was honored in a special ceremony in the center of town in Walden, NY and presented with his extraordinary gift: his newly restored 1992 Dodge Dakota. The complete truck makeover, Marshall’s one wish, was made possible by Kids Wish Network, an organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.
On hand to honor Marshall and be a part of his big day was Walden Mayor, Becky Pearson, who delivered a proclamation to him on behalf of the city of Walden. Sponsors of Marshall’s wish, which included Nub from Nub Grafix and Dickie Baxter and Levi Masker from People Hookin’ Up Cars also attended to present Marshall with his truck. The group played no small part in his wish: each went above and beyond in ensuring the truck was everything Marshall had dreamed of and more. In addition, a crowd of well over a hundred people including family, friends and well-wishers showed up to be a part of his big day.
The events of this amazing day have their roots in a simple wish made by a brave teen fighting cancer.
In January of 2008, Marshall was diagnosed with stage IV glioblastoma multiforme. His mother, Melinda, learned about Kids Wish Network and submitted his name to the charity. After completing the application process, both mother and son were delighted to learn that Marshall did indeed qualify.
Marshall’s Kids Wish Network wish coordinator, Vanessa Covolo, was in charge of making his wish come true. When she asked him what he wanted most for his wish, Marshall didn’t hesitate, he wanted his 1992 Dodge Dakota restored.
While Vanessa’s job is making wishes come true, she can’t do it without help; and there were plenty of people who wanted to do just that.
Not only was Vanessa able to arrange to have the exterior of Marshall’s truck restored, she was also able to get the interior done as well, complete with beautiful new upholstery and XM Satellite Radio. Pitching in to donate their time and services were companies from all over the New York area eager to be a part of making Marshall’s wish come true.
Surrounded by people excited to meet him and who have been inspired by his story, Marshall was overwhelmed when he first saw his newly restored truck. The crowd cheered and many shed tears as they watched his face light up. It was truly a day no one will soon forget. “It was terrific,” said Melinda. “We made a lot of new friends. He was excited and overwhelmed. It was a whole menagerie of emotions!”
She was incredibly grateful to all of the sponsors, Vanessa and Kids Wish Network for making it all happen. “Vanessa did just a great job. It really feels like everyone is family now. It was more than we ever expected!”
Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Marshall’s wish come true: Auto Electric Store 2, Chestertown Baptist Church, FBS Distribution, CO., GSI Sound, Henry and Tim Eisloeffel, Hunter Insurance & Walden Rotary Club, The Johnson Company, Ken’s Service Station, Kent County Gun Club, Knott’s Towing, Lanzar Audio, Moose Lodge, Newburgh Auto Glass II, Nub Grafix, People Hookin’ Up Cars, Pyle Audio, R. Dee’s Upholstery & Trim Shop, SEM/Color Horizons Custom Finishes, Steve Scully & Dex, Tire Rack, Trilogy Productions and XM Radio.
Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. If you know a child between the ages of 3 and 18 who may be in need of its wish granting services, please call 727-937-3600 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit their website at www.kidswishnetwork.org
Written by: Robyn Larso
Legislation Introduced to End “Free Rides” for the Mass Transit Authority Board
May 29, 2008
(Albany, N.Y.) – State Senator Eric Adams (D-Brooklyn) joined by State Senator Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) today announced support of a letter sent to the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo requiring the board to turn in all E-ZPass and MetroCard tags issued to current and former board members.
Watch video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnq-b0_ITF4
On Wednesday, May 28, the Authority said it will go to court to defend the practice and challenge Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who said that the issuance of MetroCards and E-ZPass tags to former board members is a violation of the law, which states board members must serve without compensation.
“I feel confident that the efforts of the Attorney General will be successful. Along with my colleagues in the Senate, I recognize that this inappropriate and ill-considered practice must stop immediately,” said Senator Eric Adams. “It’s outrageous that at a time when soaring fuel prices make it extremely difficult for most New Yorkers to afford to fill up their vehicles with gas, the MTA board finds it suitable to authorize the use of free rides at the direct expense of the consumers.”
Senator Adams and Senator Lanza will jointly introduce legislation prohibiting the MTA from distributing free E-ZPasses to its board members as well as any other non-compensated board member. The bill will also prevent the MTA from giving board members free trips on mass transit systems.
Senator Lanza said: “The free, taxpayer-funded E-ZPass tags being given to both past and present MTA board members for life, is completely unwarranted. The hardworking taxpayers of New York should not be footing the bill for these free rides especially in these difficult economic times.”
The MTA has announced plans to increase fares citing a need for additional revenues. Senator Adams said that “it is unacceptable to force taxpayers to foot the bill for top-paid executives, making more in salary, to travel the city’s highways, buses, and trains. What’s worse is they have not given one but several to some board members.”
Currently, 21 board members hold 33 E-ZPass tags, and MTA records show 37 former board members with 62 passes, or a total of 95, according to published reports.
“A bipartisan bill is critical to preserve the integrity of the Authority,” Adams said. “We can no longer allow for business as usual when the MTA is trying to justify fare hikes that will affect the lives of millions of New Yorkers. The MTA must cease and desist in this practice of perks and lack of transparency.”
Surge in Far Rockaway Shootings Leads to Immediate Call for Action
May 23, 2008
(Queens, NY) In the aftermath of the untimely death of two Southeast Queens teens earlier this week, Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith (D-St. Albans) joined New York City Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, and other local leaders in an emergency meeting.
“My prayers go out to the families of the two teenagers kill over the past week,” said Senator Smith. “The growing violence in Far Rockaway is absolutely unacceptable and those responsible for these crimes will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Within a three-day span, a surge of incidents have rocked the Far Rockaway Peninsula resulting in the shooting of five men and the fatal shooting of two teenagers. Police officers have arrested several suspects involved in the shooting of five men due to a confrontation at a party.
NYPD Commissioner Kelly said: “While overall crime in Far Rockaway is down nearly 7% year-to-date, and down 50% from six-and-a-half years ago, we are very concerned about the spike in homicides and the ease with which guns are obtained. The Police Department is responding with increased resources including higher visibility of uniformed officers in the area and continued focus on illegal guns.”
Reported shootings during the month of May spanned across the entire Peninsula, included:
- Dwight Avenue in Bayswater, Queens;
- Beach 63rd Street, Arverne, Queens;
- 12-70 Redfern Avenue, Far Rockaway; and
- Beach 21st Street, Far Rockaway
District Attorney Brown said: “The fatal shootings of 15-year-old Brandon Bethea and 16-year-old Tyreece Johnson, and the wounding of five others over this past weekend should serve as a clarion call for the community, public officials and law enforcement to ratchet up their efforts to rid the Rockaways of the drug- and gang-based violence that continues to plague the area and that has wreaked havoc on the quality of life of its law-abiding residents. Only through such a cooperative effort can we hope to protect its residents and its children and to make the Rockaways a safe place in which to live and work.”
Local community groups joined the elected officials to address the growing violence in the community and urged leaders to increase efforts to ensure the safety of residents, especially in the public housing developments.
Elected officials, in conjunction with the NYPD, plan to implement Operation COMPP during the summer season. The initiative will include:
- Cameras purchase for the Red Fern Housing complex
- Open Office of Deployment
- Move out the “bad”
- Patrol the streets
- Public Relations
Assemblywoman Audrey I. Pheffer (D-Far Rockaway) stated: “I offer my condolences to the families who tragically lost loved ones due to the senseless violence in our community. As a Far Rockaway resident, I am committed to implementing programs to curb the growing violence plaguing our neighborhoods.”
Officials are urging anyone with information on the shootings that killed 15 year old Brandon Bethea and 16 year old Tyreece Johnson, respectively, to call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577- TIPS.
Senator Smith concluded: “It is unfortunate that the community officials must meet under these circumstances. It is now time to take charge of our community and protect our children.”
Additional statements issued by elected officials:
Assemblywoman Michele Titus (D-Far Rockaway) said: “I express my deepest condolences to those friends and family members who have lost loved ones during the unfortunate events that took place earlier in the week. Our first priority is restoring the level of safety within our community. My colleagues and I are working closely together to implement a preventative solution to ensure the residents within the community can live in a safe environment.”
Councilman Sanders, Jr. said: “We continue to call on the city to provide the people in our community with the proper resources to combat ongoing violence in the Rockaway community. We are calling on the New York City Housing Authority to reopen the doors of the Redfern Community Center for the youth of the community. We are also calling on the Office of Management and Budget to expedite funding towards the anti-gang initiative. This money will enable us to put cameras in Redfern and also create a tenant patrol. We applaud the Senator with his efforts and we look forward to working with him to ensure that we make Redfern a safer place.”
Photo: (Courtesy of the office of Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith)
FAR ROCKAWAY SAFETY NET- Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith (D-St. Albans) joined New York City Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown and other community leaders at an emergency meeting called to announce a new safety plan following the untimely shooting deaths of two Southeast Queens teens. (Shown L-R Red Fern Tenants Association President Doris Jacobs, Assemblywoman Michele Titus, Senator Malcolm A. Smith, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer, and Queens District Attorney Richard Brown)
Letter to the Editor: Quality of Education in Long Beach High School
May 21, 2008
by Mallorie Mae Faubert
(Long Beach, N.Y.) My name is Mallorie Faubert. I lived the majority of my life in the countryside of Pennsylvania, attending Northwestern Lehigh. I moved to Long Beach five months ago and I enrolled in Long Beach High School at the beginning of the new semester. And while it was a difficult move, I knew that it could be a great experience to go somewhere new and step out of my comfort zone. But there’s one thing that’s been troubling me during my stay here, and that’s the quality of education in Long Beach. And while my knowledge is limited to one school per state, I feel that the quality of education at Long Beach isn’t what it could or should be. There is no easy answer, but there are several factors that contribute to this problem.
Some of the problems with the quality of education begin with the state. Each state has its own testing. New York has the Regents Exams and Pennsylvania has the PSSA’s (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment). According to the 2006 state school report cards, when comparing English and Mathematics scores from Long Beach’s Regents exams with Northwestern’s PSSA’s, I found that students at Northwestern scored much higher in both. At Northwestern, 57% of the students scored 85 and above in the Mathematics testing, while at Long beach, only 33% did. In English, Northwestern had 73% scoring 85 and above, Long Beach had only 41%. But these comparisons aren’t really fair. PSSA’s are state scored tests, which means they are much more objectively graded. Having taken both tests, I found the PSSA’s to be more difficult and rigorous. The Regents are graded by the teachers of Long Beach, not the state. The teachers may be more lenient when grading these tests; they may be more subjective while grading their own students. Students are passing the Regents that maybe shouldn’t. If these tests were state graded, many more students may fail. While the Regents exams focus on content they do not test practical skills. The tests should focus more on skills that are applicable to the real world.
Graduation requirements also vary between the two schools. Northwestern graduation requirements are much higher than those at Long Beach. Because of the fewer requirements here at Long Beach, I will now be graduating with the class of ’08 instead of ’09 because I entered Long Beach with almost all the credits I needed to graduate already.
Educational standards at Long Beach also need to be improved. While most students accept a 65 as passing, other schools have higher standards. At Northwestern, for instance, anything below a 70 is failing. In Long Beach, students can attend a class and not hand in one homework assignment, fail every test, be disruptive and unprepared, and teachers are forced to give them a 55, even if their actual average is lower. How does this make students responsible for themselves and their own learning? If Long Beach were to raise its standards, perhaps students would be pushed to excel to a greater degree. This can be seen when you compare the graduation rates from Long Beach to Northwestern. The graduation rate at Northwestern is 95% after four years of school while at Long Beach it’s only 77%. The number of students who graduate should be much higher. This is an unacceptable number.
All schools have varying kinds of teachers. Some are hard; some are easy, some fun, some boring, some inspiring, while others are less stimulating. However, one thing that should always be consistent is that they should all be challenging. A teacher’s role is to push students to perform to their fullest potential. They need to present material at a ready pace so that all students in the class can absorb it and learn from it. Prerequisites should be in place so that teachers can teach at a pace that is appropriate for their students. But the material the teachers teach and the manner in which they teach it is a result of the requests of the community and of the school’s central administration. So perhaps there lies a deeper problem here.
We may want to question the community’s involvement in the students’ education. Does the community really value and push education? The PTA website has five goals listed, none of which involve stressing a good education. There is a Wall of Fame in the commons of the school. On this wall there are 83 plaques for sports achievements and only five directly related to academics. In the guidance office there is a list of the valedictorians, which no one really sees. I’ve seen students get excited about 70s and 75s. Back where I come from, that’s just not acceptable. Students complain about the small amount of work that they get, yet many of them don’t even complete the work they are given. That’s due to a combination of personal motivation and work ethic. Maybe if the Wall of Fame was used to recognize more academic achievements as well it could be a form of motivation for students. While most honors students have an intrinsic motivation, in the Regents classes that I have experienced, which represent the greatest proportion of students, the students need more motivation than just receiving a good grade. Perhaps the school and the community should put more emphasis on education.
The bottom line is that the education here at Long Beach is not adequate. The test scores prove that there are schools out there doing far better than Long Beach. The students here aren’t receiving the education that they deserve. In this failure to provide the proper education needed, these students will be more likely to fail when it comes to college. Once they leave their quaint little island of Long Beach and journey on to either college or the workforce they will be in for a real surprise. College is going to be a real slap in the face for those unprepared. The school is setting their students up to fail. Holding them to low standards and never giving them the motivation that they need and deserve can be fatal.
I want it to be known, that I’m not here to bash Long Beach. That is not my message and that is not the purpose of this article. I definitely don’t mean to sound ungrateful for everything the school has done for me. I greatly value my education. However after coming here I feel that this was something that needed to be said. There are teachers here who are truly dedicated to teaching and to the education of their students. There are intelligent students at Long Beach, students much smarter than I could ever be. But those students, and all the others, are being deprived of a quality education and this could be affecting their potential. No one should be held back from achieving all they can, but that all begins with a quality education.
There is a deep sense of pride that comes of being from Long Beach. But there is a lack of pride when it comes to Long Beach High School. I think that people see the problems with the education here but choose the easy way out and do nothing. And while change cannot happen over night, I hope that this can be the start of change on a grander scale to improve education and create a sense of pride about being from Long Beach High School. Its time to take action, and demand better.
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Please note: The above is a letter to the editor from Mallorie Mae Faubert, a student of Long Beach High School. Letters to the editor are not necessarily factual or accurate and, if opinion, are not necessarily the opinion of the owners and operators of NewsLine Inc.
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State Senate Democratic Conference Supports Subprime Mortgage Moratorium
May 14, 2008
(Albany, N.Y.) State Senate Democratic Conference Members today called for the passage of bipartisan legislation to impose a one-year delay on foreclosure proceedings to allow New York families victimized by predatory lending to avoid the loss of their homes.
“In the first quarter of 2008 the rate of foreclosures throughout the state has increased by forty percent,” said Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith (D-St. Albans). “As legislators, we have an obligation to our constituents and must act now to pass legislation which immediately provides relief to homeowners faced with losing their homes.”
Senate Democrats urged their Republican colleagues to support the bipartisan legislation, which could prevent up to 125,000 foreclosures in the next year. Senate Democrats recommended comprehensive reforms to protect homeowners and strengthen communities. Without the reforms, property values are expected to decline by an average of $18,000 as a result of subprime foreclosures, leading to a $65 billion decline in the statewide tax base.
“The subprime foreclosure crisis is at full tilt, with dire projections for ever-increasing foreclosures over the next year,” said Senator Martin Connor, a Manhattan Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Banks Committee.
“The Governor and the Legislature have appropriated funds to help homeowners negotiate mortgage terms,” Senator Connor said. “The one-year moratorium is essential to stave off disaster and buy time for the other measures to save family homes.”
Senate Democratic Conference members have first-hand experience in preventing foreclosures and saving family homes. The Conference, joined by the State Banking Department and other state officials, last year created the Operation Protect Your Home initiative which has helped over 1,600 working families avoid foreclosure. The initiative included bipartisan workshops from New York City to Buffalo where homeowners meet with lenders from around the country to discuss, and when possible, modify their mortgage terms.
Still, thousands more New York families now face foreclosure, and need immediate help.
Senate Deputy Democratic Leader Jeff Klein (D-Bronx) said: “The time to act is now. Lenders must open their mortgage portfolios and restructure loans to keep families in their homes wherever possible. Bank purchasers and trustees of troubled mortgages must declare a moratorium on foreclosures to allow homeowners time to modify their loans and protect the equity in their homes.”
ACORN President Bertha Lewis said: “This legislation will finally create a real incentive for lenders to get serious about adjusting subprime loans for thousands of New Yorkers in crisis. The depth of this crisis and the costs to the state demand that New York slam on the brakes on home foreclosure so that we can buy both borrowers and lenders the time to work out individual loans. If the Senate Majority is serious they will join Senator Smith and his colleagues and pass this legislation today. We cannot wait.”
Last week, the State Assembly passed moratorium legislation with a vote of 126 to 11, signaling strong bipartisan support. Senate Democrats and their allies called today for swift passage of the same-as Senate bill (S. 6724-B, Padavan).
Senate Democrats also called for passage of their comprehensive reform package, which would provide real relief to homeowners and communities during the moratorium period. The package includes:
- Quick distribution of $25 million included in this year’s state budget for counseling and legal representation for families facing foreclosure;
- Passage of legislation to require upkeep and maintenance of foreclosed properties;
- Passage of legislation imposing a fiduciary duty on mortgage brokers;
- Required education and financial literacy assistance for subprime homebuyers.
Senator Smith concluded: “If this package is approved, victims of predatory lending will not have to worry about being evicted from their homes in a matter of days or months. We want to “press pause” on foreclosures, and give them a fair opportunity to save their homes.”
Student Mural Celebrates Seven Years of ARCiB Bioinformatics Research Lab at Dowling College
May 11, 2008
(Oakdale, N.Y.) Darina Boycheva, a graphics arts student at Dowling College, has created a mural to celebrate the seventh year of the ARCiB Bioinformatics Research Laboratory at Dowling College. The laboratory works on problems on software for molecular graphics and the representation of information in structural biology. Started at Dowling College in 2002 under a grant from the National Science Foundation to Dowling Professor Herbert J. Bernstein for “Accessible Retired Computers in Biology (ARCiB)”, the laboratory has engaged students in a variety of projects at the intersection between structural biology and computer science. The projects have been funded by the NSF, the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the International Union of Crystallography and Dowling College with work presented at national and international scientific meetings.
In the 2007-2008 school year, there are 5 externally funded computer science research projects in the laboratory employing eight undergraduate students. Students have been proud to see their work used by scientists around the world. In recent years, students have attended scientific meetings and presented their work in Salt Lake City, UT; Chicago, IL; Florence, Italy; Honolulu, HI; and Manchester, England and in the summer of 2008 will present in Osaka, Japan.
Late last year, one wall of the laboratory was cleared to provide a place to display some of the research. Ms. Boycheva was commissioned to create a mural to frame the display area. Assisted by computer science student Georgi Todorov, Ms. Boycheva designed and implemented a mural combining representations of tRNA (transfer ribonucleic acid) and DNA (deoxynucleic acid). Both molecules are important in the processes that sustain life, and are also artistically appropriate to the task of creating a frame. The famous double helix of DNA works well as a straight border and tRNA makes an effective corner decoration.
To see more photos and info on the mural, click on http://arcib.dowling.edu/mural.html or come visit us in KSC 020.
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. www.dowling.edu
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Dowling College Establishes Intergenerational Center on Policy and Practice
May 8, 2008
(Oakdale, N.Y.) Long Island’s first center for intergenerational policy and practice is being launched at Dowling College. According to Robert Gaffney, Dowling’s President, “The Center for Intergenerational Policy and Practice is dedicated to the promotion of policies, programs and coursework that bind generational groups together as well as intergenerational practices that reduce age stereotyping and discrimination.” “The Center is a partnership of Dowling College with Intergenerational Strategies, a Hauppauge-based not-for-profit organization and Long Island’s pre-eminent leader in the intergenerational field,” Gaffney continues.
“The Center will be multi-disciplined, offering not only an academic studies program but also a leadership development initiative directed to age 50+ adults who are looking for second careers in public service work. In addition, the Center will offer seminars and an annual conference,” says Dr. Susanne Bleiberg Seperson, the Intergenerational Center’s Director.
Paul Arfin, President and CEO of Intergenerational Strategies, reports that the Center is the first of its kind in the entire region. According to Arfin, “the Center will draw upon best practices in the growing intergenerational field and serve as a replicable model for other colleges and universities.” He feels intergenerational programs are the wave of the future and are needed on Long Island. Intergenerational programs have demonstrated that they can improve the health conditions of older adults while benefitting the groups they serve whether they are children, youth, or older populations.
The Center’s public policy agenda will concentrate on generational equity issues challenging those that would pit one generation’s needs against those of another generation. We will recommend and promote policies that see each generation having assets to contribute to the common good.”
The Center will launch its activities in July with a Summer Seminar Series on intergenerational and aging issues. A conference is being planned for November.
For further information about The Center for Intergenerational Policy and Practice, please contact Dr. Susanne Bleiberg-Seperson at bleibers@dowling.edu.
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. www.dowling.edu
Long Island Couple Awarded $10,000 at Welcome Back Awards in Washington, D.C.
May 2, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Eli Lilly and Company is proud to honor six inspiring winners at the 10th annual Welcome Back Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, May 3. For the past decade, the Welcome Back Awards has recognized individuals for their outstanding commitments to mental health, donating nearly half a million dollars to not-for-profit organizations on behalf of program honorees.
“These honorees are breaking new ground in the field of depression; from providing mental health guidance for victims of Hurricane Katrina to bringing postpartum depression education to life, these winners tackle mental health issues from the ground up,” said Rakesh Jain, M.D., Welcome Back Award committee member and director of psychiatric drug research at R/D Clinical Research Center in Lake Jackson, Texas. “Each of the winners is a pioneer, bringing depression awareness to their individual communities and the country at large.”
This year, in celebration of the program’s 10th anniversary, a special “Person of the Decade” award was created to honor a previous winner whose work continues to positively impact the depression community.
“I was on the verge of giving up when I received a life-changing call, informing me I won a Welcome Back Award,” said Rory White, founding manager of the Skid Row Lamp Art Project in Los Angeles and a 2004 honoree, who was selected this year by an independent committee of experts as the Welcome Back Award Person of the Decade. “Bringing validation to programs like mine, the Welcome Back Awards has helped create a legacy that will work to banish the stigma of mental illness for years to come,” White said.
Although White’s work with the Skid Row Lamp Art Project is the most rewarding endeavor of his life, securing funding and recognition for this high-level art program serving Skid Row homeless individuals with depression and other mental illnesses, had seemed an insurmountable task. Fortunately, that phone call was the sign he needed to persevere. Now, four years later, White continues providing opportunities for the homeless and mentally ill on Los Angeles’ Skid Row to achieve successes in their own lives. His Welcome Back Award became the first in a long line of prestigious awards granted to the art project. In addition, paintings from the art project are being used in the filming of the major motion picture, “The Soloist,” which dramatizes the life of a Julliard-trained cellist who became homeless in Skid Row because of his mental illness. The Skid Row Lamp Art Project will also be the focus of a feature length documentary, “Ashes and Roses.”
Lilly established the Welcome Back Awards in 1998 to fight the stigma associated with depression and to promote the understanding that depression is treatable. Each year, an independent panel of national mental health leaders recognizes five individuals for their outstanding achievements, and Lilly awards donations ranging between $10,000 and $15,000 to the not-for-profit organization of each winner’s choice.
The 2008 Welcome Back Awards honorees are:
Community Service: Jean and Doug Richards, Jamesport, N.Y. (Pictured Above)
Jean and Doug Richards treated patients as nurse and doctor respectively for more than 40 years, but after losing their eldest daughter to schizophrenia in 1987, they determined that patients living with mental illnesses — and their families — often need more than the help of a medical professional. This inspired them to facilitate a weekly support group called Relatives of the Mentally Ill, or ROMI, to help other families in their community who were in need of support. The group provides education and understanding to members in and around their Long Island community. Weekly meetings feel like family dinner table discussions, offering an informal and comfortable setting for members to share stories and realize they are not alone, no matter how isolated they may feel. Although the couple have since retired and are now both close to 80 years old, they continue their mission above and beyond their weekly meetings by writing encouraging letters, sending care packages and cooking and delivering meals. For families feeling isolated, scared and sometimes hopeless when faced with the mental illness of a loved one, these examples of personal kindness are a salve for healing hearts and minds.
Lifetime Achievement: Mary Jo Codey, West Orange, N.J.
Mary Jo Codey’s personal experiences with postpartum depression during both her pregnancies opened her eyes to the impact that limited knowledge and understanding of postpartum depression had in her community and throughout her state. As the first lady of New Jersey, Codey seized the opportunity presented by her husband’s 14 months as governor from 2004 to 2006 to bring attention to the condition through public appearances and interviews. She courageously detailed her experiences with an illness that many find difficult to understand. In addition, Codey played a key role in developing, and served as spokesperson for, a widely successful statewide postpartum depression education campaign, “Recognizing Postpartum Depression: Speak Up When You’re Down.” She also inspired New Jersey’s groundbreaking Postpartum Depression Screening and Education law. On the national level, Codey has lobbied on Capitol Hill in support of legislation designed to support research and education relating to postpartum depression and psychosis and provide support services for sufferers.
Psychiatry: Margaret Spinelli, M.D., New York, N.Y.
Margaret Spinelli has been passionate about solving the problems of those around her since she was young. An inherent desire to help others led her to a career in nursing. While working with impoverished women at a Brooklyn clinic, Spinelli became interested in learning more about the mental health of expectant mothers. Now considered a leading expert in the field of perinatal psychiatry, Spinelli has been touring the world, lecturing and teaching on the subject for the past 20 years. Her groundbreaking work has focused on researching and evaluating women who have committed infanticide due to postpartum mental disorders, and she has performed a significant amount of pro bono work for women with psychiatric illnesses. Spinelli continues to find her work not only rewarding, but also therapeutic as she recognizes that for every mother she treats, there is a child (or children) who benefits.
Primary Care: JoAn Hopkins, B.S.N., Loveland, Colo.
For more than 30 years, JoAn Hopkins has treated depression in the wake of disasters, helping victims and their families to cope with both the physical and mental traumas they’ve incurred. Having served onsite as a Red Cross relief volunteer for dozens of disasters, including Hurricane Katrina and the Pentagon on 9/11, Hopkins has brought her mental health service skills to people all across the nation. While Hopkins ensures that the basic needs of victims are met —such as food, water and shelter— she also understands the unseen needs that can often make the difference between a survivor’s spiral into a major depression or one day feeling strong enough to reach out for the mental health lifeline that stigma and shame and other pressing needs often overrule. Fortunately, Hopkins’ approachability and compassion give disaster survivors and relief workers a welcoming introduction to mental healthcare provision—keeping the door open for them to walk through and acknowledge and accept help when they are ready to receive it. When Hopkins is not on the front lines of disaster relief, she provides mental health services to the chronically mentally ill in Colorado through her work as a nurse at the Larimer Center for Mental Health.
Destigmatization: Henry Acosta, M.S.W., Mercerville, N.J.
Henry Acosta’s personal struggle with depression while growing up in a tough area of New Jersey, combined with his family’s own history and struggles with the illness, brought him face to face with the disparity of care among Hispanics with mental illness. Acosta has seen the confusion that reigns in the wake of a suicide attempt. He has seen the difficulties in finding appropriate care. He had to translate his own treatment plan into English to help his parents understand his own condition to enable them to help their own son. Simply, Acosta knew that change was necessary for survival. As a result, it became his life mission to break down barriers to care for all minorities. Today, as the executive director of the National Resource Center for Hispanic Mental Health, Acosta is the driving force behind educational programs, public service announcements, media campaigns and legislation to bring appropriate and relevant care to the Hispanic community in his home state and across the country. As a direct result of his programming, statistics in New Jersey show that Hispanics with mental illness are using more public services and less costly emergency and crisis care than before; changes that will, hopefully, be seen nationwide thanks to Acosta’s passion and dedication.
“For the past decade, the Welcome Back Awards has been honoring individuals in the depression community who have challenged the status quo by designing, developing and facilitating programs that bring awareness to the condition and relief to those who suffer from it,” said John Hayes, M.D., vice president of Lilly Research Laboratories and global brand development team leader of neuroscience, Eli Lilly and Company. “It is important for Lilly to recognize these unique voices in the depression community as a way to inspire them to continue their good work and promote recovery. I am honored to present Welcome Back Awards, now in its tenth year, to these admirable individuals.”
Nominations for the 2009 Welcome Back Awards
Nominations for the 2009 WBA may be submitted by anyone wishing to be recognized for his or her outstanding achievements in the depression community or wishing to recognize someone else. For more information, call 800-463-6440 or visit www.welcomebackawards.com.
TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OR SEEK HELP, PLEASE CALL MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF SUFFOLK COUNTY, 199 N. WELLWOOD AVENUE, STE 2, LINDENHURST, NY. 11757, 631-226-3900, OR CALL JEAN RICHARDS, 631-298-4269
About Lilly
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers – through medicines and information – for some of the world’s most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com
Long Island Arts Alliance Presents First Scholar-Artists Awards
April 23, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) The first Long Island Arts Alliance (LIAA) Scholar-Artists Awards were presented Sunday April 6th, 2008 to 20 outstanding high school age artists from Nassau and Suffolk counties. The event took place at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts of Long Island University, and it was hosted by Laura Savini, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for WLIW/21 TV. Speakers included John R. Bransfield, Jr., President of the Roslyn Savings Foundation and LIAA Chair, Paul Fleishman, Vice President of Public Affairs for Newsday, Roger B. Tilles, New York State Regent, founder of the Arts Alliance, and Chair of its Advisory Board, and Dale Lewis, Executive Director of Usdan Center For the Creative and Performing Arts. The event presented high school seniors accomplished in Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance and Media Arts, a select group of “the best of the best” chosen by panels of Long Island arts educators. They were named LIAA Scholar-Artists from a pool of more than 100 candidates nominated by Long Island’s public school districts, and by private and parochial schools. The Scholar-Artist Selection Committee chose one monthly award-winner from each county. Since September 2007, the winning students have been individually profiled in monthly Scholar-Artist features in Newsday, and in expanded coverage on Newsday.com.
The Long Island Scholar–Artist Awards are presented by Roslyn Savings Foundation in cooperation with Newsday. The program is endorsed by the New York State School Music Association, the New York State Art Teachers Association, the Nassau and Suffolk chapters of the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education, and the Nassau and Suffolk Art Supervisors Associations
The 2008 Long Island Arts Alliance Scholar-Artists and their school districts are:
- Matthew Ahl, West Babylon
- Heather Burian, Syosset
- Cady Chaplin Hewlett-Woodmere
- Bi Choi, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK
- Samantha Degen, Seaford
- Brie-Anna Desiderio West Islip
- Sam Dix, Hewlett-Woodmere
- William Doyle, Syosset
- Adrienne Drenckhahn Lindenhurst
- Gabrielle Flores, Lindenhurst
- Katherine Hughes, Port Washington
- Jae Lee, Hicksville
- Andrew Leiman West Islip
- Gregory Modelewski, Harborfields
- Jung Woo Nahm, Half Hollow Hills West
- Melissa Rapelje Glen Cove
- Alana Rosen, Lynbrook
- Marissa Schildt Longwood
- Maurice Tompkins, Islip
- Ilana Ventura, Half Hollow Hills East
In addition to the top honors, a second group of outstanding students won Awards of Excellence at the Scholar-Artist event. This group was composed of the following students:
- Hana Abrams
- Vanessa Acero
- Aleksander Arcabascio
- Andrew Barsky
- Matthew Bellina
- Anne Brady
- Alyssa Brown
- Tiffany Cheng
- Alexandra Christodoulou
- Shannon Connors
- Mairead Daniels
- Stephanie DeLucia
- Stefan Dezil
- Gabriela Espinal
- Sarah Faitell
- Maris Finn
- Max Garett
- Tala Ginsberg
- Gabriela Gonzalez
- Nina Gramaglia
- Christine Jaeger
- Meggan Kent
- Sharon Kitzis
- Tyler Lee
- Katelyn Liesner
- Ryan Louie
- Brittany Melton
- Courtney Miller
- Steven Miller
- Adam Nadler
- Stephanie Park
- Amy Persaud
- Tara Pesce
- Jacqueline Petriello
- Michelle Polifrone
- Priya Saxena
- Jamie Sklar
- Monica Vitti
- Gabriella Wilkens
- Eunice Yeung
The Long Island Arts Alliance began in 2002, when the Long Island Association asked prominent community leaders to participate in an examination of the region’s assets, growth opportunities, and challenges. Roger Tilles assembled the heads of Long Island’s not-for-profit arts institutions to report to the Association’s Goals Conference as Chair of its Arts and Culture Committee. Anticipating projects beyond the scope of this committee’s charge, Mr. Tilles suggested the creation of an Island-wide Arts Alliance. LIAA was born, and it now boasts a membership of 60 arts organizations, including Long Island’s universities. Among LIAA’s first initiatives was an economic study to document the impact of the arts on our economy. Announced in 2004, the study revealed the not-for-profit arts community’s significant impact on the Long Island community. LIAA sponsors events to provide Long Island’s arts leadership with opportunities for professional education, collaboration, and communication. The Scholar–Artist Spotlight program is LIAA’s latest initiative, designed to provide Long Island’s talented student artists with recognition for their individual and collective accomplishments.
The Long Island Arts Alliance Board is composed of: John R. Bransfield, Jr., Chair • Roger Tilles, Advisory Board Chair. Additional Directors are Beth Levinthal, Dale Lewis (head of the Scholar-Artist program), Maggie Martinez Malito, Elliott Sroka, Karen Petry, LIAA Administrator, Timothy P. Knight, Publisher, President & CEO of Newsday • Paul Fleishman, Vice President of Public Affairs, Deidra Parrish Williams, Director of Community Affairs & Media Relations; Marian Conway, Executive Director of Roslyn Savings Foundation.
The LIAA Scholar–Artist Educators Committee is chaired by Dr. John J. Gallagher, Longwood Schools; Gary Bates, Art League of Long Island; Carol Brown, Eastern Suffolk BOCES; Dr. Judith Chen, Plainview-Old Bethpage Schools; Diana Cook, Middle Country Schools; Louisa Eiermann, Suffolk NYSCAME; Ava M. Favara, Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Performing Arts; Kelly Good, Nassau BOCES; Marc Greene, Port Washington School; James Incorvaia, Harborfields Schools; Beth Levinthal, Hofstra University Museum; Dr. Kim Lowenborg-Coyne, North Babylon Schools; Donna Manning, Seaford Schools; Sal Somma, Nassau NYSCAME; Susan Weber, Uniondale Schools.
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Photo: 20 honorees from Nassau and Suffolk at the LIAA Awards on Sunday April 6, 2008
