Get 2 CPE credits by attending the Executive CPE Forum organized by Schwartz & Company, LLP in collaboration with Adelphi University.

The event will take place on Thursday, June 7^th 2012, from 8 am to 10 am at the Garden City Campus of Adelphi University, in the University Center, Room 313.  Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. The topics being discussed include:

• Wealth Preservation - Wealth Transfer and Planning Opportunities
• Tax Minimization - $5 Million Exemption (Tax Relief Act)
• Federal Tax Update

Register now as space is limited. The early registration fee through May 15^th is $25 and after May 15^th is $35.

For more information, please visit: http://business.adelphi.edu/newsevent/executive-cpe-forum/ or contact Andreea Candela at acandela@schwartz-cpas.com.

By LISA JOSEFAK

MARIA M. SANJURJO, CPA

Schwartz & Company, LLP

Maria M. Sanjurjo, CPA is an accounting and audit partner with Schwartz & Company, LLP in Bellmore. Sanjurjo handles a diverse group of clients concentrating in the financial services sector. Sanjurjo’s team provides auditing, accounting and fund administration services. Her clients include investment partnerships, investment advisors, high-net-worth individuals and middle market companies.

Sanjurjo oversees the firm’s recruiting and mentoring committees. In addition to helping firm members maximize their professional growth, these committees also help members achieve a better work life balance.

In many ways, the state of the economy has pushed women to be trailblazers in the Long Island business community, Sanjurjo said.

“Losing their jobs or just general feelings of unrest in an uncertain world has made them wake up and take a personal inventory,” she said. “Even women that were able to keep their jobs suddenly found themselves asking, Am I happy doing what I am doing?, Where will this bring me in the next couple of years? or If the economy continues this way, will I be able to sustain my lifestyle?”

These women have taken a look around and found opportunity in a time of unrest, Sanjurjo said. “Opportunity to take a new job path that they would otherwise not have taken or the opportunity to start a new business or offer a new service within their existing business that they would not have considered had it not been for the rattling that came with the downturn.”

On Long Island alone, the past few years have seen a flurry of networking events and organizations catering specifically to women in business, Sanjurjo said. “We have recognized that we are all faced with the same challenges, so who better to lend a helping hand than other women,” she noted. “Eleanor Roosevelt said, ‘You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give,’” Sanjurjo said. “Long Island women have faced challenges and have certainly displayed this courage. This economy has given birth to a new breed of aspiring women that are relentless, inspiring and determined to make a change.”

Sanjurjo earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. She is also a member of several organizations including 100 Women in Hedge Funds, Taxation of Financial Investments Committee and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Sanjurjo is currently pursuing an accreditation in business valuations.

Founded in 1991, Schwartz & Company, LLP, with offices on Long Island and Boca Raton, Florida, specializes in accounting, audit and tax services for venture capital companies, investment partnerships, public and closely held corporations and acquisitions of United States companies by domestic and foreign investors. The firm is committed to providing close, personal attention to its clients. It analyzes and evaluates operations and current cash flow; prepares multi-year operating and tax proforma projections; reviews acquisitions; as well as provides consultation for today’s myriad forms of investment structure. In addition, the firm has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in developing tax planning strategies for high-net-worth individuals, as well as shareholders, partners and corporate executives.

Long Island Business News- OCT. 15-21, 2010 I  VOL. 57

Michael Schwartz, managing partner at accounting firm Schwartz & Co. in Bellmore and Manhattan, has been busy now that 2011 has ended. We talked with Schwartz about the past year and the future, what he’s seeing overall from clients, developments in the accounting profession and trends at tech companies.

Now that the year ended, what are you finding in companies’ books? We’re seeing companies growing. We have a lot of startups, technology companies, folks developing apps for Apple.

They’re hiring people and growing. Are apps leading to new businesses? Companies are being formed that develop apps for Apple. We had a technology company sold to Twitter. It doesn’t take a lot to develop an app. An app’s accepted by iTunes. You have worldwide marketing with no cost. You have Apple marketing for you. Apple bills for you, collects for you and sends you your money.

Are apps the new dot.com? They can make a lot of money. If you’re selling something for $5, forget how much Apple takes. Even if you get to keep half, what’s your overhead? You don’t have a store. You don’t have inventory. Apps aside as an engine for tech startups, are we in a bad economy? I think it’s a time of opportunity. Those folks that know how to run a business, manage people, that can take advantage of the Great Recession, are going to do well.

The small businesses, they can be nimble, adjust, do things. When and why did you begin acting as the accounting department for firms in addition to doing traditional accounting work? In 2000, when the bubble busted, our existing clients were private equity firms and investment firms. They looked at their portfolio companies, operating companies and how they could cut costs. One of their areas was the finance department. We were hired to run accounting departments for these companies.

What’s the trend regarding outsourcing accounting functions today? A bunch of folks starting up a company raise money. The last thing they think about is their books and records. We’re getting more of those.

What big issues are affecting the accounting profession? The biggest issue is finding talented people with a work ethic. You’re getting a lot of people going into accounting. Folks are taking a job, not getting trained. If you get trained by the bigger firms, you’re on a job for six months.

Why does the profession still have such long hours? I think it comes down to management. There are firms around here that worked every weekend in the summer to hit the September and October deadlines, even through the Labor Day weekend. We didn’t. We plan well. We keep an even flow of work rather than this high and low that accountants traditionally do.

How productive can you be if you come in at 9 or 10 in the morning and work until 2 in the morning day after day? Is this your busy season? Jan. 1 we kick off right away because of the audits we do. It stays busy. My staff doesn’t have a lot of down time. On the flip side, they usually don’t work past 7 or 7:30. Yes, we work six days, but no one’s here past
7:30. For 13 weeks, that’s the way it works.

And during the summers? I close Friday in the summer at 1 o’clock. They’re half days. That’s a good tradeoff. Other than this 13 weeks, it’s normal business hours.

What do you do to break up the busy season? We’re one of the few firms that in February throw a party. People have a holiday party in December. I [also] throw one in February. Baseball has a very long season. In the middle of baseball season is an all-star break. In the middle of busy season, we have an all-star break.

What does the newest generation want out of work? They want to grow professionally, to be intellectually challenged. They want responsibility. We’ve taken the approach that we train them, and we bring them in to this culture.

How are accounting firms competing for people? You get reputations. Certain firms are sweatshops. Certain firms have high turnover. Certain firms hire for busy season. At the end of ’08, when firms were laying off 10, 15, 20 percent of staff, we were hiring. We believed in the future. We were able to get talent that was there.

What’s driving consolidation in accounting? Our profession is probably one of the most fragmented industries there is. Anyone can be in business as a single practitioner. If you’re in business now, you’re price-sensitive. People want service. They want to be important.

Why haven’t you acquired another firm? We’re not interested in buying clients. For us, it’s all about service. We’ve taken a different model. Our model is every great sports franchise has a great farm system. We recruit out of school, take them as interns, train them for a year, year and a half.

Long Island Business News- JAN. 20-26, 2012 I  VOL. 59

Maria M. Sanjurjo, Schwartz & Company, LLP

Maria M. Sanjurjo began her career at Schwartz & Company as a senior accountant in 2002. She turned to its managing partner, Michael Schwartz, for advice on becoming a partner and through his mentoring now holds the position of accounting and audit partner with the firm.

Sanjurjo and her team provide auditing, accounting and fund administration services, and she handles a diverse group of clients, concentrating in the financial services sector. Her clients include investment partnerships, investment advisors, high net worth individuals and middle market companies. Overseeing the firm’s recruiting and mentoring committees which, in addition to helping firm members maximize their professional growth helps members achieve a better worklife balance, Sanjurjo recognizes the greatest feeling of accomplishment, besides being a wife and mother of three children, is having the ability to positively influence and motivate people to be the best they can be.

Prior to joining Schwartz & Company, Sanjurjo worked at Prager and Fenton, an accounting, auditing, tax and advisory services firm in New York City, for four years.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from C.W. Post, Long Island University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and is pursuing an accreditation in Business Valuations.

She is also a member of several organizations including 100 Women in Hedge Funds, The Committee for Taxation of Financial Instruments, and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Sanjurjo is the firm’s liaison to universities and colleges where the firm recruits interns and staff. She serves on the C.W. Post Employer Advisory Board and is a member of the St. John’s University Accounting Circle. She is also a member of the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.

Besides her passion for public accounting, joking that she is “one of those nuts who loves public accounting,” Sanjurjo loves to read and dance.

Long Island Business News (January 27, 2011)

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a teacher, but when it was time to go to college I decided to go to work and get married instead. Not sorry but wish I could have done both.

Is this how you thought everything would turn out?

No. I was a stay at home mom (and really loved it) and never expected to have another career. I am now the office manager in a boutique accounting firm. My life is busy and my work is something I am proud of.

Did you choose your career or did it find you?

It found me. I was working at a job I did not like and a friend called and said this would be a great job for me. I really only wanted to work part time. And the only thing I knew about tax returns was signing them and getting a refund. Michael Schwartz interviewed me and I guess he must have seen something that he thought he could cultivate and work with. My friend gave me a crash course on Word and I would pray every morning that someone else would turn on the computer before I got there. But here I am 14 years later. I am proud of my accomplishments, I have exceeded the expectations I had when I started and look forward to the future and new challenges.

Which living person do you most admire?

My mother-in-law. Her life story is amazing and she is one of the nicest people I have ever met. She has integrity and she always sees the good in people.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“That’s what makes horse races.” A standard phrase in my home especially for my children. If everyone liked the same things and thought the same way there would be no choices and how boring the world would be. People can have different opinions and sometimes we can agree that we disagree and that’s okay.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My husband, my children and my grandson (only one grandchild for now) are the greatest loves of my life. Nothing compares to my family.

Who are your heroes in real life? My husband is my hero. There is no one who cares more about me and I am always his first priority. I can always count on him no matter what. He makes me a better person.

What is it that you most dislike?

Waste…Waste of time, energy and talent.

What is your motto?

Do unto others as you would have them do to you.

Long Island Business News (October 2011)

Sitting in Mr. Hazan’s 10th grade business class was all it took to place Joshua Gilbert on the path to becoming an accountant. “He sparked my interest from the very first class I took with him,” said Gilbert, who ended up taking an abundance of classes with his mentor. “He realized I loved numbers and business – and everything about them – and he took me under his wing,” Gilbert said.

He went on to study business and accounting at State University of New York at Buffalo, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting.

Today, Gilbert is senior manager in the financial services group at Schwartz & Company, focusing on servicing private equity and SBIC Funds, investment partnerships, funds of funds, investment advisors and mutual funds. He also provides various accounting and tax services.

One of his proudest career achievements was working at a large mid-sized New York City firm and bringing in his first client. “It showed me that I achieved everything I had worked hard for up to that point –it gave me a sense of accomplishment,” he said. “It was a $400,000 client I brought in and that really motivated me to push myself to be there for my client, be there for my staff and my firm.”

Gilbert later joined Schwartz & Company’s Bellmore office to pursue a better work/life balance. “I wanted to be there for my family,” he said, who lost his father just three weeks after leaving the New York City firm.

“My goal is to maintain balance in life so I can see my children grow up,” said Gilbert, who sees his daughters Kate, 6, and Sydney, 3, each morning before he leaves for work and again at night before they go to sleep.

Gilbert’s genuine dedication and compassion for his clients are clearly evident. Just last year, that first client from his New York City years called him for advice.

“This was a great achievement for me,” Gilbert said. What does he see for the future? “I want to enjoy life, as well as enjoy the achievements I have in my career and share that with other people,” he said.

Long Island Business News

Finding the right dentist to care for you and your family can be quite challenging.

Dr. Brian L. Koppelman has been in practice since 1996, and is carrying on three generations of family dentistry.  He has worked hard to create the type of practice that meets the needs of all patients.  Dentistry is not just about maintaining the health of your mouth, but providing patients with the kind of individual care that will give them the confident smiles and comfort they desire.  Our schedule is designed so that you do not spend your time in our waiting room; we value and respect your appointment time.  You will find our office to be one of the most technologically advanced and modern practices in the area.  Dr. Koppelman continually attends cutting edge training and educational programs to keep up to date on all cosmetic and general advances in dentistry.

Because the health and well-being of our patients is our primary concern, the doctor and staff work in concert to create and maintain a warm and caring environment.   Mutual respect and collaboration with our patients are fundamental to our practice.  To make your visit more pleasurable we offer several amenities: television in the operatory, stereo headphones to reduce dental noise, relaxation videos, aroma candles, protective eye and clothing wear, fleece blankets, and options for anxiety and muscle relaxation.

Brian L. Koppelman, D.D.S., P.C.

Cosmetic, Family and Implant Dentistry

Telephone 631-475-1532

www.briankoppelmandds.com

31 Oak Street

Suite #2

Patchogue, NY. 11772

We prefer to take a proactive vs. reactive approach to tax services. By keeping current on new tax laws and legislation, we are in a position to identify key tax planning opportunities that minimize both your current and future tax liabilities. We provide our individual and business clients with the taxation expertise and knowledge that they deserve throughout the year. Tax services offered include but are not limited to:

- Tax planning & return preparation

• Individuals
• Corporations
• Partnerships
• LLCs/LLPs
• Estates, trusts & gift
• Not-for-profit organizations

- Taxing authority representation
- Divorce and support issues
- Tax effects of buying/selling a business

Schwartz & Company, LLP offers a full range of accounting and auditing services. In addition to identifying, measuring and communicating financial information to our clients, we provide insight through involved interaction by taking the time required to attain a comprehensive understanding of each client’s business: its unique financial needs and its relationship to the markets in which it operates. In this way we become an invaluable analytical resource for indentifying and generating future growth strategies. Our broad spectrum of expertise allows us to bring a special perspective to each of our client’s unique situations. Our success is based upon looking beyond the bottom line.

Schwartz & Company, LLP takes great pride in being able to provide its clients with the total spectrum of accounting and auditing services they need and the uncompromising standard of professional excellence they deserve in the areas of:

• Audit, Review, Compilation services
• SBIC compliance
• Projections, budgeting and cash forecasting
• Reviews of internal control
• CFO/Controller outsourcing services

Bringing business entities together is always a delicate endeavor, regardless of the specific type of transaction. Companies or individuals contemplating a merger or acquisition, leveraged buyout, or any similar activity all need a host of specialized services to maximize the potential for success.

Schwartz & Company, LLP possesses the extensive experience and professional resources that allow our clients to identify viable prospects, analyze opportunities and make sound decisions for the future.

Tax planning is an essential element of the tax preparation process. By making tax planning part of your overall business strategy, you can use our experience and access to the most current new developments in the tax laws to minimize both your current and future tax liabilities.

We gauge our worth by the personal and business successes of our clients. We can help your business identify areas negatively affecting profitability and growth and develop solutions that are practical and technically sound. In addition to acting as a sounding board for management, we provide comprehensive, flexible strategies that address the issues affecting your business. The following is just a few of the areas in which we provide consulting services:

• Accounting software selection and implementation
• Type of entity selection
• Business valuations
• Buying/selling a business
• Computer systems
• Financial & retirement decisions
• Estate, trust & gift planning

Dr. Kevin Hansen is a general dentist treating both children and adults in Brooklyn, NY.   He is trained in all aspects of dentistry including routine care, cosmetics, Invisalign orthodontics, and implant dentistry.  He uses the latest dental technology and regularly attends continuing education courses around the country.  Dr. Hansen and his staff strive to ensure that each of his patients receives excellent care in a comfortable and friendly environment.  His office his located in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, adjacent to Grand Army Plaza.  Patients have claimed that “walking into his office is like walking into a friend’s brownstone;” you’re guaranteed to be welcomed by a friendly face and great music as you enter a treatment room.  After one visit with Dr. Hansen it’s clear to see that he truly loves his job.

Dr. Hansen is a graduate of Binghamton University with a B.S. in Biology, and he continued his education at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, where he graduated with his D.D.S. in 2004.  Dr. Hansen then moved to Brooklyn where he completed his residency in General Dentistry at the Long Island College Hospital.  He has held an attending dentist position at United Cerebral Palsy of NYC, where he trained Columbia University Dental Students techniques in treating patients with special needs.  He is a member of the America Dental Association and the Second District Dental Society.

Dr. Hansen was born and raised in West Babylon on Long Island.  While currently living in Brooklyn with his fiancée, he plans to one day move back to Long Island and start a family.  He is proud to partner with MCL Dental Lab to provide outstanding dental restorations to improve your smile.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/kevin-j-hansen-dds-brooklyn

47 Plaza Street West

Brooklyn, NY 11217

(718) 783-0530

Local search is BOOMING! More and more people are using Google to search for local businesses on their computers and mobile phones. Hosting your websites locally will help as Google will notice your website hosted on a local IP address. Local search is a growing trend and you don’t want to get left behind. Local businesses have a huge advantage when it comes to ranking in search engines. That’s because Google gives local businesses high priority when it comes to ranking for local search terms. Google has made a big shift to show local results above traditional SEO and allowing you to even outrank the big companies with massive marketing budgets.

According to Google:
. 20% of ALL Google searches are related to location
. 40% of ALL mobile searches are related to location
. 97% of consumers search for local business online

Google loves the Wordpress platform. So much so, that a new, properly created Wordpress site can be indexed in as little as 5 minutes! If your site is not created with Wordpress you should see that your company blog is. Keep in mind that Google wants to rank sites that are authorities in their field. Knowing this you can create your blog to showcase your company as an expert in it’s field. Write How To articles, answer common questions and create videos displaying your expertise.

Greater emphasis is being placed on the speed of your websites. Your site can simply not afford to be slow. Having your site hosted on a fast network and local to your web traffic source will help improve site loading times. It’s also important to make sure your site is properly programmed so that your site rankings are not penalized due to poor coding and lackluster performance.

Content is King!

Having relevant content to match what people are searching for is of extreme importance. Target keywords that you want to rank highly for and optimize your site or blog with content relevant to those keywords. Provide HIGH VALUE content, with no misspellings and no duplicate content.

The Cloud has been a buzz word in the technology world for sometime now. But what exactly does hosting on a Cloud Server mean for you and your business? What are some of the advantages that Cloud Servers offer?

If you are serious about your business you must be serious about your web hosting. High Availability Cloud Serversprovide a distinct advantage over traditional shared or dedicated server hosting by eliminating single points of failure which in turn increases your overall uptime. Your Cloud Server can take full advantage of the high speed and reliability previously gained only with expensive dedicated enterprise storage solutions as data is stored across multiple physical SAN nodes providing maximum redundancy.

Advantages of High Availability Cloud Servers:
· You receive guaranteed Cloud Hosting resources such as CPU, memory, network bandwidth,
· and IOps. These resource allocations can far exceed what traditional single server solutions can
provide.
· Truly dedicated and protected resources while eliminating all single points of failure.

· Cloud Servers are EASY to upgrade when needed and are scalable to meet your needs as your business grows.

· Harnesses the redundancy to keep your Cloud Servers up and running without downtime!

· Improve overall speed and load times of your websites which is increasingly important for good ranking with Google and other search engines.

Cloud computing has catapulted to a top priority as organizations push for a faster, better and more cost-effective technology delivery model. Today, many forward-thinking businesses are using Cloud Servers to take advantage of the increased scalability, agility, automation, and efficiency that this technology can deliver.
It’s time to consider how your business would benefit from the advantages of hosting on High Availability Cloud Servers. Can you afford not to?

Webair Brand Ambassador and Professional Golfer Joe Horowitz took to the course this past weekend and won his second First Place Finish in the past 3 years at Gosling’s Invitational Crown at Belmont Hills in Bermuda.

Joe Horowitz Won the 2011 Gosling’s Invitational and the first place $12,000 check. North Carolina resident Gray Yancey won the Open Amateur Title and Eric “Hav” Trott turned back the clock to capture the Senior’s title.

Three years ago Horowitz shared the trophy with Mike Donald in a battle that ended up finishing in the dark. As a result both players agreed to share the Trophy. Horowitz will have none of that this time around and came to Bermuda with one thing on mind, to win the title outright. After blistering the course on the first day with a 6 under 64 it was clear that this was going to be a special week.

Congratulations Joe on your well deserved victory!!!

New York, NY (January 6, 2011) – Webair (www.Webair.com) starts the New Year off with an exciting announcement – the official opening of their new executive headquarters and flagship datacenter in Garden City, NY. Termed “NY1,” this state of the art datacenter for the managed hosting provider was acquired from JetBlue and was formerly the center of JetBlue’s flight operations. NY1 boasts over 50,000 square feet and was built with the purpose of delivering high density, reliable datacenter space.

NY1 houses Webair’s Network Operations Center which is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by onsite personnel and utilizes proximity cards and a biometric access control system. It is a modified Tier 4 facility with N+1 power and cooling infrastructure, Inergen gas-based fire suppression system and paralleling generators that provide redundant fault tolerant emergency power. With over 180Gbps of network capacity, physically diverse points of entry, redundant fiber routes and Manhattan bypass, Webair’s NY1 is one of the best connected facilities in the region.

Webair’s NY1 meet-me-room offers clients direct carrier neutral connectivity to providers including Level3, Global Crossings, AboveNet, Lighttower, XO Communications and Verizon. Additional features include high density cabinets with flexible power configurations, disaster recovery seats, and a wide array of managed services.

“We are thrilled for our expansion into the new datacenter which enables us to provide clients with the latest technologies and advancements,” said Michael C. Orza, CEO of Webair.com. “In addition, we have implemented eco and energy-efficient programs into the facility such as Green cooling technology which leverages cold weather to reduce energy consumption. All our environmental systems are N+1 redundant, and the high-tech facility provides us the most reliability for our servers and allows us the ability to provide the highest level of service and space to support our growth.”

Webair’s commitment to enhancing service and support was recently highlighted with the launch of the Server GeniusT Support. Server GeniusT Support is made possible by a core of intelligent, highly trained, and dedicated team of technical engineers that always go above and beyond to support Webair’s diverse and growing client base. Webair’s newly expanded datacenter and advancements like Server GeniusT Support all work to maximize operating efficiency and provide the ultimate reliability for their customers. With the highest scale of technology and security, along with the highest caliber of support staff, Webair is positioned as leader in managed hosting services.

To take a virtual tour of the new Webair datacenter and executive offices, visit http://www.webair.com/datacenters/ny1. For more information on Webair’s hosting packages and Server GeniusT Support services, visit www.webair.com or emailsales@webair.com.

NEW YORK, NY – (August 31, 2011) Leader in web hosting and development, Webair.com, is the official networking & connectivity provider of the Quiksilver Pro tour event taking place in Long Beach, NY September 1-15, 2011. Webair will be connecting Quiksilver Pro Event with the world by facilitating dark fiber, networking, connectivity, Wi-Fi solutions, & live streaming video of the entire event. Additionally, they will be providing audio visual and satellite connectivity, as well as internet kiosks for event attendees to stay connected. More information can be found at http://www.quiksilverpro.com
Quiksilver Pro brings the best in extreme sports and surfing, and this year the competitive field includes top name international athletes, who have been preparing in hurricane-force waves, vying for the million dollar prize. Fans can watch the action via Webair/NYSEA.COM surf cam and online streaming media. Big surf from hurricane season, Quiksilver Pro competition and Webair connectivity make this the biggest event of the season.

The Surf Cam at http://www.nysea.com, provided by Webair & NYSEA.COM, will show 24/7 live video of wave conditions and event performances. In addition to being a main sponsor of the event, Webair is also proud to sponsor fan favorite & big wave surfer Will Skudin, a local of Long Beach, NY.
“Working on the Quiksilver event has been incredible!” said Michael C. Orza, President of Webair. “Sponsoring Will Skudins’ efforts to achieve greatness was a no-brainer for Webair. In the time I have known him, his energy, generosity and charitable efforts have amazed me. We are thrilled to be sponsoring him and be a part of this epic event.”

The increased visibility and impact of working with Webair is an obviously positive step for Quiksilver Pro and Will Skudin. “I’m stoked and honored to have the opportunity to surf professionally for Webair, one of the biggest hosting companies out there,” said Skudin. “With my first year competing on the Big Wave World Tour, it helps tremendously to have their backing in this new chapter of my career. Now I can focus 100% on training and developing my big wave game. Someone once told me, ‘You get what you put in.’ Now thanks to Webair – I’m ALL in!”

Don’t miss the excitement and determination that inspires the biggest surfers around the world competing to be Quiksilver Pro Champion. Check out www.webair.com for details.

NEW YORK, NY, Dec 13, 2011 – Professional Golfer Joe Horowitz won his second title at Gosling’s Invitational Crown at Belmont Hills in Bermuda earlier this month, and the Webair Brand Ambassador celebrated with the leader in managed web hosting solutions.

Whether it’s installing state of the art web services, integrating new cloud hosting capabilities into your existing business infrastructure or chasing glory on a golf course, winners choose Webair.

“Joe can truly achieve anything he sets his mind to, and Webair is excited to be a part of all his successes,” said Michael C. Orza, President of Webair. “We value the intensity and integrity that Joe puts into his training and performance, it helps remind us that in every facet of our hosting and internet cloud service business we need to continue striving for success by relying on those same personal benchmarks. We’re thrilled for Joe Horowitz and look forward to more trophies in the years to come.”

“I finally have the support team that allows me to feel comfortable on the course and in life,” said Joe Horowitz. “Webair is a terrific sponsor, helping me to pursue perfection every time I head out on tour. Webair’s enthusiasm and their passion are integral parts of my goal of reaching the PGA . I’ll continue to do all I can to exemplify the Webair spirit of excellence at each step along the way.”

Founded in 1996, Webair.com is a premier cloud hosting and web services provider for leading companies seeking affordable managed web hosting solutions that are always reliable and easily customizable to the unique needs of every company. Supplying servers, software, bandwidth and management tools to run almost any web hosted application — Webair is committed to excellence in all endeavors.

It’s been a big year for Webair and Joe Horowitz, and the future looks bright for both. To learn more about Webair, visit www.Webair.com and speak with an expert customer representative about the many ways Webair can help provide the best in Cloud Computing and hosting services tailored for your business.

Dr. Glen R. Kreitzberg is a general dentist practicing in Commack, Long Island. He practices family dentistry with an emphasis in cosmetics. His goal is to make regular dental care a pleasant and comfortable experience for his patients. He uses the latest in modern dental techniques plus gentle anesthesia and plenty of tender loving care.

Dr. Kreitzberg’s dental practice is a new, beautiful, modern, private office utilizing the very latest state of the art equipment and technology. Our entire staff is dedicated to individualized quality care and oriented towards prevention of dental problems. His patients comfort and appearance are our shared concerns.

Dr. Kreitzberg is a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry, and performed his residency at Jamaica Hospital, and he remains an attending at Jamaica Hospital, giving back to newly graduated dental residents, and aiding them in their dental education. He holds a Master degree in the Academy of General Dentistry, signifying his commitment to continuing education.

Dr. Kreitzberg loves his patients and staff. He very much enjoys the practice of dentistry, and especially enjoys practicing and living on Long Island. Dr. Kreitzberg lives on Long Island with his wife, Karen. They have two children, Dustin, who is currently attending dental school, and Heather, working in Manhattan, and engaged to be married next year to a wonderful young man, Gregory.

353 Veterans Memorial Highway
Commack, NY 11725
(631) 543-5555

http://www.drkreitzbergdds.com/

Event:             Transfer Student Information Session

Date:                7/20/11 and 7/27/11

Event Time:    Noon to 1:30 pm

Location:        Laffin 320

The Office of Transfer Services offers Information Sessions for students who want to transfer into one of Farmingdale State College’s degree programs.

The question answer session is concluded by a campus tour including smart classrooms, residence halls, dining hall and athletic facilities. For more information, call Christine Nieves @ 631-794-6139 or email nievesc@farmingdale.edu.

Farmingdale State Offers Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications

Applications now being accepted for fall 2011 semester

Farmingdale State College is pleased to announce the addition of a new Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Telecommunications Technology beginning this fall 2011 semester.  With this addition, Farmingdale now offers 37 four-year degree programs.

In an increasingly interconnected world, telecommunications is central to most technologies that have completely transformed the way we live and work over the past decade.

The Internet, social networking, e-mail, mobile communications, TV and radio broadcasting, video conferencing – these are only a few of the applications that greatly benefited from the recent advances in the technology of telecommunication systems and networks. Ultra high speed fiber optic and wireless networks have made possible the efficient transmission and processing of huge amounts of data – such capacity was unthinkable even only a few years ago – making possible applications such as video conferencing, mobile internet, video messaging, etc.

“All you have to do is read the paper each day to recognize the importance of the telecommunications field, so it only makes sense that Farmingdale would add this program to its offerings,” said Farmingdale Provost Lucia Cepriano. “Long Island and upstate New York high school students are ready for this program and the career opportunities it will offer.” 

“Telecommunications professionals will be in high demand as the field is expected to experience significant growth over the next years,” said Chairman of the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering Technology. “Graduates will be prepared for successful careers in this diverse industry and contribute to the economic growth of the region.”

Full-time enrollment at Farmingdale has increased 70% since 2000. The College ranks among the top 100 public colleges in the nation in the earnings power of its graduates, according to a 2009 analysis conducted by payscale.com. The College has also ranked among the top five safest campuses in the country according to the last two analyses by The Daily Beast. The campus is in the midst of a $185 million construction and renovation project and will be opening a new Campus Center in 2012. Farmingdale also expects to break ground on a new building for the School of Business later this year. Farmingdale will celebrate its 100^th Anniversary during the 2011-12 academic year.

For more information on the Telecommunications Technology degree, please contact Professor Socrates Thanasas at 631-420-2084.

Farmingdale State College Director of Communications Elected to Board of SUNYCUAD

Kathryn S. Coley, director of communications for Farmingdale State College, has been elected to the board of SUNYCUAD (SUNY Council for University Advancement).  SUNYCUAD promotes understanding and support of the State University and provides professional development and networking opportunities for advancement professionals in the areas of public relations, alumni relations, publications, electronic communications, development, government relations and marketing www.sunycuad.org.

A longtime resident of Port Washington, Ms. Coley joined Farmingdale State College in March 1979 as an evening college counselor and soon was appointed director of counseling where she was responsible for academic and career counseling for 14,000 evening students.

Ms. Coley has been director of communications since 1993, where she is an integral part of developing strong collaborative relationships with academic departments, working on projects that highlight and enhance their achievements and recruiting students.  She is part of a team that has secured over 350 press mentions annually including the ABC News Tonight with Charles Gibson, CNN Sports, USA Today, New York Times and Newsday. Ms. Coley is also Past President of the Board of Directors for Landmark on Main Street in Port Washington.

Ms. Coley earned a BA in English Literature from the University of Maryland in Baltimore County and an MS in Higher Education Administration from The Johns Hopkins University.

Tax Deduction- When you’re moving keep a list of all moving expenses, if you meet a certain criteria you can deduct the expenses from your federal income taxes.

Books Go Postal- If you have a library of books, consider sending them with the post office, who has special rates for books and magazines, however, throw out what you don’t want and what you will never read again.

WHEN:         Tuesday, April 26 ~ 10 am to 3 pm

WHERE:       Roosevelt Hall Multi-Purpose Room

DETAILS:      Free and open to the community. The 9^th annual Health and Wellness Fair is described as “a synthesis of holistic and western modalities.” It features over ninety agencies and vendors offering everything from acupuncture to yoga.  Sip free herbal tea in the tea garden, enjoy a relaxing massage, have your vision checked, learn the latest in green products and services, buy your spring plants, have your blood pressure checked, and much, much more.

There will be terrific raffle prizes, demonstrations, and free samples will be offered throughout the event.

For further information, contact the Health and Wellness Center at 631-420-2690 or 631-420-2009.

” To avoid staining your teeth, only drink coffee from a straw, ” said Barbara Wachs, a dentist for Modern Smile at the Plainview Centre’s Cactus Salon and Day Spa.

Click here to find out more about Cactus Salon & Day Spa.



Applications now being accepted for fall 2011 semester

Farmingdale State College is pleased to announce the addition of a new Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Telecommunications Technology and is accepting students to begin classes in the fall 2011 semester.  With this addition, Farmingdale now offers 37 degree programs.

In an increasingly interconnected world, telecommunications is central to most technologies that have completely transformed the way we live and work over the past decade.

The Internet, social networking, e-mail, mobile communications, TV and radio broadcasting, video conferencing – these are only a few of the applications that greatly benefited from the recent advances in the technology of telecommunication systems and networks. Ultra high speed fiber optic and wireless networks have made possible the efficient transmission and processing of huge amounts of data – such capacity was unthinkable even only a few years ago – making possible applications such as video conferencing, mobile internet, video messaging, etc.

“All you have to do is read the paper each day to recognize the importance of the telecommunications field, so it only makes sense that Farmingdale would add this program to its offerings,” said Farmingdale Provost Lucia Cepriano. “Long Island and upstate New York high school students are ready for this program and the career opportunities it will offer.”

“Telecommunications professionals will be in high demand as the field is expected to experience significant growth over the next years,” said Socrates Thanasas, chairman of the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering Technology. “Graduates will be prepared for successful careers in this diverse industry and contribute to the economic growth of the region.”

Full-time enrollment at Farmingdale has increased 70% since 2000. The College ranks among the top 100 public colleges in the nation in the earnings power of its graduates, according to a 2009 analysis conducted by payscale.com. The College has also ranked among the top five safest campuses in the country according to the last two analyses by The Daily Beast. The campus is in the midst of a $185 million construction and renovation project and will be opening a new Campus Center in 2012. Farmingdale also expects to break ground on a new building for the School of Business later this year. Farmingdale will celebrate its 100^th Anniversary during the 2011-12 academic year.

For more information on the Telecommunications Technology degree, please contact Professor Socrates Thanasas at 631-420-2084.

WHO:              Faculty, Staff and Students of Farmingdale State College

WHAT:            Annual Blood Drive

WHEN:            Thursday, April 14, 2011 from 10 am to 7 pm.

WHERE:          Roosevelt Hall’s Multi-Purpose Room.

DETAILS:        Farmingdale State College is looking to shatter our all-time record of blood donations for the college and set a new standard for our blood drives at Farmingdale State College.    With a new “Bring a Buddy” campaign or “Teaming Up to Save Lives,” FSC is asking anyone who comes to either donate or volunteer should bring one person with them as well.  They are also opening doors inviting family members, friends and co-workers from the surrounding communities as well to come and donate blood.

We will also be holding a special “Blood Drive Thank-You” event to be held at 8:30 pm in the Little Theater of Roosevelt Hall.  Everyone who donates blood or volunteers will be given free tickets to see Psychic Christopher Allan who will be doing  psychic readings.

Christopher Allan is a sought-after Psychic Medium (http://www.imstillhere.net) and was recently featured on MTV’s “True Life:  I Have A Paranormal Ability”.  Nominated “Best Psychic” by the Long Island Press in 2010 & 2011, Chris is being dubbed “The Next Generation of Spirit Communication.”

For further information, please contact the Student Activities Office at 631-420-2103.

Farmingdale State Professor Honored for Optics Research

M. Nazrul Islam Elected SPIE Senior Member

Farmingdale State College Professor of Security Systems, M. Nazrul Islam, will be honored as a Senior Member of the SPIE, the International Society of Optics and Photonics. He was specifically honored for achievements in optical communication, optical pattern recognition, and security systems. Islam becomes the 72nd SPIE member who has received this promotion since the Senior Member distinction was introduced in 2008.

Farmingdale State President W. Hubert Keen said, “I am delighted to know that our Professor, Dr. Nazrul Islam, has been promoted to Senior Member of SPIE.  I know it is an honor for him and is a wonderful reflection on the quality of our faculty at Farmingdale State College, State University of New York.”

Dr. Islam, a resident of West Babylon, is a leading researcher in the analysis and design of security systems, pattern recognition, optical communication, digital image processing, and optoelectronics, and wireless communication.

He has designed optical correlation techniques for real-time pattern recognition applications, developed hyperspectral image processing for target detection, and created face recognition systems. Dr. Islam’s work in image processing includes super resolution enhancement of still images and video scenes, and image processing techniques for medical applications.

Dr. Islam has made great contributions in the optics community and is a senior member of IEEE while holding leadership positions in the IEEE Bangladesh Section. He has served as session chair and program committee member for IEEE and ASEE conferences on computer and information technology, and has reviewed textbook manuscripts and journal papers for many optics and communications journals. Additionally, Dr. Islam was a co-guest editor for three special issues of the Journal of Communications.

Dr. Islam received a BS in Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in Bangladesh, an MS in Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and PhD in Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) from Muroran Institute of Technology in Japan.

SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, was founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies. Serving more than 180,000 constituents from 168 countries, the Society advances emerging technologies through interdisciplinary information exchange, continuing education, publications, patent precedent, and career and professional growth. SPIE annually organizes and sponsors approximately 25 major technical forums, exhibitions, and education programs in North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific, and supports scholarships, grants, and other education programs around the world. See www.SPIE.org for information.

Farmingdale State’s security systems program is part of the College’s School of Arts & Sciences, which enrolls more than 2,500 students. The department offers a Bachelor of Science in Security Systems, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and an Associate in Science in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement. With an emphasis in technology, the program prepares students for thriving careers in criminal justice and the protective services.

Farmingdale has also been named as the 5th safest campus in the nation, based on a statistical analysis conducted by the online publication The Daily Beast, and the College ranks in the top 110 public colleges nationally in terms of the earning power of its graduates, according to payscale.com.

Farmingdale State College prepares students with the education, skills, and critical thinking needed to meet the challenges of tomorrow. As the largest of SUNY’s colleges of technology (with about 7,000 students), Farmingdale equips its students with the resources and knowledge sought by today’s emerging industries. At Farmingdale, students also have abundant opportunities in experiential learning—internships, clinical training, and guided research—that provide practical instruction and personal growth. Small, personalized classes, a new residence hall with suite-style living, a lush 380-acre campus undergoing major renovation, and a highly successful NCAA Division III athletics program with modern facilities make Farmingdale State College one of the fastest-growing colleges in the region. For more information, contact Kathryn Coley at 631-420-2400 or kathryn.coley@farmingdale.edu.

ITALIAN GARDENS AND CULINARY DELIGHTS ~

A SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR ADULT LEARNERS

May 15 – June 4, 2011

Farmingdale State College is pleased to offer this special three-week program to adult learners.  You will live in furnished apartments in the heart of Florence.  You will visit Italian gardens and villas with Farmingdale’s esteemed professors of Horticulture.  You will participate in cooking classes offered by Apicius, the Culinary Institute of FSC’s partner in Florence, the Florence University of Arts.  And you will have a museum pass and free time to explore Florence and environs on your own.

Component #1:  Current Horticultural Topics:  Italian Gardens, Landscapes, and Plants.

Participants in this program will experience the rich history of Italian gardens, particularly those created during the Renaissance and Baroque ages.  Led by Farmingdale Horticulture Professors Richard Iversen and Michael Veracka, participants will be treated to visits to gardens and villas not normally accessible to the typical tourist.  Each week the group will venture out on 3 or 4 afternoon field trips to gardens in and around Florence, Lucca, and Siena.  The group will also participate in a weekend excursion to gardens outside of Rome.  Since gardens by their nature are ephemeral objects, the twenty-first century visitor to a Renaissance or Baroque garden must become a kind of garden detective in order to understand how a garden was experienced when it was first created and how it evolved through subsequent additions and restorations.  Students in this course will learn garden history by observing the current situation of a particular garden – its artifacts and plants – and compare them with historical accounts and illustrations of its creation.  Philosophical precedents and the artists and artisans who contributed to the gardens will be discussed in background lectures, which will be supplemented by museum and garden visitation.

Component #2:  Italian Regional Cooking

Chefs from Apicius, the famed International School of Hospitality, will provide four small group lessons in which students explore the different regions of Italy.  The instructors will explain the specific ingredients of specialties such as Risotto alla Milanese from Lombardy, Pasta with Pesto Sauce from Liguria, fresh pasta from Emilia Romagna, pizza from Campania, and Pasta alla Norma (with eggplant and tomatoes) from Sicily.   These hands-on cooking experiences will enable participants to learn to repeat the recipes and create them in their own homes upon returning to the US.  Students will also have an opportunity to visit markets and to participate in a gastronomic walking tour of Florence with tastings.

Housing:  Participants will reside in furnished apartments located in central Florence.  Each apartment accommodates 6-8 people (2 per bedroom) and comes with 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, clothes washer, and common areas.  The apartments are reserved exclusively for adult learners.  Single bedrooms are available for an extra cost of $350.

TOTAL PROGRAM COST:  $3,800

This charge covers:  the Gardens and Cooking courses, housing for 3 weeks in furnished apartments in central Florence, all transportation costs of field trips to gardens (including transportation and lodging on a weekend trip to Lazio), a partial meal plan at the FUA Culinary Institute Restaurant, international health insurance, cell phone, museum pass, orientation and a “Farmingdale in Italy” shirt

(Note: a $350 refundable housing deposit is required)

Extra expenses not included in the payment due to FSC = round-trip airfare, additional food, and optional travel and shopping expenses.

Deadlines:

Deposit of $1,500 is due by April 15

The balance of $2,300 (plus a refundable housing deposit of $350) is due by May 1

For further information and application materials, contact:

Michael Veracka, Chairman / michael.veracka@farmingdale.edu

Department of Ornamental Horticulture

Thompson Hall 202 ~ 631-420-2113

New Planes Added to Farmingdale State’s Aviation Fleet

$1 million purchase of new planes to be announced

WHAT:                       SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher and
Farmingdale State President W. Hubert Keen
to christen new planes

WHEN:                       Thursday, March 31 at 10:30 AM

WHERE:                    Aviation Center at Republic Airport

DETAILS: Chancellor Zimpher and President Keen will speak about the importance of the aviation program at Farmingdale State and its continued growth.

The nearly $1 million purchase of two Piper Warriors and one Piper Arrow expands Farmingdale’s fleet to 22 planes and increases the capacity for the Professional Pilot track—the only one at a public college in the state—to 125 students from its current 80. There are 160 students enrolled in the Aviation department, which also includes tracks in Airport Management and Air Cargo Operations. Aviation is one of the College’s legacy academic programs, dating to 1949.

The new planes possess state-of-the-art glass cockpit technology which features computerized displays in place of dials or gauges, and modern automation platforms. The acquisition represents a continued modernization of the Aviation program technology.

Schwartz & Company CPA Tip – What is the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction?

A tax credit reduces your tax liability dollar for dollar whereas a tax deduction reduces the amount of your taxable income – which is used to calculate your tax liability. Tax credits are generally more valuable because they reduce your tax liability by one dollar for every dollar of the credit. Tax deductions, on the other hand, reduce your tax liability by your tax rate for every dollar of the deduction. Another advantage that some tax credits have is that they can be refundable. If the tax credit were a refundable credit, you would receive a tax refund even if the credit exceeds the amount of your tax liability. If the credit is not refundable, you would not be able to reduce their tax liability below zero (even if the amount of the credit exceeds your tax liability).

Sperry Better Banking Tip: Keep Your Engine Humming

Maintaining your car will not only extend its life, but will save you money in the long run. All it takes is keeping up with a small auto checklist: tire pressure, tire treads, oil changes, air filter, check fluids, and have your tires balance once a year. Happy motoring!

WHEN: Wednesday, April 6 at 7PM

WHERE: Roosevelt Hall Little Theatre

DETAILS: A unique classical music presentation featuring the original works of Dr. Helmuth H. Fuchs as well as well as works by Bach, Scarlatti, Mendelssohn, Gershwin, Chopin and Ginastera, will be performed by world-class pianist Ana Maria Trenchi Bottazzi.

Composer Helmuth Hans Fuchs, former professor of Chemistry at Farmingdale State College and “Composer-in Residence” of the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, has had his musical works performed at Avery Fischer Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York City as well as throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia.  Professor Fuchs will return to Farmingdale State for this concert.

In 1992 Dr. Fuchs’ composition “Schlummerlied” was played in recital at the White House before President George Bush, performed by our guest pianist Ana Maria Trenchi Bottazzi.

Ms. Bottazzi, the first Latin American to receive a doctorate from the Juilliard School, has had 17 appearances at Carnegie Hall and is the founder of the Pincault School of Music.

This is a not-to-be-missed concert. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Farmingdale State College welcomes Sarbjit “Sab” Singh as an assistant professor of sport management in the School of Business.  Professor Singh serves as a faculty advisor and teaches sport management, sport law and general business management classes.

Professor Singh spent the past 12 years as a business management consultant and attorney, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Farmingdale.   He is the founder and principal of The Kaur Group, a sports business strategy consulting and research firm serving sport properties, including teams, leagues, corporations, non-profits and events.

Prior to that position, Professor Singh was a research director in the consumer practice of Guideline, Inc., a NYC-based market research firm that assists companies from the Fortune 500 down to high-growth ventures with their strategic business research needs. Professor Singh was also a consultant with Accenture, Growthink and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Along with his professional experiences, Professor Singh is a member of several professional and academic associations, including the New York State bar, the Sports Lawyers Association, and the National Sports Marketing Network. He has written for and been quoted in several trade, business and general interest publications.

Professor Singh previously taught sport management and entrepreneurship as an adjunct professor at New York University and St. John’s University.

A resident of Rockville Centre, NY, Professor Singh earned his JD and MBA degrees from Emory University, and his BSBA, cum laude, from Georgetown University.

For a number of years, enrollment in sport management classes has been steadily increasing.  Recently, Albany granted approval to Farmingdale to offer a bachelor’s degree in sport management. Students are being accepted now for the fall 2011 semester.

“Every Child Deserves a Chance to Play Baseball”

This Saturday, Farmingdale State College will play its the most exciting baseball game ever! Special needs individuals, along with Farmingdale State’s athletes, will hit the baseball diamond from 11 am to 1 pm through the Miracle League’s “Every Child Deserves a Chance to Play Baseball.”

The baseball game will take place at Nold Hall Gym (Farmingdale State College).

Baseball is as American as apple pie and now even people with special needs are going to hit the diamond and play ball.  Thanks to the efforts of Nursing Professor Bonnie Ewing along with Mike Harrington and the athletics department, the first Miracle League event will be held on campus.

The Miracle League provides opportunities for children, young adults and adults with special needs to play baseball.  This is a worldwide event. The Miracle League believes “Every Child Deserves A Chance to Play Baseball.”

Farmingdale student athletes will assist special needs adults and children to enjoy a game.  Contact:  bonnie.ewing@farmingdale.edu.

For more information about the Miracle League go to www.miracleleague.com.

Farmingdale State’s Director of Small Business Development Center To Be Honored

Farmingdale State College is pleased to announce that Lucille Wesnofske, director of the small business development center, has been selected—a third-time honoree—as one of Long Island’s Top 50 Most Influential Women in Business. The award is given to professional women in the region who have made significant contributions through their business acumen, mentoring and community involvement. She received this award in May 2007 and again in 2008.   As a third time honoree, Ms. Wesnofske will become a member of the Hall of Fame.

“Lucille Wesnofske brings outstanding business experience to the College from her years serving the community.  Lucille is most deserving of this award and appropriately joins a list of accomplished women,” said W. Hubert Keen, president of Farmingdale State College.

Ms. Wesnofske has been the director of the Farmingdale State Small Business Development Center since joining the college in 2001.   She is responsible for managing the Small Business Development Center and ensuring its effectiveness as a provider of services to small businesses locally.  She also oversees compliance issues as they relate to New York State and the Small Business Administration.

Ms. Wesnofske was the first business advisor in New York State to achieve advanced certification from the New York State Small Business Development Center.  She received the “Star Performer Award” from the National Association of Small Business Development Centers. In addition, the software authored by Ms. Wesnofske, “Building Blocks Child Care Business Planner,” won LISTNET’s LISA award.

“Lucille leads a team of proven experts who consistently deliver quality services to new and existing businesses on Long Island from the Regional Center at Farmingdale College. Her leadership and dedication to the program is the basis for this prestigious recognition,” said James L. King, State Director of the New York State Small Business Development Center.

Among Ms. Wesnofske’s numerous awards is the College’s 2006 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. Additionally, in April 2007 she was honored by Execuleaders as a “Champion of Small Business.”

In 2000, she developed an automated decision support system for the New York State child care industry. Successful launch of the completed product then gave potential child care providers the necessary tool to create a business plan specifically geared to a “for-profit” childcare business.  Her plan was then used extensively statewide by other SBDCs, the Cornell Cooperative Extension, and industry resource and referral agencies.  Through a new grant, she recently revised and modernized the program.

She is presently the President of Women Economic Developers of Longs Island, sits on the Board of the Child Care Council of Suffolk, chairs the Professional Development Committee of the NYS Small Business Development Center, chairs the Farmingdale State College Centennial Advisory Committee, is a member of the Farmingdale State College Centennial Steering Committee and has participated in a wide array of small business and civic groups throughout her career.

Ms. Wesnofske received her AAS degree from Farmingdale State College and her BA and MPS from Stony Brook University.

She will receive her award at a gala hosted by Long Island Business News on May 19, 2011 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, New York.

Farmingdale State College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) helps entrepreneurs, businesses, and industry become more productive and profitable. By assisting new and existing small businesses, the SBDC contributes to the economic stability and growth of Long Island and New York State.

Farmingdale has also been named as the 5th safest campus in the nation, based on a statistical analysis conducted by the online publication The Daily Beast, and the College ranks in the top 110 public colleges nationally in terms of the earning power of its graduates, according to payscale.com.

Over the years Alure’s involvement with ABC-TV’s hit show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has been a rewarding experience for each of us that has been able to contribute to the builds. We have connected with each family and their stories, allowing us to experience the very best humans have to offer. To be on site and witness the commitment of long hours and the effort is inspiring to say the least. Our most recent build provided many of the same lessons and some new ones as well.

Incredible Opportunities through Social Media

The Lutz Family build was the first we were able to complete in the era of social media. We made a conscious decision to share the events leading up to the door knock, throughout the build and eventually during the airing of the show through Facebook, Twitter and our blog. The experience was incredible as we were able to share events in real time and provide timely updates from our President/CEO Sal Ferro on the progress of the build throughout the week. The response was amazing as our communities on Facebook and Twitter grew by leaps and bounds. It wasn’t the growth in numbers that mattered so much as the level of engagement that ensued. Our community became a huge part of the story and in many cases contributed to telling the story.

Partnerships are Crucial to Our Success

As we look back, none of what we were able to accomplish would be possible without the contributions of our followers, our staff on site and our partners at New Marketing Labs. As things were coming together leading up to the Lutz build, we knew that we needed a partner to help us accomplish a lot in the short window of time and NML  filled that role wonderfully.

5 Marketing Lessons Learned from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

NML and I have created a white paper that highlights how a brand can engage in these new media channels from a business perspective through social media outreach. These are all lessons we never expected to learn from this experience and they offered us an opportunity to really understand the behaviors needed for effective brand usage of social media. A huge thanks goes out to our community as well as New Marketing Labs for contributing to this learning experience.

Much of this experience was shared on the popular podcast Marketing Over Coffee in which Sal Ferro and I were interviewed in late December 2010. We were honored to be the recipient of the 2011 Best Campaign Award from MOC hosts John Wall and Christopher Penn.

Click here to download the white paper, entitled “5 Marketing Lessons Learned from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

To listen to the “25^th” Annual Marketing Over Coffee Awards, click here to download the podcast.

Men On The Move Receives 2010 Angie’s List Award!

This year, Men On The Move received Angie’s List’s Super Service Award in the Moving category.

Men On The Move has proved to be the top moving company in the New York Area with the recognition this award brings. The full service moving and storage company has quickly become a leading Long Island company since its start in 1985. Today, Men On The Move has two locations, in Huntington and Floral Park, and a third opening in Glen Cove this fall.

Angie’s List is where more than a million consumers from the U.S. share their ratings and reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 different categories.

Angieslist.com state’s,

“Our members rely on Angie’s List to help them find the right contractor, company and doctors for the job they need done. Members have unlimited access to the list via Internet or phone; receive the award-winning Angie’s List magazine, which includes articles on home improvement and maintenance, consumer trends and scam alerts; and they can utilize the Angie’s List complaint resolution service.”

MEDIA CONTACT:

Timothy Barello

Public Affairs Agent

tbarello@optonline.net

SPERRY ASSOCIATES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

APPOINTS NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

– CPA Rocco Sabino to Ensure Credit Union’s Continued Financial Stability –

Garden City Park, NY – February 25, 2011 – Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union

today announced the appointment of Rocco Sabino as Chief Financial Officer. Mr.

Sabino has served as Interim Chief Financial Officer since September 2010.

With more than 20 years of experience in public accounting and financial risk

management, Sabino carries an impressive set of skills and accolades. During his seven-

year tenure at American Express, he supported the firm’s International CFO with

consolidated reporting and analysis of results in Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America,

Canada and other emerging markets; in addition, he also served as project planner for the

firm’s $2 billion Global Technology business unit.

In recent years, Sabino performed as  assistant vice president, financial planning and

analysis, at $3.8 billion Bethpage Federal Credit Union, where he established fiscal

transparency and reduced operating expenses by 10%. At Sperry, he has restructured the

Credit Union’s accounting department and continues to oversee successful due diligence

and risk assessment initiatives.

“We are delighted that Rocco Sabino is part of our new management team,” said Sperry

President/CEO James Duffett. “Rocco has the perfect blend of talent, experience and

dedication for our Credit Union and its members.”

For more information about Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union, please visit

http://www.sperryfcu.org/.

ABOUT SPERRY FCU

Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union was established in Nassau County, NY, 75 years

ago for employees and family members of Sperry Gyroscope Corporation. In the 21st

Century, Sperry FCU continues to grow and now serves more than 20,000 member-

owners as a full service community banking institution with over $325 million in assets.

# # #

SPERRY ASSOCIATES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

APPOINTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

– CU Veteran James Duffett Named by Board of Directors as President/CEO –

Garden City Park, NY – February 4, 2011 – Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union today announced the selection of James Duffett as the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Duffett has served as Interim Co-President since September 2010.

Duffett joined Sperry 16 years ago as a branch operations manager, overseeing daily performance at several locations, including the Credit Union’s main office. In 2004, he was promoted to Vice President, assuming responsibility for business development, e-commerce, information technology and marketing. James also served as Chairman of the Product Development Committee, significantly reducing the business’ cost of funds thereby achieving a 3.34% Net Interest Margin, the strongest among local competitors.

“We are pleased to announce that Mr. Duffett will lead this Credit Union forward,” said the Board of Directors at Sperry. “For the better part of two decades, James has implemented many successful initiatives that benefit our members. The Board is energized by his appointment and looks forward to a bright future ahead.”

“I would like to thank Sperry’s Board of Directors and the NCUA for this opportunity,” Duffett said. “We will continue to focus on meeting our members’ daily financial needs and rebuilding capital. This institution is already showing many positive results, including a profitable fourth quarter in 2010 and an anticipated return to overall profitability this year.”

“Expect to see improved personal service, particularly in electronic banking capabilities. We know our loyal members will enthusiastically welcome these benefits and we’re excited to provide them,” continued Duffett.

For more information about Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union, please visit http://www.sperryfcu.org/.

ABOUT SPERRY FCU

Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union was established in Nassau County, NY, 75 years ago for employees and family members of Sperry Gyroscope Corporation.  In the 21st Century, Sperry FCU continues to grow and now serves more than 20,000 member-owners as a full service community banking institution with over $325 million in assets.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: December 15, 2010

Sperry Federal Credit Union Honored for Support in Fighting Melanoma

GARDEN CITY PARK, NY (November 6, 2010) Sperry Federal Credit Union (Sperry FCU) received the Colette Coyne Memorial Melanoma Foundation’s 2010 Honoree award in recognition of Sperry FCU’s support and encouragement in the prevention of Melanoma Skin Cancer at their annual dinner gala.  Sperry FCU was granted citations from Ms. Judith A Jacobs, Nassau County Legislator, representing the 16^th Legislative District and Mr. George Maragos, County Comptroller in recognition of Sperry FCU’s contribution and support of CCMAC to enhance the health of the residents of Nassau County as well as congratulations from N.Y. State Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg and N.Y. State Senator Charles Fuschillo who have collaborated with CCMAC in several life saving initiatives.

The credit union was honored for not only being a long time supporter of the Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign, but for being one of the original sponsors of both their Miles for Melanoma fundraiser in Eisenhower Park as well as their fundraising Gala.  The Coyne family are long-time members of Sperry FCU and the credit union is privileged to be associated not only with this worthy cause, but with the Coyne family.  The Coynes’ embody the credit union philosophy, ‘People Helping People.’

As Mr. Robert O’Hara, co-Interim President said, “The determination and commitment Sperry Federal Credit Union takes in educating its members and the community it serves is equally matched in effort and desire by the Colette Coyne Memorial Melanoma Foundation. Sperry FCU has been an active benefactor and participant at all foundation events since 2003 and looks forward to collaborate with CCMAC in expanding awareness of the dangers of skin cancer, especially on Long Island.”

If applicable, please include “PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE!”

#################################################

Contact:

Ellen Wood

e.wood@sperryfcu.com

516.873.7171 x 1007

CCMAC

cmbc1@optonline.net

About Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Foundation

CCMAC provides, coordinates and participates in a variety of education and awareness initiatives designed to increase public awareness regarding the dangers and causes of Skin Cancer/ Melanoma. Every year CCMAC host’s, a Miles for Melanoma Run/Walk at Eisenhower Park, several skin cancer screenings at Jones Beach and Wantagh Park/Pool.  Their school and sports educational programs strive to create positive sun protective behaviors early in the lives of our youth.  CCMAC offers emotional support to those individuals and families touched by melanoma skin cancer, a Dinner Dance and Auction, and a wide variety of community activities. The Colette Coyne Memorial Melanoma Foundation is dedicated to:

• Increasing public awareness regarding the dangers and causes of Skin Cancer/Melanoma.
• Early education of our youth, families and the community.
• Changing attitudes, thinking, and behaviors regarding unprotected exposure to the Sun’s UV Rays, tanning, and tanning bed use.
• Advocating for Laws and Policies designed to protect individuals and communities from the Sun’s UV Rays, and use of tanning beds.
• Increasing funding for Education and Research.

About Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union

Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union was chartered in 1936 by 15 employees of the Sperry Gyroscope Corporation, then located in Brooklyn, NY. The purpose of forming the credit union was to provide Sperry employees and their families with low cost banking services. The foundation of the credit union was built on the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.”

Today, Sperry serves over 18,000 members and is chartered to serve anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Nassau County, NY as well as businesses and legal entities in Nassau County, NY. With $330 million in assets, Sperry works to fulfill the credit union mission of “people helping people” by providing its members with value, safety and convenience.

www.sperryfcu.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: December 15, 2010

Sperry Federal Credit Union Makes Christmas Magic On Long Island

GARDEN CITY PARK, NY (December 15, 2010) Sperry Federal Credit Union (Sperry FCU) has partnered once again with The Salvation Army in making Christmas magic on Long Island by hosting The Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree in their Garden City Park and Stewart Avenue branch lobbies.  The members and staff of Sperry FCU have donated toys and clothing for fifty Long Island children, ranging in ages from 1 year to teens.  These fifty children will definitely feel the joy of Christmas when they see all the packages “Santa” has given them.  The members and staff have felt that joy by seeing the mountain of gifts stockpiled in the lobby.  Even though they can’t see the smiles on the children’s faces, just knowing there will be smiles is gratifying enough.

The staff was instrumental in bringing about holiday miracles to two deserving Nassau County families as well.  The Salvation Army works with many families who are suffering from illness, struggling with addiction problems, and/or employment problems.  In lieu of a traditional “Secret Santa” or “Kris Kringle” gift-giving exchange, $900 was collected from staff and donated to the Adopt a Family program.  Many gave more than what they would have spent on a gift for a fellow co-worker.  One-hundred percent of the donations were in the form of Target gift cards so the parents in both families can purchase food, clothing, and toys for their own family.

If applicable, please include “PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE!”

About Sperry Federal Credit Union

Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union was chartered in 1936 by 15 employees of the Sperry Gyroscope Corporation, then located in Brooklyn, NY. The purpose of forming the credit union was to provide Sperry employees and their families with low cost banking services. The foundation of the credit union was built on the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.”

Today, Sperry serves over 18,000 members and is chartered to serve anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Nassau County, NY as well as businesses and legal entities in Nassau County, NY. With $330 million in assets, Sperry works to fulfill the credit union mission of “people helping people” by providing its members with value, safety and convenience.

www.sperryfcu.org

#################################################

Contact:

Ellen Wood

e.wood@sperryfcu.com

516.873.7171 x 1007

Law Extends Breaks for Qualified Conservation Contributions Through 2011

Tax breaks for qualified donations of conservation property are back. These gifts appeal to nature lovers with a large parcel of property they would like to keep keep undeveloped. By donating qualified conservation property to a charitable organization, you agree to protect the land’s natural beauty while getting tax breaks.

The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (better known as the tax cut extension package) retroactively restored the liberalized deduction rules for qualified conservation contributions for tax years beginning in 2010 and extends them through tax years beginning in 2011

Qualified conservation contributions (QCCs) are donations to IRS-approved charities of real property ownership interests — including remainder interests and conservation easements that perpetually restrict the use of real property. The donation must be made exclusively for a conservation purpose, which can include:

• The preservation of land for outdoor recreation uses.
• The protection of natural habitats for fish, wildlife, or plants.
• The preservation of open space (including farmland and forest land) for the scenic enjoyment of the general public; and the preservation of certain historic land areas and structures.

Both individual taxpayers and C corporation farmers and ranchers can benefit from the liberalized deduction rules for QCCs. Without the new law, the liberalized rules would have expired at the end of 2009.

Here is what the tax cut extension law does for eligible taxpayers.

Individual Taxpayers

For individual taxpayers, the liberalized rules generally increase the maximum deduction for qualified conservation contributions from the normal 30 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI) to 50 percent of AGI. In determining the 50 percent-of-AGI limitation, allowable deductions for other charitable donations are subtracted. In effect, deductions for those other donations plus deductions for QCCs cannot exceed 50 percent of the taxpayer’s AGI. Qualified conservation contributions that cannot be deducted in the year of the gift due to the 50percent-of-AGI limitation can be carried forward for 15 years (versus the normal five-year carry-forward period for garden-variety donations).

Keep in mind the easement must be granted “in perpetuity,” meaning that it lasts forever. What have you given up? You still own the land and you can continue enjoying the scenery. In theory, your property has lost value because you can’t sell it to a developer to subdivide it into small lots. But in reality, your property may hold its value or appreciate because future buyers will prize the fact that little or no development will be permitted. What’s more, you can pass the property on to your heirs with the conservation easement in place.

Individual Farmers and Ranchers

Under the liberalized QCC rules that the tax law extended through 2011, the maximum deduction for QCCs by an individual taxpayer who is a qualified farmer or rancher can be up to 100 percent of AGI. To qualify for the more-generous 100 percent-of-AGI limitation, the QCC must be an interest in real property used for agriculture or livestock production, and the donated property must be subject to a restriction requiring it to remain available for agriculture or livestock production. A qualified farmer or rancher is someone who receives more than 50 percent of gross income from the following two sources:

1. The raising, harvesting, and storage of agricultural commodities or

2. The raising, shearing, feeding, care, training, or management of animals.

In determining the 100 percent-of-AGI limitation amount, allowable deductions for other charitable donations are subtracted. In effect, deductions for those other donations plus deductions for farm or ranch QCCs cannot exceed 100 percent of the taxpayer’s AGI. Farm and ranch QCCs that cannot be deducted in the year of the contribution due to the 100 percent-of-AGI limitation can be carried forward for 15 years (versus the normal five-year carry-forward period for garden-variety donations).

C Corporation Farmers and Ranchers

Potential Audit Target? For years, the IRS has been aware that some taxpayers claimed inappropriate deductions for property transfers that do not qualify as conservation contributions, or they claimed deductions for amounts that exceed the fair market value of the donated easement. In some cases, the tax agency reported that some taxpayers claimed inappropriate deductions for cash payments or easement transfers to charitable organizations in connection with the taxpayers’ purchases of real property. If you are interested in donating conservation property, contact your tax adviser to ensure it is set up properly.

The tax cut extension law retroactively restores for tax years beginning in 2010 and extends through tax years beginning in 2011 liberalized deduction rules for QCCs of farm and ranch property by qualified C corporation farmers and ranchers.

To qualify for the liberalized rules, the QCC must be an interest in real property used for agriculture or livestock production, and the donated property must be subject to a restriction requiring it to remain available for agriculture or livestock production. A qualified C corporation farmer or rancher is a C corporation that receives more than 50 percent of its gross income from the two sources listed above. Plus, the corporation’s stock cannot be publicly traded.

Under the liberalized rules, the corporation’s maximum deduction for farm and ranch QCCs is increased from the normal 10 percent of adjusted taxable income to 100 percent of adjusted taxable income. In determining the 100 percent-of-income limitation amount, allowable deductions for other charitable donations are subtracted. In effect, deductions for those other donations plus deductions for farm or ranch QCCs cannot exceed 100% of the corporation’s adjusted taxable income. Farm and ranch QCCs that cannot be deducted in the year of the contribution due to the 100 percent-of-income limitation can be carried forward for 15 years (versus the normal five-year carry-forward period for garden-variety donations).

Appraisal Requirements

Taxpayers must obtain qualified appraisals for any qualified conservation contribution valued at over $5,000. For any QCC valued at over $500,000, the qualified appraisal must actually be attached to the taxpayer’s return.

A Valuable Tax Deduction

As you probably know, self-employed individuals can generally deduct health insurance premiums for coverage on themselves, their spouses and their dependent children. The main qualification for this privilege, under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(1), is that the self-employed person and his or her spouse must not be eligible to participate in any employer-subsidized health plan during months for which insurance premiums are deducted.

The self-employed health insurance write-off is called an above-the-line deduction because it’s subtracted from the taxpayer’s income on Form 1040 in arriving at adjusted gross income (AGI).

Can You File an Amended Return and Claim a Refund? According to the IRS, taxpayers who did not claim deductions for fringe benefits described in Notice 2008-1can file amended tax returns to claim the tax breaks if they meet the requirements. The statement “Filed Pursuant to Notice 2008-1″ should be written on the top of any amended return.

Above-the-line deductions are beneficial because lower AGI means less risk of being affected by unfavorable provisions (such as those that phase out a portion of itemized deductions and personal exemptions and part or all write-offs for passive rental real estate losses). In addition, you can fully deduct above-the-line write-offs under the alternative minimum tax rules. For these reasons, the self-employed health insurance deduction is a valuable tax break.

However, a controversial notice was put up on the IRS Web site stating that more-than-2-percent S corporation shareholder-employees were not entitled to claim the above-the-line deduction for self-employed health insurance unless the coverage was taken out in the name of the business.

In other words, if coverage was taken out in the individual’s name (often the case in the real world), the shareholder-employee’s only hope for a tax benefit was to lump the premiums with other medical costs and try to claim an itemized medical expense deduction. However, these deductions are subject to the 7.5 percent of AGI threshold, which is so high that many taxpayers do not qualify for medical write-offs.

Thankfully, the government has reversed its position. Here’s the story–from unfavorable start to taxpayer-friendly finish.

Tax Treatment of S Corporation Shareholder-Employees

It may seem strange but an S corporation employee who is also a more-than-2-percent-shareholder is treated as a partner for federal fringe benefit tax purposes. Here’s what happens with health insurance premiums to cover a partner:

• When a Partnership Pays health insurance premiums on behalf of a partner who provides services to the entity, the premiums are generally treated as a guaranteed payment made to that partner. As such, the partnership deducts the guaranteed payment amount on Form 1065, and the partner reports the amount as ordinary income on Form 1040. In turn, the partner is allowed to deduct the partnership-paid premiums above the line on Form 1040 (assuming the qualification rules are met).
• When a Partner Pays. A partner is generally treated as self-employed for federal tax purposes. Therefore, the above-the-line health insurance deduction is also allowed for premiums paid by a partner on a health policy taken out in his or her own name, assuming the qualification rules are met. This is true whether or not the partnership reimburses the partner for the premiums via guaranteed payments. Ideally, when the insurance policy is taken out individually, the partner’s tax records should document that it was taken out for the business of being a partner.

Now let’s look at an S corporation shareholder-employee. Similar to the treatment of a partner, an S corporation should treat the company-paid health insurance premiums to cover a more-than-2-percent shareholder-employee as Form W-2 compensation, assuming they are paid in exchange for services rendered.

As such, the premiums can be deducted as compensation on the S corporation’s Form 1120S. Finally, if another IRS requirement is met, the compensation is exempt from Social Security and Medicare tax (FICA). To comply with this requirement under IRS Announcement 92-16, the S corporation must pay the premiums under a plan or system covering all employees or selected employees.

While this IRS guidance doesn’t require a written plan, it’s a good idea to have one. The more-than-2-percent shareholder-employee is then allowed to deduct the company-paid premiums above-the-line on Form 1040, assuming the qualification rules are met.

Consistent with the treatment of partners, it always seemed pretty clear that more-than-2-percent S corporation shareholder-employees could also take out health policies in their own names, pay the premiums with their own money, and still deduct the premiums above-the-line on Form 1040.

IRS Web Site Item Created Controversy

In May of 2006, the IRS published on its Web site a so-called “Headliner” article. It stated that a more-than-2-percent S corporation shareholder-employee cannot claim an above-the-line deduction for health insurance premiums when the policy is taken out in the shareholder-employee’s own name.

The Headliner stated that an above-the-line deduction is only allowed when the policy is taken out in the name of the S corporation (even though this may be impossible in some cases). Therefore, according to the IRS Web site, having coverage in the shareholder-employee’s name meant that he or she could only collect tax benefits for the premiums with a difficult-to-obtain itemized medical expense deduction.

Good News: IRS Changes Its Stance

Fortunately, the IRS has seen the light. In Notice 2008-1, the government now concedes that a more-than-2-percent S corporation shareholder-employee can indeed claim the above-the-line health insurance deduction as long as the S corporation is deemed to have established a medical plan that covers that shareholder-employee. The requisite plan is deemed to exist, and the shareholder employee can claim the above-the-line deduction in the following circumstances (assuming the qualification rules are met):

Scenario 1: The S corporation directly pays the premiums. In this case, it doesn’t matter whether the policy is taken out in the S corporation’s name or the shareholder-employee’s name (many insurance companies don’t care who pays the premiums as long as somebody does).

The company-paid premiums must be reported as compensation on the more-than-2-percent shareholder-employee’s Form W-2 and included in gross income on Form 1040. The shareholder-employee can then claim the above-the-line health insurance deduction (assuming the qualification rules are met). And the business can claim a wage expense deduction for the premiums on Form 1120S.

Since the premiums are deemed to be paid under a plan, the compensation is not subject to FICA tax under IRS Announcement 92-16.

Scenario 2: The shareholder-employee pays the premiums and is reimbursed.In this case, the individual must provide proof of the premiums and be reimbursed by the S corporation. The reimbursements must be reported as compensation on the shareholder-employee’s W-2 and included in gross income on Form 1040.

The shareholder-employee can claim the above-the-line health insurance deduction on Form 1040 (assuming the qualification rules are met). The corporation can claim a wage expense deduction for the premiums on Form 1120S. Since the premiums are deemed to be paid under a plan, the compensation is not subject to FICA tax under IRS Announcement 92-16.

Conclusion: At last, the IRS got it right! However, be careful. For tax purposes, the medical plan does not exist if the premiums are not: (1) paid or reimbursed by the S corporation and (2) included in the more-than-2-percent shareholder-employee’s gross income. That would mean that no above-the-line deduction would be allowed Form 1040. Your tax adviser can provide more details.

NCAA March Madness:

Fight It or Join It?

Ready or not, the NCAA “March Madness” is set to roll out soon, starting with “Selection Sunday” on March 13th.

If you plan to keep work and productivity going strong from then until the April 4 National championship game, it’s time to figure out how your workplace will deal with — or resist — the NCAA college basketball tournament.

Do You Know What Tax Law Says About Gambling Wins and Losses?

Under the tax code, gambling winnings are reported as taxable income. You cannot claim an overall tax loss for gambling activities, but you can generally claim losses as an itemized deduction — up to the amount of your winnings. (Professional gamblers report winnings on Schedule C.)

Losses in excess of winnings are not deductible.

Best advice: It’s important to keep accurate records. Keep a diary or ledger of all your gambling activities that shows the type of gambling activity, the location, and the amounts won and lost.

You can support the amounts with receipts, tickets, statements or other records that substantiate your claims.

Gambling income includes, but is not limited to winnings from lotteries, raffles, horse races, and casinos. It also covers cash winnings and the fair market value of such prizes as cars and trips.

How big is the challenge? Research shows that nearly half of employees surveyed say they participate in workplace betting pools. And of those, more than half bet on March Madness.

Generally speaking, betting on March Madness is second only to betting on the Super Bowl. However, there is no real comparison between the two sporting events in terms of work disruption. The Super Bowl is a one day event that takes place on Sunday. Your workplace might be affected by some spillover of pre-game anticipation and post-game chatter.

In contrast, March Madness lasts three weeks, and many of the games are broadcast during the workday. That means a lot of employees across the country may spend some work time filling out brackets for office betting pools, checking scores online, watching the games at work, or calling in sick so they can watch the games uninterrupted on TV.

It may seem harmless to let your staff pay attention to the games. But before you give them the green light, consider some of the risks your company faces when the basketball frenzy begins.

Lost productivity. Many studies have identified how much money is lost because of lower work productivity during March Madness. Year-after-year, the published estimates put the losses in the billions of dollars. (Obviously, when employees are watching streaming video of the NCAA tournament games, they’re not getting work done.)

Research shows that in years past, productivity in American businesses dropped an estimated 40 percent during these three weeks. That’s bad enough. But with growing access to online venues and the popularity of mobile applications to stream video, this year could bring historic dips in productivity levels for business.

Tying up and overloading computer resources. With the tournament games now broadcast on streaming video, as well as television, employees who access these games during work time are gobbling up bandwidth. In many cases, they slow down and can even crash computer networks, making work difficult for other employees who aren’t interested in the games. Some streaming video software has a “boss button” that allows viewers to switch off a game to another computer file if a manager walks by.

It’s illegal. Every state except Nevada has laws that could make some forms of gambling in the workplace illegal. Legal action is rarely, if ever, taken against employees involved in low-stakes gambling and betting pools. However, if the employer is sponsoring the gambling or if the organization or anyone is skimming money from the pool or profiting from the activity, there is a real risk of violating a state’s gambling law.

Enabling union activity. What does a little on-the-job gambling have to do with making it easier for union activity in the workplace? It may sound far-fetched, but it isn’t. The answer lies in the “solicitation rule.” Employers who permit their workforce to solicit bets or participate in gambling polls during work time run the risk of violating this rule. And that opens the door to action by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

The NLRB allows an employer to prohibit solicitation of employees during working time for union support, but only if the employer also strictly prohibits other solicitations of employees during work time. One exception: The NLRB allows very limited charitable fund raising, such as solicitation for the United Way.

How Can Employers Minimize the Risk and Keep the Fun?

Adopt a no-solicitation, no-distribution rule. If you don’t already have such a rule, now is a good time to start. Be sure your workforce understands this not only applies to events like March Madness, but is in force all year long. With this rule, your organization prohibits:

Solicitation for non-work causes and purposes.

Distribution of non-work information and material in the workplace and on the employer’s property, except by employees when they are not on work time. (In crafting your no-solicitation, no-distribution policy, get input from your attorney to make sure it does not violate NLRB rules protecting employees’ union organizing rights.)

Strictly limit the number of charities soliciting in the workplace to only one or two a year.

Limit employee involvement in gambling and betting pools to their own personal time (after work, on breaks and during meal time). Make it clear these activities are only permitted within the local and state laws.

Ban employees from using your organization’s computer equipment or their own personal electronic devices to watch or track sports activities during work time.

Join in the fun… or at least permit the fun in events sponsored by your organization. Some employers actually encourage the March Madness gaming, arguing that it’s good for developing stronger teamwork and camaraderie between employees. They organize March Madness contests by setting up betting pools that don’t cost employees anything to enter and provide low cost prizes, such as a $100 gift certificate to a local restaurant or tickets to a sporting event.

Sports vs. Work: How Employers Can Win

Discuss the situation with employees by explaining that you know some of them want to catch the games or check the final scores. Work out a way to do that without it becoming too much of a distraction or adding burden to those who don’t participate. Some other considerations:

Let people have flexible lunch and break times, to correspond with key competition broadcast times (such as the final quarter). This needs to be arranged in advance, in coordination and with permission from their supervisors.

Ask radio-listening and video-watching employees to wear earphones. Some employees may be able to listen to the broadcast and not affect their job performance. Others nearby won’t be able to do so.

Set the break room TV for the game. Post an advance notice of this, so those uninterested in the game can go elsewhere for quiet time. Tell game-watchers to keep the noise level down. Otherwise, their cheers could be distracting. They also need to be reminded that the TV-and video-watching privilege will be revoked if it is abused through overly long breaks and noise.

Keep in mind that not all of your employees care about March Madness. If those who don’t care perceive that they are carrying the work load for those who are paying attention to the games, you may end up fostering resentment. Talk to the staff in advance and let them know that everyone who wants to participate is welcome to do so, so that nobody feels they were forced to abstain (as in, “Somebody around here has to do the work, I guess it has to be me!”). Otherwise your efforts to accommodate the fun could backfire.

Will Your Estate Be Tax Exempt?

With the relatively generous $5 million federal estate tax exemption for 2011 and 2012, most people are free of any federal estate tax worries — until at least 2013.

The bad news: Twenty states and the District of Columbia impose their own estate or inheritance taxes and have exemptions of less than $5 million. If you live in one of these places, your estate can be exempt from the federal estate tax but still exposed to significant state death taxes.

Hawaii and North Carolina have $5 million estate tax exemptions (same as the federal exemption), so there’s less risk of unanticipated estate tax exposure if you live there. However, Hawaii and North Carolina estates worth over $5 million can be hit with both the federal estate tax and the state version. Double taxation of your estate is not something to look forward to.

The moral: Don’t just focus on the federal rules. Watch out for state death taxes. And if you own property or a business in more than one state, consult with your estate planning adviser to ensure you establish domicile where you want. State tax residency rules are complex and like estate tax rules, they vary from one jurisdiction to another.

Which States Have Their Own Estate Taxes?

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have their own estate taxes (as opposed to inheritance taxes, which we will explain later). Like the federal estate tax, these state estate taxes are based on the entire value of your estate in excess of the applicable exemption. Exemptions vary from a low of $338,333 to a high of $5 million.

• Three states have exemptions of less than $1 million (Ohio at $338,333; New Jersey at $675,000; and Rhode Island at $850,000).
• Six states have $1 million exemptions (Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, and Oregon), and so does DC.
• Three states have $2 million exemptions (Illinois, Vermont, and Washington).
• Two states have $3.5 million exemptions (Connecticut and Delaware).
• Two states have $5 million exemptions (Hawaii and North Carolina).

The lowest maximum tax rates are 7 percent (Ohio) and 12 percent (Connecticut). The highest is 19 percent (Washington). The other 13 states and DC all charge a 16 percent maximum rate.

Eight states impose inheritance taxes, which are assessed on the value of specific inherited assets in excess of the applicable exemption. (In contrast, estate taxes are assessed on the entire value of an estate in excess of the applicable exemption.) The inheritance tax exemptions are zero or negligible — except in Tennessee. Exemption amounts and maximum tax rates are shown below.

As you can see, Maryland and New Jersey charge both an estate tax and an inheritance tax. In Maryland, the inheritance tax exemption is $150 and the maximum tax rate is 10 percent (in addition to the 16 percent maximum estate tax rate). In New Jersey, the inheritance tax exemption is zero and the maximum tax rate is 16 percent (in addition to the 16 percent maximum estate tax rate).

What about the Rest of the States?

The 28 states that are not listed above have no estate or inheritance taxes.

How the Federal and State Taxes Work Together

Thankfully, the federal and state tax rates are not just stacked on top of each other.

• If you live in Maryland or New Jersey, the state inheritance tax is subtracted from the value of the estate before calculating the state estate tax.
• State inheritance and estate taxes are subtracted from the value of the estate in calculating the federal estate tax.

Despite these subtractions, you can wind up with some pretty horrific effective combined tax rates when you account for federal and state estate taxes and state inheritance taxes.

The effective combined rates range from a low of 39.6 percent in Ohio to a high of 54.1 percent in New Jersey. These are the maximum rates that could apply to estates worth over the $5 million federal exemption amount.

For instance, if an unmarried New Jersey resident dies with a $15 million estate, the combined death tax hit on the $10 million excess over the federal exemption amount could be up to $5,410,000 ($10 million times 54.1 percent).

Newsday com Sep 30 2010 Autism Article

men on the move layout

Men_On_The_Move_E-Print

It’s the small things that add up & can save you time & money if you choose to take care of them.

DO unplug & wind-up TV/stereo/computer cords, lamps/shades; disconnect cable boxes & pack the tray inside the microwave!

Of course, if you choose not to, Men On The Move will handle all of these things & more including full & partials packs- www.MenOnTheMove.com-888-MEN-MOVE

As a credit union member, you can take advantage of this bonus coupon offer!

February 23, 2011

– News Release –

Farmingdale Student Presents at National Math Conference

James Halsall reports on summer research project

James Halsall, an Applied Mathematics major at Farmingdale State College, gave a talk entitled Analysis of Spherical Inflation Models for Intracranial Saccular Aneurysm Elastodynamics at the annual national American Mathematical Society – Mathematical Association of America Joint Meetings in New Orleans on January 6, 2011.

In his talk, James presented research conducted at George Mason University.  During the summer of 2010, James Halsall, one of eight mathematics undergraduate students selected nationwide, participated in a multidisciplinary undergraduate research program in computational mathematics and nonlinear dynamics of biological, bio-inspired and engineering systems, sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF).  He worked with two faculty members from the mathematical sciences department of George Mason University, Drs. Padmanabhan Seshaiyer and Daniel Anderson, as well as graduate student, Andrew Samuelson, who were all familiar with the work that he would conduct throughout the 9-week program.

“Much of the work incorporated ideas that I had learned through myriad courses at Farmingdale State College.  Now, I was finally seeing my knowledge applied to real-world conditions”, said James.  Currently, he is preparing a paper based on this talk to be published in a mathematical science journal.  Halsall is a resident of Elmont, NY.

Photo by Dr. Yajun Yang

Farmingdale State College prepares students with the education, skills, and critical thinking needed to meet the challenges of tomorrow. As the largest of SUNY’s colleges of technology (with about 7,000 students), Farmingdale equips its students with the resources and knowledge sought by today’s emerging industries. At Farmingdale, students also have abundant opportunities in experiential learning—internships, clinical training, and guided research—that provide practical instruction and personal growth. Small, personalized classes, a new residence hall with suite-style living, a lush 380-acre campus undergoing major renovation, and a highly successful NCAA Division III athletics program with modern facilities make Farmingdale State College one of the fastest-growing colleges in the region. For more information, contact Kathryn Coley at 631-420-2400 or kathryn.coley@farmingdale.edu.

Kathryn S. Coley, Director of Communications

kathy.coley@farmingdale.edu

Mary Ellen Walsh, Writer

Maryellen.walsh@farmingdale.edu

Red, swollen and bleeding gums are an important sign of periodontal disease. If you notice bleeding while brushing or flossing, or when eating certain foods, you should schedule a visit with your dental professional to be evaluated for periodontal disease. Studies have shown that in addition to tooth loss, gum disease may contribute to the progression of other diseases, including heart disease and diabetes, so it is important that you begin treating periodontal disease as soon as possible.

Gum disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Dental implants are a  convenient and comfortable way to permanently replace missing teeth. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth. Studies have shown that dental implants have a 98 percent success rate, and with proper care, allow you to speak, eat and smile with confidence. In fact, a survey conducted by the American Academy of Periodontology found that over 70 percent of respondents reported being “pleased” or “extremely satisfied” with the results of their dental implants

Forgoing good oral hygiene can certainly contribute to the progression of gum disease, but there are a variety of other factors that can also impact your risk. For instance, tobacco use has been shown to greatly increase your chance of developing gum disease. Stress, poor diet, and even genetics, can also play a role in the health of your gums.

Routine oral care, which includes brushing after every meal and before bedtime, and flossing at least once a day, is the best way to prevent gum disease. However, a recent survey estimates that only 13.5 percent of Americans floss each day. It is vital that you keep up with your daily oral care, and see a dental professional for a thorough check-up twice a year. If gum disease is diagnosed, a consultation with a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in treating periodontal disease, may be beneficial.

FALLACY: Cavities are the number-one cause of tooth loss.

FACT: Periodontal disease is the number-one cause of tooth loss. According to the 1996 American Dental Association/Colgate survey, U.S. dentists say gum disease is a more pressing oral health concern than tooth decay by a 2-to-1 margin.

FALLACY: Gum disease is easy to identify, even in its early stages, so my dentist would tell me if I had it.

FACT: Millions of people don’t know they have this serious infection that can lead to tooth loss if not treated. You should always get involved in your dental care, so that problems are detected in the early stages. You should inform your dentist if any signs of gum disease are present; or if any changes in your overall health or medications occurred in between visits. Most importantly, you should ask your dentist about your periodontal health and what method was used to evaluate its condition. This level of participation enables you to work in a team approach with your dentist to identify subtle changes that may occur in the oral cavity.

FALLACY: Bleeding gums are normal.

FACT: Bleeding gums are one of nine warning signs of gum disease. Think of gum tissue as the skin on your hand. If your hands bled every time you washed them, you would know something is wrong. Other signs of gum disease include: red, swollen or tender gums; sores in your mouth; gums that have pulled away from the teeth; persistent bad breath; pus between the teeth and gums (leaving bad breath); loose or separating teeth; a change in the way the teeth fit together; and a change in the fit of partial dentures.

FALLACY: Gum disease is a minor infection.

FACT: The mass of tissue in the oral cavity is equivalent to the skin on your arm that extends from the wrist to the elbow. If this area was red, swollen, and infected, you would visit the doctor. Gum disease is not a small infection. Its result, tooth loss, leads to a very different lifestyle—dentures. The changes in your appearance, breath, and ability to chew food are dramatic.

FALLACY: Gum disease doesn’t affect overall health.

FACT: Emerging research links periodontal disease to other health problems including heart and respiratory diseases; preterm, low birthweight babies; stroke; osteoporosis; and diabetes.

FALLACY: Tooth loss is a natural part of aging.

FACT: With good oral hygiene and regular professional care, your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. However, if left untreated, periodontal (gum) disease can lead to tooth loss. It is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults 35 and over.

Periodontal disease is rarely found in children, and only sometimes found in adolescents. However, children should still learn the importance of keeping their teeth and gums healthy to prevent periodontal disease in the future. Children should brush their teeth twice a day and learn how to floss properly- if children learn how to floss at an early age, they will be more likely to make it a lifetime habit. These two simple acts will help protect their teeth and gums from periodontal disease.

As a parent, you should also be aware of the warning signs of periodontal disease, which include red, swollen, bleeding gums or bad breath that won’t go away. If your child develops any of these symptoms, tell your dental professional right away. It’s also a good idea to ensure your dental professional knows your complete family history, as genetics can play an important role in the early development of periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is often silent, meaning symptoms- particularly pain- may not appear until an advanced stage of the disease. However, you should still be on the lookout for the signs and symptoms, which include:

Red, swollen or tender gums or other pain in your mouth

Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or when eating certain foods

Gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth, causing the teeth to look longer than before

Loose or separating teeth

Pus between your gums and teeth

Sores in your mouth

Persistent bad breath

A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

A change in the fit of partial dentures

If you notice any of these symptoms, be sure to contact your dentist or periodontist right away!

The best way to prevent periodontal disease is to take good care of your teeth and gums at home. This includes brushing your teeth after every meal and before bedtime, flossing at least once each day, and seeing your dentist or periodontist for regular exams twice a year. Spending a few minutes a day on preventative measures may save you the time and money of treating periodontal disease.

The connection between gum disease and heart disease is a very hot topic in the field of periodontics right now! Several research studies have indicated that heart disease and gum disease may be linked, and researchers suspect that inflammation may be the basis behind this relationship. If you are at risk for heart disease, it is a good idea to mention this to your periodontist, since gum disease may increase this risk

Regular examinations are very important to keep track of the present status of your disease and any disease progression over time. Your periodontist will work with you to create a maintenance schedule depending on how advanced your periodontal disease is at that time. Based on many variable factors such as your overall health, the severity of bone loss, and risk factors such as smoking and genetics, your periodontist will constantly tailor your care so your periodontal disease does not progress further. He or she may recommend exams every six months for mild periodontal disease, or every few months for more advanced stages.

Research has shown that periodontal disease is caused by the inflammatory reaction to bacteria under the gums, so periodontal disease technically may not be contagious. However, the bacteria that cause the inflammatory reaction can be spread through saliva. This means that if one of your family members has periodontal disease, it’s a good idea to avoid contact with their saliva by not sharing eating utensils or oral health equipment. If you notice that your spouse or a family member has the warning signs of a possible periodontal problem (bleeding, red and swollen gums, or bad breath) you may want to suggest that they see the periodontist for an exam. It may help to protect the oral health of everyone in the family.

· The implant will osseointegrate (bond) with the existing bone.
· The new implant will support your teeth firmly and safely.
· Your new implants are aesthetically pleasing.
· You will no longer have pain during talking or eating.
· The dental implant will prevent progressive bone atrophy.
· Implants have a proven scientific basis.

Dental Implants are becoming more popular in today’s dental society for a number of reasons. Implants are utilized to offer patients a foundation for new restorative teeth where natural teeth are missing or have been extracted. The implant offers the patient the opportunity to regain normal function of the tooth without being forced to resort to a bridge or a denture.

During your first visit, your periodontist will review your complete medical and dental history with you. It is extremely important for your periodontist to know if you are taking any medications or being treated for any condition that can affect your periodontal care. You will be given a complete oral and periodontal exam, along with an examination of your gums, along with checking  to see if there is any gum recession and/or  loose teeth. He/She will also take a small measuring instrument and place it between your teeth and gums to determine the depth of those spaces, known as periodontal pockets. This helps your periodontist assess the health of your gums. Radiographs (x-rays) may be used to show the bone levels around your teeth.

Very hot water will remove the essential oil from the hair and scalp and leads to dryness which causes breakage. Shampoo & condition the hair with warm water. Try a cool rinse before you exit the shower to help seal the cuticle and keep the essential oils in.

Our tip to you would be to check the stock status of all the items that you want before you register. Stores are famous for letting you register for items that have been long out of stock. Your guests will go on to purchase your gifts and they will come to find out that item is out of stock or no longer available. Back order can take several weeks or months, which is harmful to both you and your guests in the long run.

Are you filing the correct tax form for your 2010 individual taxes? And, more importantly, do you know the rules and limitations for each? Depending on your particular facts and circumstances, there are three forms to choose from – Form 1040 EZ (Mini); Form 1040 A (Short form) and Form 1040 (Long form). Choosing the incorrect form can cost you additional taxes, tax notices, penalties and even delay a refund in the event your taxes were overpaid.

Make sure you caulk before you paint and make sure the caulk gets painted. Do not make the mistake of using silicone instead of a paintable caulk (paint does not adhere to silicone). Check the label to confirm it is a paintable product.

To calculate net worth, take your assets minus your liabilities. Assets are the things you own that have monetary value such as houses or cars. Liabilities are monetary obligations to people or companies such as mortgages or car loans. Having positive net worth means you own more than you owe.

A periodontist is a dental specialist who is an expert in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the gum and bone that are caused by bacteria. In addition, periodontists treat gum recession and place dental implants. Periodontists may also correct gum recession and cover up exposed root surfaces which can be unsightly as well as sensitive to hot and cold. These procedures are often used to lay the foundation for additional cosmetic procedures to help create a beautiful smile. Finally, periodontists can be integral in the comprehensive planning of your oral care, along with your general dentist or other dental professional. Approximately 75 percent of all Americans have some form of periodontal disease, known by many as gum disease. If left untreated, this usually painless disease can result in tooth loss.

Dr. Jeffrey P. Giller is a specialist in Periodontics and has a simple objective: to help you retain your natural teeth. Most people lose their teeth through gum disease. To help prevent the loss of your teeth, his office will utilize the most up-to-date methods that are available in modern periodontics and implantology.
We believe our patients should have as much information as possible in order to make important, informed decisions regarding their oral health and treatment options.

Dr. Jeffrey P. Giller received both his dental degree from NYU College of Dentistry in 1982 and his postgraduate specialty degree in Periodontics in 1984. He has been in his current practice for 24 years. Dr. Giller is the founder and chairman of the Franklin Square Study Group. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Nassau County Dental Society, and is an active member of the Long Island Academy of Periodontists, American Academy of Periodontology, The American Dental Association, and the Academy of Osseointegration. In addition, Dr. Giller has been an Assistant Clinical Professor at North Shore Hospital since 1990 and has been awarded Outstanding Attending in the Dental Department multiple times.

Dr. Jeffery P. Giller

340 Dogwood Avenue #10

Franklin Square, NY 11010

516-565-2018

http://www.drjeffreygiller.com/

Sponsored by the Dominic A. Murray 21 Memorial Foundation, this special night is being held to raise awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).  There will be raffles, contests and prizes.  Admission is $1 (with FSC, Ram ID) and $2 general admission.  The event will also raise money for a scholarship to be awarded in Dom’s memory.

Dominic Murray died at age 17 after collapsing on the basketball court at Farmingdale State College, only a few weeks after receiving medical clearance to play college sports. The cause of his death was Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) due to cardiac hypertrophy related to underlying heart problems. To keep Dominic’s legacy alive for his contributions as a student, an athlete and a compassionate young man, the Dominic A. Murray 21 Memorial Foundation, Inc. was formed to help prevent SCA among young athletes ( www.DomHeart21.org ).

The foundation’s mission is to implement preventative heart screening programs in educational institutions and youth-athletic organizations and to provide training to coaches, teachers and youth-athletic organization volunteers in CPR in the use of an AED. The not-for-profit foundation (incorporated by the New York State Department of State on February 25, 2010) was organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes; focused on ensuring that youth who participate in sports from the levels of CYO to AAU, as well as from primary school through college, are afforded preventative heart screenings and most importantly exposed to sports health, education and safety.

Farmingdale State College prepares students with the education, skills, and critical thinking needed to meet the challenges of tomorrow. As the largest of SUNY’s colleges of technology (with about 7,000 students), Farmingdale equips its students with the resources and knowledge sought by today’s emerging industries. At Farmingdale, students also have abundant opportunities in experiential learning—internships, clinical training, and guided research—that provide practical instruction and personal growth. Small, personalized classes, a new residence hall with suite-style living, a lush 380-acre campus undergoing major renovation, and a highly successful NCAA Division III athletics program with modern facilities make Farmingdale State College one of the fastest-growing colleges in the region. For more information contact Kathryn Coley at 631-420-2400 or kathryn.coley@farmingdale.edu.



Reward Yourself with Sperry’s

Visa Check Card!

Whether you’re around the corner or around the world, you can use Sperry’s Visa Check Card to pay for everyday purchases. This card combines the worldwide purchasing power of a credit card with the quick-cash convenience of an ATM card.

Because it’s accepted at millions of places worldwide, you can use it for nearly anything, including: monthly bills, dining, retail merchandise, groceries, internet/online purchases and more!

Sperry is part of an elite rewards program called UChoose Rewards. With every signature based purchase you earn reward points that can be redeemed for your choice of millions of brand-name items! The more you use your card, the more points you earn!

Any where you go, make sure your Sperry Visa Check Card is in your wallet!
Don’t have a Sperry Visa Check Card? Send an email to support@sperryfcu.com to order yours today!

Sperry FCU, Garden City Park, NY, helped The Salvation Army Angel Tree program again this year.  Members and employees brought Christmas magic to fifty children.  Sperry FCU’s employees also raised $900, in lieu of a Kris Kringle, and donated 100% to two deserving family in The Salvation Army program.  Pictured here are Danielle Pappas, Tatiana Damour, Angela Fulgieri [from Sperry] and Mr. Sidney Glee from the Salvation Army.

On December 16, School Business Partnerships of Long Island (SBPLI) held its fundraising breakfast at Farmingdale State College’s Knapp Hall to benefit the Fred Breithut Scholarship for incoming first-year students at Farmingdale State. School Construction Corporation presented a check to help fund the scholarship, and FESTO presented a check to provide funding for the Long Island Regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition. Those in attendance included Suffolk County Legislator Tom Cilmi, members of the Plainview-Old Bethpage “POBOTS” (Team 353) and their robot and Robert Drenckhahn, recipient of the 2010 Fred Breithut Scholarship and a first-year student at Farmingdale State College.

The scholarship is for four years, with an amount of $1,000 per semester. Among the requirements for students to become eligible are enrollment in the SBPLI Long Island robotics program while in high school for at least two years; an SAT score of 1650 or better; and enrollment in Farmingdale State College’s four-year programs in math, science or technology. The 2011 winning recipient will be named at the LI FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition in March 2011.

For more information, visit www.sbpli-lifirst.org.

MCL Dental Lab Featured Provider of the month: Dr. Lawrence Rosenzweig

Hello. My name is Dr. Lawrence Rosenzweig and I own a dental practice in Wantagh. I was born in Syosset and have lived on Long Island all of my life. I left for a few years to attend Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia as an undergraduate and then stayed on to attend Emory Dental School.

If you’ve ever been to Atlanta, you know it’s a wonderful and exciting city.  But it was always my dream to come back to New York, to raise a family and to make a living on Long Island. So when I finished school I did just that.  Once you’ve lived on Long Island, nowhere else in the world compares.  After I finished dental school, I married a girl from Long Island and we have spent the last 30 years living here and raising our 3 children.

I grew up in a family that loved boating.  With the Long Island Sound to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, boating and the beaches are an inevitable pastime or diversion from the frantic and frenzied life we often lead. But if water sports aren’t your idea of a good time, then maybe it’s the many museums and theaters that are more your style. But whatever you fancy, very few places offer the variety of choices that Long Island does.

My wife and daughter are both teachers on Long Island.  I have a general dental practice which includes cosmetic, implant and pediatric patients. It’s the love of what I do and where I do it that makes all the difference.

Dr. Lawrence Rosenzweig
Ste 102, 3305 Jerusalem Avenue
Wantagh, NY 11793
Phone: (516) 679-5959

www.lawrencerosenzweigdds.com

It was announced today that Governor David Patterson has appointed David M. Curry, an associate at Farrell Fritz, P.C., to serve on the Farmingdale State College Council.

“David Curry’s expertise in law, real estate, and construction will serve the college well as we embark on a $185 million capital development project. In September we broke ground on our new $25 million Campus Center,” said W. Hubert Keen, President of Farmingdale State College.
Curry, who resides in Lindenhurst, centers his legal practice towards the fields of Distressed Assets and Real Estate.
He is an associate member of the Queens Bronx Building Association. From 2008-2010, he served as a judge in the Queens Building Awards competitions, which are hosted by the Queens Chamber of Commerce. This year, he was also a member of the Arthritis Foundation’s Queens Leaders’ Award Reception Committee.
Curry also boasts an impressive list of accolades. He was given the “Rising Star” award in February 2010 from The Queens Courier for his excellent business leadership in Queens. The Long Island Business News recognized Curry as “One to Watch in Construction” in August 2009.
Curry earned his Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s University School of Law in 2003. At St. John’s, he was a member of the Journal of Legal Commentary. In 1997, he received his MA in teaching from Towson University and he earned his BA in Philosophy, Politics, and the Law in 1995 from Binghamton University.
Curry, before joining Farrell Fritz, practiced as a real estate attorney at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, in New York City. He is a member of both the American Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association.
Farmingdale State College Council consists of local community leaders, who are appointed by the governor. Each member of the council is selected for his or her specific knowledge in a particular area. Six times each year the council is required to meet with the college’s administration to evaluate the school’s operations and to discuss new ideas.

Use these tips to keep your eyelashes looking great:

• Avoid clumpy “mascara lashes” by wiping the wand along the edge of tube to remove excess product.
• When applying, wiggle the wand from side to side, from the base of your lashes to the tips.
• Before it dries, gently comb your lashes with an eyelash comb—you can even use a soft toothbrush if you have an extra.

As a small business owner, you may hire people as independent contractors or as employees. There are rules that will help you determine how to classify the people you hire. This will affect how much you pay in taxes, whether you need to withhold from your workers paychecks and what tax documents you need to file.

Here are some important things every business owner should know about hiring people as independent contractors versus hiring them as employees:

• The IRS uses three characteristics to determine the relationship between businesses and workers:

o Behavioral Control covers facts that show whether the business has a right to direct or control how the work is done through instructions, training or other means.

o Financial Control covers facts that show whether the business has a right to direct or control the financial and business aspects of the worker’s job.

o The Type of Relationship factor relates to how the workers and the business owner perceive their relationship.

• If you have the right to control or direct not only what is to be done, but also how it is to be done, then your workers are most likely employees.

• If you can direct or control only the result of the work done — and not the means and methods of accomplishing the result — then your workers are probably independent contractors.

• Employers who misclassify workers as independent contractors can end up with substantial tax bills. Additionally, they can face penalties for failing to pay employment taxes and for failing to file required tax forms.

• Workers can avoid higher tax bills and lost benefits if they know their proper status.

• Both employers and workers can ask the IRS to make a determination on whether a specific individual is an independent contractor or an employee by filing a Form SS-8, Determination of Worker Status for Purposes of Federal Employment Taxes and Income Tax Withholding, with the IRS.

• You can learn more about the critical determination of a worker’s status by calling us at Schwartz & Company, LLP, 516-409-5000.

www.openmoves.com

Business Blogs: A Key Entry Point

Last fall, we published a Business Blogging Basics guide to help businesses figure out why they should have a corporate blog, how to manage it, who should write it, and how often they should update it. If you’re not sure a corporate blog is right for you, consider this trend: MarketingSherpa writes in their blog that “Many B2B marketers report that their team’s blog – not the company homepage – is now the most popular entry point for online visitors.”

Free E-mail Marketing System Clinic Join our 8-week FREE e-mail course on how to build an e-mail marketing system to generate revenue. See sample and info!
Subscribe Now!

When throwing a bachelorette party you should have games prepared for the guest of honor to get the party started.

One fun game is to have each member of the party write down a task for the bachelorette to do and sign a little note with their name at the end of the task. Each time she finishes a task someone should take a picture.

Some tasks to keep in mind are to find a man with the same name as the groom and have her kiss him on the cheek, kiss a bald man with a tattoo, have a list of items she has to collect through the night, each one she doesn’t get she must take a shot for, etc.

After all the tasks are done you can put together a scrap book of the nights events for her to keep.

Just so you know, there is software out there that assists visually impaired computer users.

For those with some vision the screen can be magnified, and for the totally blind there is software that actually reads whatever is on the screen. Here is a link to more information about once such program called Jaws from Freedom Scientific.

Teachers are expected to have lots of ways to accommodate different learning styles. You should be aware that in addition to screen-reading software like Jaws, there is a host of accessibility options available through Microsoft. Go to this link to find more information about accessibility features in Windows. You can find more information about Assistive technology products from Microsoft at this link.

There’s also a worldwide effort underway to make the content of the Internet more accessible. If you’re designing a website you might want to consider these ideas for designing more useable websites.

According to a recent survey by The Creative Group, a specialized division of Robert Half International, Inc., 78 percent of marketing and advertising executives confess to mistakenly e-mailing someone the wrong message or copying someone on a message without intending to do so. Those polled admitted transgressions ranging from sending a job offer to the wrong candidate to writing just plain nasty comments about management.

In a press release, Megan Slabinski, executive director of The Creative Group, said, “E-mail mistakes can be painfully visible and viral. Professionals must be especially careful in this economy not to do anything that could cause employers to question their competence or judgment, and that means paying close attention when sending any kind of message, particularly if the information is sensitive.”

Careerbuilder.com reported in 2007 that American workers received an average of 134 e-mails daily—and worse, that 14 percent of workplace e-mail is subpoenaed in lawsuits! It’s become a part of our daily culture and a way of life, but sending the wrong e-mail, particularly at work, can cause personal embarrassment to you or others, may cost you your job or a business deal and can damage relationships with friends and colleagues. People largely know what should or shouldn’t go in an e-mail, but that doesn’t mean they don’t occasionally give in to bad taste or a temper tantrum.

Classroom teaching and knowledge gleaned from textbooks are the building blocks of a solid career foundation. But to get the rest, you need real-world experience. That’s where an internship comes into play.

Look for internships in big and small companies to explore different careers firsthand. The internship can be brief, perhaps no more than a week; or as long as an entire semester. Some internships provide a salary, while others do not, but all intern experience can be very valuable, so don’t shun the unpaid internship.

Let’s say you need to have $1,000 saved six months from now. You could spend, spend, spend for the next five months and then panic. Or, you could be more prudent about your saving.

Getting into the habit of setting money aside regularly is the foundation for a successful financial future. By signing up for automatic transfer of funds, you can set aside a portion of every paycheck. Saving will be a breezes and it won’t be long before you accumulate an impressive sum.

www.openmoves.com

Anatomy of an E-mail Newsletter

We previously posted an e-mail design checklist, which covered overall design and style tips, including how to handle formatting, fonts and images. Great design is important, but you need to make sure that your e-mail newsletter has all of the necessary elements. Compare each of your designs against this checklist before approval and coding. Preheader text, header & navigation, table of contents, content, footer…read more.

Free E-mail Marketing System Clinic Join our 8-week FREE e-mail course on how to build an e-mail marketing system to generate revenue. See sample and info!
Subscribe Now!

You looked great when you put your make-up on this morning, but by noon it’s wearing thin! Here’s a tip or two to help:

Apply all moisturizers at least 20 minutes before applying makeup. When creams are applied immediately before make-up, they will absorb into the skin faster.

Always finish with a light mineral powder. You can actually brush it over your entire face, including lips and closed eyes. This will set the make-up and give you a finished look at the same time.

Many newlyweds display guest books at their reception for guests to write their blessings. So for yours, get a little creative.

Rather then having people write in a book you will tuck away in a drawer, do something unique.

Buy stones and place them on a table with empty vases. Have all of your guests sign a rock and place it in the vase. You should then display the rock-filled vases around your house. This way, you will add a decoration to your new home that reminds you of all the wishes your guests granted you on your new journey in life.

Due to the state of our national economy, states across the country are constantly searching for ways to increase their revenue.

One of the biggest ways States accomplish this is to search for information about companies that may have nexus in their state.

Nexus is defined as: A means of connection; a link or tie

In the tax world, states have filing requirements when a business has a connection to another state or states. This is defined as:

1. Having employees or consultants working for you in another state
2. Owning inventory in another state
3. Owning or renting office or warehousing space in another state
4. Owning or renting equipment in another state
5. Having sales or receipts from another state

Each state works on a variety of the factors named above, under a measure called Apportionment.

Depending on the type of entity you are, there may be credits available on your New York return as a result of apportioning your income, deductions and credits.

Are you filing all of the returns you are required to file?

The weather outside may say otherwise, but make no mistake—winter is on its way. Be sure to take care of your driveway before it shows up, or it could mean headaches later on.

Inspect concrete slabs and/or driveways for cracks or movement. All exterior slabs should drain away from the foundation of the home. Fill cracks with concrete crack filler or silicone caulk, and then power wash and seal.

A friend tweeted me the recent story of an unidentified teacher’s aide in the Slate Belt area of Pennsylvania who left her personal cell phone unattended at a social event which was not held on school property. Leaving her phone out-of-sight and unguarded was her second mistake. The first was saving a nude self-portrait in the photo album housed in memory on the phone. You can guess what happened, right? Someone scrolled through her photographs, found the compromising image and forwarded it to everyone on the aide’s contact list, including a school board member. Eventually, the photo made its way onto the phones of members of the student body (grades 7 and up).

In a statement to the Express Times, School District Superintendent John Reinhart said the aide had been a district employee for six years. Said Reinhart, “Her work here with our students has been satisfactory. She’s shown dedication to her job and the students she works with. But this lapse in judgment requires her to resign.”

But does it? The big question is whether bad judgment (or naiveté) takes precedence over the violation of her privacy. I spoke with the newsroom at LehighValleyLive.com, who say there is a meeting of the school board scheduled for Jan. 18, at which they hope to resolve the situation. The aide has not been reachable by the Bangor Area school administration. They last spoke with her on Jan. 5, when she was asked to stay home until an investigation had been completed. According to the folks at LehighValleyLive.com, we’ll know the outcome after the meeting, but in an informal poll conducted on the site, visitors had the opportunity to weigh in on the local controversy. According to the site, 83 percent believe it to be unfair that she be asked to resign.

The lesson here is pretty clear: Don’t put yourself in this kind of workplace conundrum by having private photographs or other communication on your cell phone, or at least make sure your phone is password protected. Our lives are digital open books and the line between personal and private gets blurred by everyday technology.

Colleges offer a wide range of classes, and while it’s great to expand your horizons, be sure to remember why you’re devoting the next four (or more) years of your life to it: to get an education to further a career.

“Underwater Fire Prevention 101”? “Basic Aluminum Foil Dancing”? Don’t sign up for a class just because it sounds easy or fun. Be sure you understand what the title means and what the course requires you to do. Seemingly “easy” courses have a way of being very difficult!

Some of the biggest steps towards adulthood include getting a driver’s license, going to college and getting your first job. Financially, that happens when you start getting bank statements with your name on them.

One of the first steps toward real freedom (and adulthood) is having a checking and savings account in your own name. These accounts allow you to save money, make purchases and pay bills efficiently. Both require an active management role to achieve your goals and avoid errors.

Dr. Robert A. Abramson, DDS, FAGD of North Bellmore Dental Associates, PC

Dr. Abramson has been with North Bellmore Dental Associates, PC since 1992. For over 15 years, he has provided patients with expert service and extensive treatments that include dental sealants, dentures, bridges, tooth extractions and more. The goal of North Bellmore Dental Associates, PC is to provide the very best possible dental care, resulting in optimal dental health and bright smiles.

Dr. Abramson is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA), New York State Dental Society, Nassau County Dental Society, Academy of General Dentistry and the Nassau Academy of Dentistry.

“One of the great advantages about being on Long Island is the fact that I get my products from MCL Dental Lab, which is right here on Long Island.” Dr. Abramson says.

MCL Dental Lab is a full-service laboratory and production facility located in Hempstead, NY.

“They specialize in dental implants, crowns and bridges,” Dr. Abramson continues, “The best part is… you know where your products are coming from.”

Dr. Abramson offers state-of-the-art implant dentistry and the latest in cosmetic dental procedures to enhance your smile.

For more information about North Bellmore Dental Associates, PC, you can log onto their website: www.northbellmoredental.com

North Bellmore Dental Associates, PC
1179 Newbridge Road
North Bellmore, NY 11710
Phone: (516) 221-2271

An operating system is the collection of software that controls how the computer works. If you have a PC or IBM format computer, chances are pretty good that you are running Windows Operating System from a company called Microsoft. Windows Operating Systems have been around since the 1990s and you should be familiar with some of the names and chronology of their development.

Below is a diagram showing the basic development of the Windows operating system from 1990 to 2010.
Windows Operating Systems

1990 Windows 3.x
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995 Windows 95
1996
1997
1998 Windows 98
1999
2000 Windows Me
2001 Windows XP
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007 Windows Vista
2008
2009 Windows 7
2010

This is not the end. It seems that every two-to-three-years Microsoft releases a new operating system, so be prepared to upgrade for the rest of your life…

It’s nice to think that people just like to help their fellow Long Islander, but the truth is, some have malicious intents when doing things like offering you a loan. Follow the old adage: If it seems to good to be true, it probably is.

For mortgage loans, predatory lending is when a lender or broker pushes unreasonably expensive loans or refinancing deals. Avoid predatory lending by reading contracts carefully, paying attention to interest rates and knowing what can happen when you’re late on a payment. A primary defense is to be an informed consumer.

College offers classes in practically anything you can think of, and for good reason: You should try and expand your horizons as much as possible. Who knows, you may even find a new passion. But don’t lose sight of the courses you have to take.

Sign up for core requirements early in your college career, preferably during your first and second years, so you complete them early. What core requirements do you have to fulfill? Study your college bulletin and check with your advisor to find out.

Your computer crashes.

The coffee pot in the break-room is empty again.

You missed the last FedEx pickup.

Your boss hates the proposal you spent the last three days working on.

Is your typical response a chaste, “Golly, that stinks” or do you utter an expletive of the four-letter variety?

Somehow we’ve all gotten used to incorporating words that were once considered off-limits into our workplace vocabularies. This was a hot topic at lunch recently and everyone had an opinion. One of my colleagues said that just because you use an undesirable word in an upbeat, casual way, it doesn’t make it OK. We did agree that it is often the delivery of the word that determines its level of offensiveness. Another who works routinely with more Gen X-ers and Gen Y-ers than Baby Boomers felt that younger workers use certain expletives as adjectives, almost without thinking. “They would think I was a prude or old fashioned if I asked them to watch their language,” she said, and then added that they probably were unaware of how many times a day these words came out of their mouths.

So, how do we deal with the potty-mouth habits of ourselves or others who may or may not be intentionally cursing? James O’Connor, the author of Cuss Control: The Complete Book on How to Curb Your Cursing and the force behind the Cuss Control Academy offers these 10 tips for curbing your tongue:

1. Recognize that swearing does damage.
2. Start by eliminating casual swearing.
3. Think positively.
4. Practice being patient.
5. Cope, don’t cuss.
6. Stop complaining.
7. Use alternative words.
8. Make your point politely.
9. Think of what you should have said.
10. Work at it.

We’re in the middle of fall, and the leaves have just started falling off trees. The autumn scenery is surely some of the prettiest all year, but what’s not pretty about the season is having leaves stuffed in your gutters.  That can easily lead to flooding when the rain comes—and living on Long Island, it’s not a question of if, but when.

Get ahead of the foliage and clean your gutters every weekend. You (hopefully) won’t find much each time, but wait a week between cleanings and it could be too late.

Taxpayers with earned income from wages (W-2) or self-employment (Schedule C) may qualify for a 2010 credit of up to $800 for a married couple filing a joint return or $400 for other filers. This credit is reduced or unavailable for higher-income taxpayers. The reduction in the credit begins at $75,000 of income for single taxpayers and $150,000 for couples filing a joint return.

Many brides decorate the altar and the pews with flowers for their ceremony and leave them at the church, where they will end up being thrown away. To help cut back cost on floral arrangements, recycle your flowers from the ceremony. You can use these flowers to decorate the lobby of the reception hall or you can decorate the cake table with the smaller arrangements. The bouquets can be used to decorate the guest book and place card table as well.

Fact: Lice prefer to live in clean and oil-free hair.

Fact: Lice can be transmitted easily from one person to another. Here are some ways to prevent the spread of lice:

• If your child has a long hair, be sure to tie it back. A long braid is also quite effective.
• Advise your child not to borrow personal items like comb and hats from their classmates. These are things that easily transmit lice from one person to another.
• Use a hair product specifically designed to repel lice. Cactus recommends Fairytale’s line of children’s hair care products, which have shampoos and leave-in conditioners for this specific purpose. For a great home prevention remedy, simply mix tea tree oil, about 10 drops for every two ounces of water in a spray bottle. Spray liberally on your child’s head daily.

If you work in a network environment you probably have to log on to your computer each morning using a password and remember to log off each evening before you go. And for network security reasons you’re probably reminded to never leave your computer while it’s logged on. This is especially important in a setting where a malevolent individual could potentially make a real mess of the network if they had access to your computer or a computer that has some administrative access.

Today’s tip will help you with a quick way to log on and off your computer when you have to step away from it for a few minutes. It will save you time as you won’t have to log off and then back on again. Instead you can just “Lock” your computer while you’re away from it temporarily. Please note that this will not work in all network environments or all operating systems. But you can still give it a try.

To lock your computer press, the Windows button (bottom left of your keyboard) and the letter “L” at the same time. If it works, your screen will go blank except for a message that says:

“This computer is in use and has been locked by (Your Username). To unlock this computer press CTRL+ALT+DEL and type in your password”

This can be a great, easy to use way to lock your computer. It doesn’t work on all computers though. If it doesn’t work on your computer you’d have to contact your network administrator to ask them about it.

Brush your hair often, particularlly before showering. Eliminating tangles before shampooing can minimize breakage. Wash your hair often, as daily activities can cause hair to become dirty and knotted. Always use a gentle conditioner or detangler, then use a wide-tooth comb to distribute evenly and remove tangles before rinsing. Stay away from elastic bands and combs and clips with sharp teeth to avoid unnecessary breakage. Look for bands that are metal-free. When brushing knotted hair, always start from the bottom up. For active kids, a soft cotton head band will help to keep knotting to a minimum.

Throwing a birthday party for someone who doesn’t like the spotlight on them?

You should relate the party to the guest of honor’s personality. One idea to consider is a casino theme. Rent poker tables and hire dealers for the event and play for fun.

To satisfy all of your guests, add in extra entertainment such as a belly dancer, a hookah lounge area or a martini louge. This will let the guest of honor enjoy their friends and families company, and forget the party is for them.

Did you know the current gift tax exclusion (i.e., the amount that you can give to an individual recipient in a single year without triggering the gift tax) is $13,000 per person, each and every year? If you are married, you are able to double the amount to $26,000 per person, per year!

However, direct payments of tuition or medical expenses on behalf of another person (whether or not that person is related to you) are not treated as gifts for tax purposes—and you don’t even have to file IRS Form 709, which covers gifts and generation-skipping transfers. Just be sure that the payment is made directly to the school or medical provider, and not to the person receiving the benefits.

Keep in mind that payments for books, school supplies, room and board, etc. don’t fall under the exception. Also note that allowable medical expenses include anything that would otherwise qualify as a deductible medical expense.

With the cooler weather outside, don’t be afraid to give the air conditioner a rest and leave your windows cracked at night. With temperatures dipping into the lower 60s overnight, the outdoor climate is a great way to keep the house comfortable and the thermostat idle. And in the end, you’ll save some money (which hopefully won’t be needed for heating in the winter).

Some of the women I know were abuzz recently over a report that was just published by Pew Research Center which noted that wives have become the primary breadwinners in one out of five marriages. As part of the baby boomer workforce, many of whom graduated college in the ’70s, my friends and I applauded the strides made in the sisterhood which showed wives out-earning their spouses from 4 percent in 1970 to 22 percent in 2007 (the most recent year of available data).

That’s not to say that I hang out with a bunch of alpha-earner females. In fact, I don’t really know salary specifics within my circle of friends—most are just happy to be employed, especially in these challenging times. The point is, as women, we were glad to see that our portion of the pie had grown considerably, even though we still only earn about 78 cents on the dollar compared to our male counterparts, according to the National Organization for Women.

A semester’s worth of textbooks can easily break $600. Fortunately, there are other options when it comes to getting your schoolbooks.

To save money, consider renting your textbooks rather than buying them outright. Increasingly, many brick-and-mortar college bookstores (as well as internet stores) offer this option.

So you’ve figured out what you can spend. The next step is to figure out how to spend it.

After determining how much you have to spend, the next step is figuring out where to spend it. Just as with any budget, think about what’s a priority. For example, the selection of food might be a higher priority than centerpieces. It’s about what’s important to you and your fiancé.

Examine all foundation surfaces and concrete floor for structural cracks, effervescent, plumb, mold and moisture content – often there are concerns of excessive moisture due to improper ventilation or building products used inappropriately and must be examined. Measure floor-to-rough-ceiling height to determine if it can be remodeled – New York State requirements vary and in most instances must meet or exceed 80″ clear finish. Measure floor-to-support-beam-height if it is going to be in the finished room as well as duct work and obstructions -  local codes may vary in the finished area.

www.openmoves.com

Google Priority Inbox. Why Should You Care?

How many e-mail subscribers use Gmail? If your business is B2C, it’s likely that many do. This week’s OpenMoves blog posting discusses Gmail’s new priority inbox, advantages, reader engagement and how it will impact email effectiveness. Read more…

Free E-mail Marketing System Clinic Join our 8-week FREE e-mail course on how to build an e-mail marketing system to generate revenue. See sample and info!
Subscribe Now!

Use a gentle shampoo, preferably sulfate-free, and use a daily moisturizing conditioner when you wash your hair. Wash your hair every other day instead of everyday—at the most—but use just conditioner on the days you don’t shampoo. Products can help to keep you frizz-free. Always use a lightweight leave-in conditioner and a wide-toothed comb on wet hair to deal with stubborn tangles. Allow curls to dry naturally or use a diffuser. Have patience and handle your curls with care. A lightweight gel can help to keep your curls perfect all day long.

If you are looking for some last-minute ideas to make your bridal shower different then any other one you have attended, we have some tips for you.

Traditionally bridal showers didn’t have themes, but current times have shown different. We have some fun themes you can use to spruce up your shower.

For a lingerie theme you can have your guests come in their nighttime attire and decorate the shower like a sleepover. All the gifts can be lingerie, bikinis, bed-and-bath themed or anything the bride and groom can enjoy.

Another theme is a recipe shower. You can have your guests cook their best meal and serve it in your gift, or have them give different kitchen utensils to you and the groom. Also, each guest should bring the recipe with them for you to try out on your own as newlyweds!

When you file your business, individual or trust tax returns, are you fully utilizing the multiple “green” measures available to you?

Millions of returns are filed electronically, a service which offers many benefits. Did you know that this initiative, though started by the IRS, has actually been successful due to the various states and cities around the globe? Up until the present time, IRS e-filing has been available, though is not required except for relatively few large corporations and partnerships. New York and most of the remaining 49 states have changed practices beginning back in 2002 to start to accept and even mandate e-filing vs. paper filing. Some states like Massachusetts even penalize tax payers and practitioners for paper filing.

Rumor has it that beginning in 2012, the IRS may begin to mandate e-filing for most of us for 2011 returns.

Here are a few of the many benefits of e-filing to consider:

• Postage savings with almost instant confirmation that your returns have been received
• Paper savings—many returns these days are inches thick
• Safety and security of important numbers
• Availability to electronically make a payment if there is a balance due—you even get to pick the payment date
• Availability to receive a direct deposit to your bank account of choice if you are owed money—your refunds are received much earlier
• Time sensitive receipts which eliminate any question of late filing or late payment

Somewhere in your inbox you probably have several e-mails that had the nicest-looking signatures at the bottom of them. Today’s tech tip will tell you how you can have a signature line automatically added to every e-mail you send.

This tip is for Microsoft Outlook, but there are similar features available in most other e-mail systems.

1) Go to “Tool” on the menu bar and select “Options” from the bottom of the list.
2) Select the tab for “Mail Format” and then select “Signatures” from the bottom of that window
3) Click “New” and then type in the name for your new signature, then click “Next”
4) Type in the signature you’d like to have appear at the bottom of every e-mail you send. Then make changes to the font, size and color using the buttons at the bottom of the box. Click “Finish” when you are done.
5) Check and make sure your new signature appears next to “Signature for new messages.”

You might also set it for “Signature for replies and forwards.” It is very nice when you customize your signature and give it your own distinctiveness.

In summer or winter, you might be able to get away with a one-setting thermostat. It’s more or less always hot in summer and always cold in winter. But what about fall, when it can be sunny and 70 one day and raining and 55 the next?

Change your existing thermostat to a digital unit that has several settings. That way, you can easily be prepared for a sudden nice or dreary day.

A tough job market prompts some tough questions. Over the last few weeks I’ve encountered people who are struggling with long-term unemployment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5 million Americans were out of work for six months or more as of August 2009.

So, what do you do if you’ve been out of work longer than six months…or if you’ve had a second job loss in less than two years? Any kind of response sounds trite to those who are in such difficult circumstances. A survey from ExecuNet.com showed that 10.1 months is the average length of time many senior managers are taking to find employment.

As simplistic as it sounds, looking for work is a full-time job. Those that have the most success have put in the time—20 to 30 hours per week. You cannot be a passive job seeker in this market. Stop just sending out resumes and hoping to get a call back. Take real action.

College is a place for experimenting with new things, and a great way to do that is by combing through the list of courses offered at your school.

Every semester, try to take at least one interesting class in a subject that you have never explored before, such as music, art, economics, communications, psychology, geology, anthropology, or engineering. Doing this helps you discover where your interests and abilities lie. Who knows? You might discover that you have an interest in and talent for a career that you had never considered!

Everyone knows weddings can be cheap, but in order for them to not break the bank, you need to some serious pre-wedding planning.

The first step to financially smart wedding planning is determining what you can afford to spend. How much do and your fiancé have in savings and what do you want to spend on the wedding? If you are expecting family to help, get clarification on the amount before signing any contracts.

Alure’s Long Island Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Build air date scheduled for Sunday, October 3rd

EAST MEADOW, NY Sept 28th, 2010 — In July, ABC’s Emmy-winning hit show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Long Island’s Alure Home Improvements, led by Alure President & CEO Sal Ferro, revealed the recently completed Makeover home to the Lutz family of East Setauket, NY, The original home was completely demolished and a new home built in less than 5 days. As the bus pulled away during the show’s traditional “move that bus” scene, Daniel Lutz raised his arms in the air and ran down the street high fiving and hugging blue shirt volunteers lining the street, drawing cheers from the crowd of spectators.

ABC has confirmed the air date for Alure’s eighth project for the show is this Sunday, October 3rd at 8pm EST.

“The outpouring of support from the Long Island community was overwhelming for the deserving Lutz family. I’m very excited to watch this episode with my 3 kids on Sunday night!” said Ferro.

To join Alure’s question and answer session about the show as it airs, or for pictures, videos and more on the amazing week long community project, visit Alure’s extreme fan page at http://facebook.com/alurefanpage, Alure Home Improvements has been building dreams since 1946, and specializes in kitchens, baths, finished basements, siding, windows, roofing, sunrooms, handyman services, home energy performance, dormers and extensions. Alure’s Long Island showroom is located at 1999 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow, NY. For more
information, call 877-44-ALURE or visit www.alure.com.

The Emmy award winning reality program “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” now in its 8th season, is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. It’s executive-produced by Brady Connell and George Verschoor. David Goldberg is Chairman, Endemol North America. The show airs Sundays from 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET on ABC.

If you have recently gotten married or plan to get married in the near future, the IRS has some tips to help you avoid stress at tax time.

1. Notify the Social Security Administration: Report any name change to the Social Security Administration, so your name and SSN will match when you file your next tax return. Informing the SSA of a name change is quite simple. File a Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security card at your local SSA office. The form is available on the SSA’s website and by calling 800-772-1213 or at local offices.

2. Notify the IRS: If you have a new address you should notify the IRS by sending Form 8822, Change of Address. You may download Form 8822 from the IRS website or order it by calling 800–TAX–FORM (800–829–3676).

3. Notify the U.S. Postal Service: You should also notify the U.S. Postal Service when you move so it can forward any IRS correspondence.

4. Notify Your Employer: Report any name and address changes to your employer(s) to ensure receipt of your Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement after the end of the year.

5. Check Your Withholding: If both you and your spouse work, your combined income may place you in a higher tax bracket. You can use the IRS Withholding Calculator available on the IRS website to assist you in determining the correct amount of withholding needed for your new filing status. The IRS Withholding Calculator will even provide you with a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate you can print out and give it to your employer so they can withhold the correct amount from your pay.

www.openmoves.com

Building a List Growth Strategy

How you source and recruit new subscribers can make a big difference in the value of your e-mail list. There are many ways to grow your list organically and now is the time to put a 360-degree strategy in place. This report from the E-mail Experience Council lets you measure your list growth strategies against industry benchmark and offers new ideas that you can implement now. Read more on this subject at the OpenMove’s blog.

Free E-mail Marketing System Clinic Join our 8-week FREE e-mail course on how to build an e-mail marketing system to generate revenue. See sample and info!
Subscribe Now!

Keeping skin looking healthy starts from the inside. Our skin is not only affected by how we take care of it but by our diet as well.

Eating foods high in anti-oxidants, such as blueberries and spinach, help to maintain skin’s healthy glow.

It’s also important to exfoliate. Exfoliation gently removes dead skin cells from the surface, revealing an even and healthy skin tone and texture. Exfoliants can be made at home as well as store bought. Some can be easily made with brown sugar and baby oil. Exfoliation can be done daily depending on your skin’s needs.

When ordering invitations, keep in mind that most orders take anywhere from two to four weeks. Leave a two-week “error-free” period in case your invitations come with mistakes. Also, you should give yourself plenty of time when sending out your invitations to your guests. You should begin mailing the invitations to out-of-town guests at least six weeks prior to your wedding. For your in-town guests, we suggest to send them at least four weeks prior to your wedding.

We all do it: You’re walking around the house, going from room to room. You aren’t staying in any one room for a long time, so you leave the lights on in each. Pretty soon, the entire house is lit up like a beacon for aircraft flying overhead. And that noise you hear? It’s money leaving your wallet all the while.

Don’t let your electricity bill get run up. Turn lights off as soon as you leave a room. Newer lightbulbs are designed to sip rather than gulp power.

If you’ve ever sat across the desk from someone who can’t ask the right interview questions, you know how uncomfortable the situation can be when it is handled poorly. For many job seekers, their perception of a company’s image can change dramatically as a result of a job interview.

Some of the common turn-offs cited by job candidates include:

• The interviewer didn’t read the resume prior to the meeting.

• Distractions by phone calls, staff interruptions or BlackBerry messaging.

• Inappropriate comments or inappropriate questions.

Electing to go to college means you’ll probably be eating less meals at home. And being away at school makes dining out a very tempting proposition. Fortunately, campuses offer dining halls, which serve meals at subsidized costs for students. If you have a meal plan, eat on campus as much as possible. Eating off campus gets very costly, very fast.

In a digital world, identity theft is a growing problem. There’s no way to outright avoid it altogether, but there are ways to protect yourself and remove some liability.

Identity theft is a main concern when it comes to your bank account. Experts say that debit cards are a great choice to combat identity theft because they provide more safeguards than paper and if your card is stolen, you are not held liable for unauthorized purchases that are made.

Even though you may shower daily, it’s not always a good idea to wash your hair daily. Washing your hair daily with shampoo can strip the hair of its natural oils, causing the hair to become dry and broken. For people with color-treated hair, using a shapmoo less frequently can shorten the time between color. Always use a shampoo labeled for use on color-treated hair. Using a conditioner daily, if necessary, will keep hair looking healthy and give that “just washed” look….

www.openmoves.com

Anatomy of an E-mail Newsletter

We previously posted an e-mail design checklist, which covered overall design and style tips, including how to handle formatting, fonts and images. Great design is important, but you need to make sure that your e-mail newsletter has all of the necessary elements. Compare each of your designs against this checklist before approval and coding. Preheader text, header & navigation, table of contents, content, footer…read more.

Free E-mail Marketing System Clinic Join our 8-week FREE e-mail course on how to build an e-mail marketing system to generate revenue. See sample and info!
Subscribe Now!

You should always be looking for little details that make your wedding day different than every other wedding your guests have attended. Our tip to you would be to add in little details for décor, such as up lighting in your reception room, this will enhance the room’s ambiance. For your guests’ entertainment, you could add in a photo booth and/or a cigar roller. Details you could add to satisfy your guests with a sweet tooth are a cotton candy, popcorn, or pretzel cart; you could also add in zeppoles and an ice cream bar at the end.

Owning rental real estate offers several tax benefits; however, losses from rental real estate are generally considered passive activity losses (PALs) and generally cannot be used to offset ordinary income from other sources. The rental real estate loss allowance and real estate professional status are two important exceptions to this rule. In addition, there are specific rules for taxpayers who rent out their primary residence or vacation home. Taxpayers who own rental property are able to reduce their overall tax liability by taking advantage of specific planning opportunities.

Did you ever wonder if anyone actually opened your e-mail? Here’s a way to confirm your e-mail was delivered and to be informed of when an e-mail was opened by the recipient. This is only going to work in the full version of Microsoft Outlook, but other e-mail systems might have similar options.

1. Start a new e-mail by clicking on ‘New.’ Fill in the ‘TO:’ line and type up your e-mail.

2. Before you send your e-mail, go to ‘Options’ and check the box for ‘Request delivery receipt…’ to get an e-mail, confirming that the e-mail was sent. Check ‘Request a read receipt…’ to be informed when the recipient opens the e-mail. Once you have done this, click ‘Close.’

Try sending yourself an e-mail with these options set on it. It’s a quick and easy way to check out how this works. You will notice that when someone opens an e-mail like this they get a message about sending a read receipt to the sender. You should be aware that the recipient will be aware that you are tracking when they open your e-mail, but this a way to help ensure that your email has been received…

Dracula, Edward Cullen and the cast of True Blood are fearful characters because of their ability to suck the life out of people. So why aren’t vampire chargers?

Charging units left plugged in will continue to use electricity, even if they aren’t charging anything. You might think you’ll have a low utility bill but you’ll be in for a surprise. Disconnect any “charging units” when not in use.

Business world newbies can gain an edge on how to navigate the corporate jungle by devoting a few hours to this easy-reading book. It’s largely common sense, but as any manager knows, many new hires haven’t a clue as to how to interact with coworkers, or just how to conduct themselves in a business setting. The rules may seem obvious, but even seasoned professionals are not immune to gaffes and could benefit from a quick read. Here are some examples:

• Handling name lapses gracefully
• Understanding “business casual” attire
• BlackBerry, iPhone, telephone and speakerphone conduct
• Participating in business meetings and business luncheons
• International etiquette—avoiding common mistakes

When you sign up for classes, always start by checking the requirements, called prerequisites. For example, you can’t take English 2 until you take English 1. Automated registration programs will usually deny schedules that violate prerequisites, but the ultimate responsibility for a correct class schedule rests with you, not with the college.

You get a paycheck. Congratulations! Now what do you do with the check? Hopefully not spend it!

Save and invest 5-to-10 percent of your gross annual income. Of course, this is easier said than done, especially if you are living paycheck to paycheck. Begin by tracking all of your monthly expenses and creating a solid spending plan. Soon those extra dollars will start to accumulate.

www.openmoves.com

10 Tips to Improve Subject Lines

You slave away perfecting your e-mail newsletter, but subject lines are often an afterthought. They are arguably one of the most important pieces of writing you can do, because if the subject line doesn’t intrigue readers to open your message, readers are not going to see the glory within (or be able to act on your calls to action). Here are some of our favorite tips for improving your subject lines.

Free E-mail Marketing System Clinic Join our 8-week FREE e-mail course on how to build an e-mail marketing system to generate revenue. See sample and info!
Subscribe Now!

When planning your wedding and choosing flower colors, here are some things to remember:

• Before you make an appointment to sit with your florist, you should know the colors of the bridesmaid gowns. This gives the florist some direction as far as what you’re looking for in regards to center pieces.
• The one tip to remember is your personal flowers need to match the dresses and the center pieces need to match the reception room.
• It’s perfectly fine to incorporate your personal flowers into your center pieces, but they do not have to be the same.

Individual taxpayers seeking new jobs may incur a variety of expenses, such as costs directly associated with moving to a new job location or those specifically related to the job search itself. Many of these expenses are deductible, but the rules are strict, and expenses must be carefully documented and substantiated.

We can provide you the tax guidance you need when considering a job search that may or may not result in a move to a new home, including young adults entering in a new career or individuals seeking better employment opportunities or searching for work after becoming unemployed.

Let us help you focus on other things besides your taxes by calling Schwartz & Company, LLP at 516-409-5000.

Traffic, burning through gas, racking up mileage on your car—surviving the morning commute isn’t easy. One of the ways to make things a little better is by car pooling.

Car pool as much as possible. Doing so saves money on gas, reduces wear and tear on your vehicle, uses less oil resources and overall, lessens the negative environmental impact associated with driving.

I’m always asked, “Do references really matter?” My response is the right references can greatly improve your chances of getting the job. The right references are made up of a good set of people who can intelligently speak to your on-the-job performance. These should include: two former supervisors, a colleague and a subordinate (if you are interviewing for a management position). Better yet, if you have a reference who currently works at the company where you are interviewing, that can be gold, so make sure you are maximizing your professional network by reviewing your circle of contacts on sites like LinkedIn to see where former colleagues and supervisors have ended up. Actively work those relationships; don’t let them remain stale or forgotten. Other good references include someone you have worked with on a committee or volunteer activity, preferably a board member and for new graduates, a faculty advisor, professor or department chairperson.

Going to college, there’s a chance you’ll be away from the place you bank with. ATMs allow for easy access to cash when you need it, but they also love to charge you money to get your money.

Check the ATM charges to make sure you’re not getting socked with stiff fees. If you are, change machines. If this isn’t possible, take out larger amounts at a time to reduce the number of fees.

One of the best parts of saving money is the interest earned, and that’s something your children should be shown.

As your children learn the value of money, teach them about how interest works. Let them know by saving money they can earn interest. Point out on their statement the interest they earned. On the other hand, explain to your children if they borrow money they will be charged interest.

An amended return is an income tax return form that changes something from the original form filed. Most people file an amended return because they made inadvertant errors on their original income tax return and either owe or are owed money from the IRS or one or more states. Some may also file an amended return to change their status from married filing separately to married filing jointly.

The IRS, New York and all other states generally allow taxpayers three years to change their returns.

Many people worry about changing their return, especially if owe additional tax. The taxing authorities can charge late fees and penalties for tax payments that are long overdue. On the other hand (in most cases) interest is added if the taxpayer is owed a refund.

There are some cautions about filing amended returns even if it means a taxpayer will get a refund. One of the negative aspects of filing an amended return is that it opens up a person’s tax file to additional scrutiny. This may increase chances of audits later, since more people must evaluate the return.

We have many years experience of assisting both business and individual clients and can help alleviate any anxiety by explaining filing options and rules.

When you find that perfect dress and can’t afford it at the time, many bridal stores will tell you to put it on lay away. You will then end up paying monthly payments to the store without technically owning your dress. The bridal store can turn around after you have made several payments to them, and tell you the dress has been discontinued. Our tip to you would be to avoid lay away scams, and if you still decide to go ahead with it, be sure to only do it for a month.

There are life coaches for your life. There are fitness coaches for your health. And there are energy coaches for your…energy. Except they are called home energy assessments, and they can be incredibly useful.

Have a Home Energy Assessment done to determine where the performance levels of the home can be raised. Any costs of the assessment will be quickly offset by money saved over time.

In December 2009, “Tools for America’s Job Seekers Challenge” began by inviting entrepreneurs and business organizations to submit their tools so the DOL might identify the most compelling online tools for job seekers that also offered the shortest path to career success. Submissions came bounding in from technology vendors, platform providers, businesses, nonprofit groups, workforce agencies and others who wanted to showcase their offerings. In the next phase of the Challenge, workforce professionals and job seekers were asked to try out, explore, recommend and make comments about the sites. The result was that more than 16,000 job seekers did a kind of “test drive” of nearly 500 sites.

In a press release issued by the DOL, Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of Labor said, “By leveraging the resources of hundreds of private and public sector career websites, we have created a major online asset for job seekers and an innovative way to gauge which tools appeal most to consumers.”

On Feb. 2, 2010, the DOL announced that the results had been tallied and the top-rated sites in each of six categories are now available. The categories are:

• General Job Boards
• Niche Tools
• Career Tools
• Career Exploration Tools
• Web 2.0
• “Other”

So you’ve got your room assignment, your roommate’s name and contact info. There’s only one thing left to do now, and that is to talk to him or her.

Make the first move: Call, write, or e-mail your prospective suitemate(s) when you get your housing assignment packet.

There are few, if any, moments that can compare to having a child. And while it is a magical time leading up to and climaxing with your child’s birth, don’t let your finances fall behind.

Preparing for a new child can be an overwhelming process. Thinking about money can sometimes take a back seat to exciting tasks like selecting a name and choosing birth announcements. However, planning for the many financial changes ahead will help to set a comfortable foundation for you and your family.

www.openmoves.com

E-mail Marketing Resources

If you’re reading this blog, chances are you are proactively trying to improve your e-mail marketing planning, execution and results. While we offer a breadth of information here, we thought it would be useful to also point you to some of our favorite resources to help you stay aware of trends, best practices and new ideas.

Free E-mail Marketing System Clinic Join our 8-week FREE e-mail course on how to build an e-mail marketing system to generate revenue. See sample and info!
Subscribe Now!

Take a couple of weeks and visit local stationary stores for your invitations. If you still have not found what you are looking for you, may want to try mail order. Keep in mind when you order a catalog, it may take two to four weeks for you to receive it. Of course, you can look at websites any time of the day, but sometimes it’s easier to have the printed copy in front of your eyes.

Beginning in 2012, self-employed individuals, small businesses and charities will be required to provide 1099 forms to every vendor from which they buy more than $600 in goods, under a provision in the new health care reform law. The IRS is considering exempting some small-business purchases made with credit or debit cards, as the IRS will already receive a record of those transactions from financial institutions, starting in 2011.

Nothing ends a summer day like a cool, refreshing shower. But rather than spend half an hour bathing in the warm water, make use of the faucet and put some cash back in your wallet.

When showering, turn the water off while you apply soap to your body. Do the same while you use shampoo and/or conditioner. It may not seem like a real savings, but doing that every day for an entire billing cycle will have an impact.

It’s almost fantasy football time, which, in addition to being thoroughly enjoyable, is a great way to spend time at work, right? Not if you’re an employer.

In a 2008 report, the global outplacement company Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. estimated that employers typically lose $615 million per week in lost productivity (more than $10 billion total by season end) due to fantasy football, despite excellent gains made in workplace morale and camaraderie.

College is likely the first time you’ll be living away from home, so the big question is: How many roommates is too many roommates?

Should you request a single, double, or quad? If you can get it, go for a quad. Odds are that the room will look like a landfill within a week, but a quad is the easiest way to make at least one close friend when you start college. And if you aren’t getting along with one of your quad-mates, he or she will likely just get lost in the mess.

Like the idea of a credit card but don’t want to risk running up your credit and falling victim to interest charges? Invest in a checking card!

Life is full of great choices and when you can’t make it to the bank, having a check card gives you the flexibility and convenience you need. Make purchases at more than a million retailers using your check card. It will be a speedy check-out and you’ll earn reward points!

FARMINGDALE STATE AMONG BEST COLLEGES IN NORTH

IN US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 2011 RANKINGS

For the second straight year, Farmingdale State College has been named as one of the best colleges in the North in the US News & World Report 2011 rankings of America’s Best Colleges. In addition being ranked 39th in the category of Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the North Region, Farmingdale was also cited for its freshman retention rate and the diversity of its student body.

Farmingdale increased its freshman-retention rate to 76 percent–up two percent–to rank 17th among baccalaureate colleges in the North, an increase from last year’s ranking of 23rd. In addition, Farmingdale was ranked 17th in racial diversity in the region with a 0.35 “diversity index,” as calculated by US News. In the methodology used by the publication, the closer an institution is to 1.0, the more racially diverse the campus is. Farmingdale is the leader in the diversity category among all colleges, both public and private, in the Long Island region.

Retention rates for freshman are typically considered a key indicator of student satisfaction. Farmingdale State has improved both its racial diversity and its retention rates under President W. Hubert Keen, who has headed the campus since January, 2007.

“We are extremely proud of the progress that Farmingdale State College has made,” President Keen said. “Our students tell us that they feel welcome on the campus, no matter what their ethnic background. By returning for their sophomore year in high numbers, they also tell us they are pleased with the quality education they are receiving.”

The list represents a comprehensive look at 1,400 accredited four-year schools against a set of 15 indicators of excellence, the magazine notes. Factors used in ranking the schools include: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving and graduation rate performance.

The citations by US News are additional examples of the upward trajectory Farmingdale is enjoying. The College’s full-time enrollment increased 62 percent from 2000-2009 to about 7,000—making it the largest college of technology in SUNY. Applications rose 72 percent from 2000-2009, academic programs have been expanded to include Applied Psychology and Applied Economics, and the College will soon break ground on a new Campus Center and a building for the School of Business with $55 million in funding obtained by State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. and Assemblyman Bob Sweeney.

Farmingdale has been named the second-safest campus in the nation, based on a statistical analysis conducted by the online publication The Daily Beast, and the College ranks in the top 100 public colleges nationally in terms of the earning power of its graduations, according to payscale.com.

Farmingdale State College prepares students with the education, skills, and critical thinking needed to meet the challenges of tomorrow. As the largest of SUNY’s colleges of technology (with about 7,000 students), Farmingdale equips its students with the resources and knowledge sought by today’s emerging industries. At Farmingdale, students also have abundant opportunities in experiential learning—internships, clinical training, and guided research—that provide practical instruction and personal growth. Small, personalized classes, a new residence hall with suite-style living, a lush 380-acre campus undergoing major renovation, and a highly successful NCAA Division III athletics program with modern facilities make Farmingdale State College one of the fastest-growing colleges in the region. For more information, contact Kathryn Coley at 631-420-2400 or kathryn.coley@farmingdale.edu.

Taxpayers with earned income from wages (W-2) or self-employment (Schedule C) may qualify for a 2010 credit of up to $800 for a married couple filing a joint return or $400 for other filers. This credit is reduced or unavailable for higher-income taxpayers. The reduction in the credit begins at $75,000 of income for single taxpayers and $150,000 for couples filing a joint return.

Before hiring a videographer, photographer, entertainment and caterer, make sure to ask them their overtime charges. Many of the vendors will go over their time limit without informing you or will refuse to continue their services until you pay an extra fee.

To avoid this situation you should have a family member or friend keep track of the time and tell you 15 minutes before all of their time is up. Also, make sure to have all of your contracts with you the day of the wedding in case a timing situation arises.

It’s important to understand that eligibility for deductions is based on whether you have been looking for work in your existing field. The IRS qualifies this as a position in your current or most recent industry and at a similar level of responsibility. If you are attempting to switch careers or break into a new line of work, tax breaks are not applicable. They also do not hold for recent graduates (first job out of school) or those who’ve taken extended breaks in their employment for several years.

What can you deduct?

• Resume preparation services

• Printing or postage costs for cover letters and hard copy resumes

• Resume distribution services—companies that send out your resume on your behalf

• Travel expenses if you’ve been job hunting in other cities (mileage, transportation, lodging)

• Fees associated with placement firms

• Career counseling and outplacement costs

• Local and long-distance calls to prospective employers

• Membership fees for job search websites

Keep in mind that your job hunting expenses must be itemized and the total amount must exceed 2 percent of your adjusted gross income. You can only deduct the amount over the 2 percent. So, if your 2009 adjusted gross income was $50,000, you can only deduct expenses exceeding $1,000 (2 percent of $50,000). A recent survey by The Tax Institute at H&R Block showed that 40 percent of taxpayers are confused about what they are able to deduct; in fact, 17 percent mistakenly believe that they are able to deduct wardrobe purchases for interviewing attire. (This “no” also holds true for haircuts, manicures or other personal maintenance costs.)

If you relocate because you’ve landed a new position, you can deduct your qualified moving expenses without itemizing. The new job must be at least 50 miles farther away than the previous residence was from the old job and taxpayers must remain at the new location at least 39 weeks.

The Tax Institute at H&R Block survey also reported that 73 percent of taxpayers didn’t know if or to what extent unemployment benefits are taxable. The 2009 Recovery Act exempts the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits received from federal taxes; however, unemployment benefits over that amount are taxable. This means if you received $5,000 in unemployment, you will be taxed on $2,600 of this amount. Congress passed legislation that added an extra $25 to unemployment checks and also provided a 65 percent COBRA subsidy for those who qualify. This subsidy is tax-free for those with individual adjusted gross incomes of $125,000 or less ($250,000 for joint filers). As with any IRS tax deduction, make sure you have documented receipts to back up all of your paperwork.

Dilemma: Do you leave your air conditioning pumping all day so you have a cool home when you get off work? Or save money, leave it off and sweat it out for an hour? How about neither!

Newer digital thermostats have several settings and can be programmed to move to a certain climate depending on the time of day. Using these devices can help to regulate your home’s temperature, and infrequent changes can cool off you monthly bill, too.

As the past few weeks have shown, there is a lot to consider when debating whether or not to work while in college. As a final piece of advice, there is one type of work you should steer away from—“off the books” employment.

Working “off the books” is great because you have more money in your hand, unless you have an accident and aren’t covered for worker’s comp, or until the IRS catches you. Always work within the law.

You go to the ATM. You type in your pin. You attempt to withdraw money. You are denied. This embarrassing situation doesn’t have to happen to you, if you elect to use overdraft coverage.

New overdraft rules went into effect this month for debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals. When funds are not available in your account to cover the transaction, you will be declined unless you opt-in to overdraft protection. Overdraft Protection is a service that provides peace of mind and added convenience.

HEMPSTEAD, NY Aug.18^th, 2010 – - MCL Dental Lab and Dr. George Bailenson of Rockville Centre, NY collaborated to help 70 year old Louise Luisi smile again. On June 29^th, 2010, Ms. Luisi of Island Park, NY stepped into Dr. Bailenson’s dental office ashamed to show her teeth. Today, the 70 year old retiree has more confidence than ever thanks to the efforts of Dr. Bailenson and Scott Klaire of MCL Dental Lab.

Dr. Bailenson and Scott Klaire are involved with Donated Dental Services, a program that tends to the essential dental care needs of the disabled, elderly or medically-compromised individuals who cannot afford necessary treatment or receive public aid. 

“It’s the greatest thing in the world,” Louise says, “It has truly changed my life.”

Ms. Luisi had a permanent crown, a cleaning, a tooth pulled and some fillings done by Dr. Bailenson. The crowns were provided by Scott Klaire, the owner of MCL Dental Lab. Louise was not aware her crowns were actually made on Long Island by MCL Dental Lab, a full-service laboratory and production facility located in Hempstead, NY.

Louise expresses her gratitude to Mr. Klaire and his contributions, “Thank you so much Scott! I am no longer ashamed to smile.”

Ms. Luisi now has the confidence to go to work 2 ½ days a week as a receptionist thanks to Scott Klaire and Dr. Bailenson.

Donated Dental Services (DDS) program is recognized as an exemplary charity by the American Dental Association. For more information about DDS: http://www.nfdh.org/

MCL Dental Lab is a full-service Long Island laboratory and production facility for dental implants, crowns, bridges, dentures and much more.  You may actually be wearing some of MCL’s work and not even know it!  That’s because MCL Dental Lab—services all Dentists, Periodontists, and oral surgeons from Brooklyn to Montauk – the entire island.

One of the advantages about MCL Dental Lab, your product is actually created on Long Island and not in some foreign country with questionable materials.

MCL’s goal is to educate Long Islanders and create awareness of where dental products come from.

MCL Dental Lab
485 South Franklin Street
Hempstead, NY 11550
Phone: 516-485-4533
Email: MCLDentalLab@aol.com

Rumors and speculations abound about the new Health Care Bill, with changes occurring on what seems like a daily basis.

Being unaware of the current information reporting requirements may result in significant penalties and interest charges to be levied by the IRS. Also, businesses need to prepare for the additional reporting requirements that are scheduled to take effect in 2012.

When you are shopping for a wedding gown, keep in mind many bridal retailers will show you the most expensive gown they have first. This will be the dress that sticks out in your mind the most, but don’t give in just yet—continue the search.

Also, when looking for the perfect dress, you should limit yourself to two or three shops a day. This will give you more time to think about which dress is “THE” dress!

Have you ever made a mistake on the computer?

Pasted the wrong picture into a document or mail or messed up a table in a Microsoft Office product (Word, Excel, Outlook….etc)?  The programmers at Microsoft knew we would make mistakes so they programmed in a few ways to “undo” them.

Here are a few ways to undo your next mistake:

Option 1: On the menu bar of a Microsoft Office product (Word, Excel, Outlook….etc), select ‘Edit’ and then ‘Undo’. This will eliminate the last action you took in the program. For example, if you just typed the wrong word, ‘Edit’ and ‘Undo’ will make the word go away.

Option 2: On the tool bar you can use the ‘back arrow’ to undo something you just did.  If you decide that you want that mistake back you can use the forward arrow to bring it back.

Option 3: There’s also a keyboard shortcut to undo something you just did. Try using CTRL + Z to undo and CTRL + Y to bring something back that you undid.

If you just made lots of mistakes and want to go back and eliminate a lot of them, try clicking the triangle next to the undo button to see a list of the most recent actions you have taken.  You will find this tip extremely useful and a super timesaver…

Caulk is white, so you don’t need to worry about painting it, right? Well, if you think you’ll like yellow instead of the white in a few years, sure! If not…

White caulk will turn yellow over time. Make sure you caulk before you paint and make sure the caulk gets painted. Do not make the mistake of using silicone instead of a paintable caulk, because paint does not adhere to silicone. Check the label to confirm it is a paintable product.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts a $3,391 yearly price tag on each employee who smokes. This breaks out to $1,760 in lost productivity and $1,623 in excess medical expenses. Furthermore, the cost of secondhand smoke on non-smokers can add up to $490 per smoker per year. It also reports that smokers miss an average of 6.16 days of work annually due to illness (including smoking-related and chronic conditions) compared to non-smokers, who miss 3.86 sick days per year.

The American Lung Association reports that 18 states—including New York, New Jersey and neighboring New England states—have passed comprehensive smoke-free laws that include restaurants and bars. According to Joel A. Klarreich, a partner specializing in staffing and employment law at the Manhattan-based law firm Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschritt LLP, “Under New York State law, it is impermissible to discriminate against workers for lawful activities away from the job.” Continues Klarreich, “Since smoking is lawful, unless it can be shown that smoking adversely affects job performance or the safety of other employees, the inquiry and refusal to hire would be unlawful.”

If you smoke and are interviewing for a position, consider these tips to maximize your candidacy.

• Stay smoke-free two hours before the interview.
• Watch for nicotine stains on fingers and teeth. Do damage control as needed.
• Make sure your wardrobe smells fresh and smoke-free. Take your interview attire fresh from the laundry or dry cleaner.
• Resist the urge to calm interview jitters with a cigarette.

Perhaps one of the best motivations for remaining cigarette free is this one from www.moneycentral.msn.com: “A 40-year-old [one] pack-a-day smoker who quits and puts the savings into a 401(k) earning 9 percent will have $250,000 by age 70.”

To work or not to work. That is the question. While pondering it, consider this:

As you’re trying to decide whether to work while you’re in college, determine if you really need the cash. Will you be working to pay for things you need, such as textbooks and computer supplies, or for things you want, such as clothing and concert tickets? Do you have sufficient time to work and do well in your studies?

Taking 12 to 18 credits requires about 36 to 54 hours per week in class work and homework. The more outside work you have, the less time you’ll have available for academic study.

When the calendar hits August 1, most people immediately run to the nearest office supply stores to get a leg up on back-to-school shopping. But before you go hunting for supplies at a store, peruse the one much closer—in your home.

“Shop” your home for leftover school supplies like rulers, pencils, pens and binder paper. Since you’ve already budgeted for these items, put the money you’ve saved aside and begin a “Back-to-School” fund. Continue to make regular deposits throughout the year and next summer the money will be there.

Buying a home is the single biggest investment most families make during their lifetime. The tax law provides numerous incentives for homebuyers and encourages home ownership with provisions that include the deduction of home mortgage interest, certain prepaid mortgage interest premiums (points), real estate taxes, and expenses related to maintenance of a home office. In addition, home owners may benefit from an exclusion of gain on the sale of a principal residence multiple times of up to $500,000 for married filing joint couples or $250,000 for singles/other taxpayers.

The preferable time frame to send out your wedding invitations is eight to 10 weeks prior to the date. If your wedding is on or near a holiday, consider mailing even earlier so your guests will have time to make travel plans. Also, order at least 25 more invitations than your actual count in case you decide you need more later, as well as extra envelopes in case of addressing or calligraphy errors!

The start of a new school year is always an exciting time, except when the bills for school supplies start to come in. Avoid getting an “F” in your finances.

At the start of each school year, kids look forward to new supplies. Here are some tips to accomplish this shopping on a budget:

• Compare prices to find the best places to shop.
• Prioritize and identify your needs; don’t overbuy.
• Purchase school supplies throughout the year as they are needed.

Working while in college has disadvantages as well.

First, your grades might suffer if you’re working too many hours. Earning money for your books won’t do you any good if you never have time to open them. If you’re working a lot, you might have to take fewer credits. As a result, you may not graduate with your class.

Further, if you’re working a McJob, you might not be learning any useful skills. Ironically, earning more money might make it more difficult for you to manage your funds. You might find yourself letting the money slip through your fingers rather than using it for things you need.

For your part, do your best to be consistent and fair, not narcissistic. The newly promoted often feel they have to prove they were promotion-worthy by becoming authoritarian and controlling. You have to find the balance between manager and friend and, in most instances, you have be willing to give up some of the closeness that originally bonded you together.

If you are determined to succeed in this new role, here are some suggestions to make the change positive for everyone:

• Sit with each staff member individually and let them know what they can expect from you and what you expect from them.
• Never discuss confidential matters that your new leadership role affords you, such as information about mergers, acquisitions or layoffs with your friends/subordinates.
• Avoid issues of favoritism by not spending excessive time outside of work with any one employee.
• Reach out to managers outside of your company for support and advice. Build a network beyond your work circle.
• Learn how to plan and delegate. You can still share in the burden of the work, but don’t try to take it all on yourself for fear that your team won’t do a good job, or do it as well as you can. You need to trust them and they need to trust you.
• Be a good listener. Talk out problems or difficult situations with the individual in question. Aim for resolution.

A management title does not dictate immediate respect or obedience. That comes with time and proof of your capabilities. Quiet competence is an excellent goal and your actions will say more than words. True friends will give their buddies the opportunity to succeed. You can make yourself crazy trying to nurture old relationships, or you can just focus on doing the best job you can by managing effectively and ethically. And if you can do that…you’ve got the makings of a darn good manager.

It’s easy to overlook bathtub maintenance. After all, we’re only in there to get clean. But without properly maintaining it, damage can slowly creep up and cause costly problems.

Inspect grout lines in the tub area regularly, especially around windows and soap dishes. If you see separations, touch them up with grout or caulk. Otherwise, water will loosen the glue or cement holding the tiles, and they will begin to fall after a few years.

www.openmoves.com

Business Blogs: A Key Entry Point

Last fall, we published a Business Blogging Basics guide to help businesses figure out why they should have a corporate blog, how to manage it, who should write it, and how often they should update it. If you’re not sure a corporate blog is right for you, consider this trend: MarketingSherpa writes in their blog that “Many B2B marketers report that their team’s blog—not the company homepage—is now the most popular entry point for online visitors.”

Free E-mail Marketing System Clinic Join our 8-week FREE e-mail course on how to build an e-mail marketing system to generate revenue. See sample and info!
Subscribe Now!

Corporations and certain exempt organizations are required to make estimated tax payments the fourth, sixth, ninth and twelfth months of the corporation’s or exempt organization’s tax year. Individual taxpayers with estimated tax payment requirements are due April, June, September and January.

Estimated payments are due by the 15th of the month, or the next business date if the 15th falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday.

It is important to analyze and calculate the proper amounts to pay in order to minimize any penalties for underpayment.

Have you ever worked on a document in Microsoft Word and wanted to spruce it up with columns. This is possible and very easy.

As usual, there are multiple ways to do anything in a Microsoft program. I’ll be showing you just one of the ways:

1) Type your text into Word. Don’t worry that it is initially in a single-column format; it is very easy to change.

2) Highlight the text you want to change to two (or more) columns.

3) Select “Format” and then “Columns” from the menu bar.

4) Select the number of columns you want to have and click “OK.” Note that you can make additional changes such as the width of the columns and the width of the “gutter” or space between the columns.

You will find this is simple and it will neaten up the look of your documents or enhance any newsletter. I urge you to give it a try…

Use energy efficient light bulbs. It’s said over and over again, but cannot be stressed enough. Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) use 66 percent less energy than a standard incandescent light bulb and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 100-watt incandescent bulb with a 32-watt CFL can save $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.

A bully makes aggressive behavior the norm. At work, they typically try to advance or promote themselves at the expense of a vulnerable coworker who is generally much more capable, but passive and/or somewhat timid. A bully’s target is often reluctant to come forward for fear of retribution; and if the bully is the boss, there is the additional fear of job loss. According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, most bullies (72 percent) do happen to be bosses, 40 percent of bullied individuals never tell their employers, 45 percent of targets suffer stress-related health problems and 24 percent are fired as a result of performance issues such as high sick day absences or on-the-job errors. Bullying is mostly same-gender harassment— 32 percent between men; 29 percent between women.

Shamefully, 62 percent of employers ignore the problem; however, since 2003, 17 states have introduced the Healthy Workplace Bill, including New York; the bill allows a target to sue the bully as an individual and also holds the employer accountable.

What can you do if you are a bully’s target on the job?

• Keep a detailed written record of each incident. Note date, time and place, who else was present and the type of behavior you experienced.

• While under attack from a bully, stay calm. Respond in a clear, coherent manner.

• Confront the bully and tell them to stop. Make the bully aware of his or her own behavior and state firmly you will no longer tolerate their attacks and if they continue, you will report them to management.

• If the bullying continues, break your silence by speaking to someone in a leadership role such as Human Resources or a senior supervisor.

• File a formal complaint or learn what the grievance procedure is at your organization.

• If your employer makes no attempt to correct the bully’s behavior, find a new job. Do not work in an environment that permits or supports such unacceptable behavior.

No position is worth the emotional and psychological angst that can slowly become a part of your daily routine. Don’t become a victim of your job. If you are tired of being bullied by a colleague or supervisor, you have three choices: Fight back, change your own reaction to the bully’s behavior, or change your job.

College is a time to explore, learn new things and make new friends. But maybe you should leave some time to find employment.

Should you work while in college? There’s no simple answer to this question. If you do work, you’ll have more money. You’ll also learn some useful skills, such as interpersonal communication and time management. Working while in college is preparation for the future, too, and work builds your resume. You might even make connections that lead to full-time employment after graduation.

Bringing a child into the world is an experience unlike any other. But in addition to less sleep, you’ll also have less expendable income.

Between the clothes, diapers, car seats and strollers, it’s surprising how much having a baby can actually cost. It is a good idea to review your current budget and adjust for the increased expenses. If you need help deciding what to buy, ask other parents about what they most valued.

www.openmoves.com

The Yahoo/Microsoft Search Alliance

As an e-marketer, you might be wondering how the upcoming Yahoo/Microsoft Search Alliance may or may not affect you. Even though you might use Google for all your search needs, your goal is to have visibility on all search engines. Here’s an update on what will be happening on Yahoo and Microsoft Bing.

Free E-mail Marketing System Clinic Join our 8-week FREE e-mail course on how to build an e-mail marketing system to generate revenue. See sample and info!
Subscribe Now!

Help lower next year’s tax bill now, by saving all of your charity receipts. Besides gifts of cash and checks, many taxpayers annually donate items ranging from clothing, toys, books, furniture, cars, boats, sports and theater tickets and even stock and mutual funds. To maximize your deduction, make sure to obtain and save all receipts noting the date, name and address of the charity along with a listing of what was given and the estimated fair market value.

For a while, it seemed like the humidity on Long Island wasn’t going to break, but the thunderstorm and rain we got on Sunday finally put an end to it. That means it’s finally cool outside again, and that means you can give the air conditioner a rest.

Leave your windows cracked during the evening and night (as long as the forecast doesn’t call for rain). The night temperature usually hovers around 70 degrees, which is about perfect for sleeping. Let Mother Nature do the job your AC unit usually does and you’ll sleep good—and so will your wallet!

It’s hard to imagine people ever secured employment without the Web’s vast resources and job board options. When I chat with job seekers about the process they are using to find work, most people cite a reliance on the big job boards such as CareerBuilder, Monster or a search engine for jobs like Indeed.com.

I think those sites have great value, but there are so many other lesser known sites that can significantly impact the outcome of your search or simply the way you do it, given the right resources. Here are just a few of the websites I think job seekers should consider for content and for links to a wider range of possibilities.

College is a place that will expand your mind and make you think harder. And it starts doing those things before you even set foot in a dorm or classroom.

If you can’t get the money you need from the colleges that have accepted you, don’t despair. There are other sources of college money, if you’re willing to do some research and legwork. For example, look for awards from service groups such as Rotary International and alumni. There are relatively few of these awards, but if you match the requirements, you can get some support. Find information in the reference section of your high school or community library and on the Internet.

Habits are often thought of as bad things, but they don’t have to be. For example, saving money. Certainly not a bad thing to get in the habit of doing, right?

To help you become a successful saver, follow the 10 Percent Rule. Aim to save 10 percent of your income every week. If you can’t put away 10 percent one week, at the very least put away 5 percent, and make it up when you can. The goal is to make saving a habit.

Tom Corti, PhD, an experienced senior administrator in higher education with vast knowledge of student life programs and services, has been named to the position of Vice President for Student Affairs at Farmingdale State College, concluding a four-month national search. The announcement was made today by Farmingdale State President W. Hubert Keen.

“As Farmingdale continues to grow and its stature continues to increase, it is critically important that our student life keeps pace with the progress we have made. I am confident that Dr. Corti is just the right person, at just the right time, to create and maintain a dynamic student experience for our resident population and commuter populations alike.”

Dr. Corti, who will join Farmingdale on August 2, was most previously Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Development at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke, which has an enrollment of 6,500 with about 1,500 resident students. Farmingdale—which has experienced an 18 percent rise in full-time enrollment since 2007 under President Keen—has 7,000 students, including 550 residents.

“I was attracted to Farmingdale because of its strong academics, its technology programs rooted in strategic alignments with the business community, and the upward trajectory the campus is enjoying in every important measure,” Dr. Corti said. “It is also clear to me that President Keen values students and expects the College to provide an environment where they can thrive both academically, intellectually, and socially. I wanted to be a part of that effort.”

Over the last year, Farmingdale has been selected as one of the best baccalaureate colleges in the North by US News & World Report, named the second-safest campus in the nation by the online publication The Daily Beast, and ranked in the top 100 public colleges in the nation in the earning power of graduates by payscale.com.

As Vice President for Students Affairs, Dr. Corti will oversee student activities, the residence halls, and student services such as the Dean of Students Office, Student Success Center, Career Development, Personal Counseling, the Health and Wellness Center, and Disabled Student Services.

Prior to joining UNC-Pembroke, Dr. Corti was Vice President for Student Affairs at Newman University from 2005-2007, Vice President for Students Affairs at Texas A&M International University from 2000-2005, and Director of Student Activities/University Center at the University of Houston-Downtown from 1992-2000.

He earned a PhD in Diplomatic History from Saint Louis University, an MA in History from Saint Louis University, and his BA in History and Political Science from the University of Portland. In addition, Dr. Corti completed the Governor’s Executive Development Program at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Corti and his wife, Heather Corti, have three adult children, Jessica, Andre, and Gabriel, and two grandchildren, Teresa and Thomas.

Due to IRS rule changes for 2010 only, any taxpayer, regardless of their income level, can elect to convert part or all of traditional IRA accounts to a Roth IRA. The resulting income can be reported all in 2010 or half each in 2011 and 2012.

Quite naturally, you shouldn’t make any such Roth IRA decision lightly. To find out if this decision is right for you, call us at (516) 409-5000 to find out how we can help you with this and other tax related matters.

Did you ever want to just delete everything on your computer and start over, but you can’t because you actually need some of the stuff there? Are you looking for a way to organize the mess? Do you want to know how to make folders to organize your files?

You may not know it, but the venerable filing cabinet was the inspiration for how computers are set up today. And just like in an old-fashioned filing cabinet, the key to organizing things is to use folders to put like things in together. Here’s how to make a folder:

Choose a place you’d like to place your new folder. In this example I’ll be making a new folder in my H: drive which is a network drive that I have access to at work. You could also be making a folder on your C: drive or in your “My Pictures” or “My Documents” folders.

The first step is to go to the place where you want to create the new folder. Then go to the word “New” at the top of that window and select “New.” Then select “File” and then “Folder”. Once the new folder appears you will have to name it (unless you want it to always be called “New Folder”) by typing in the new name of the folder. If the computer won’t let you just type in a name for the folder right click on the folder and select “Rename” from the list that appears.

To move items into your new folder all you have to do is drag and drop them over. It is that easy…

We’ve all seen those commercials for credit scores. And while some of them are a little ridiculous, they aren’t kidding about the score’s importance. Your credit score is a key determinant in whether or not you get approved for loans, among many other things. Be sure to keep your credit score high.

A good rule of thumb when working to improve your credit score is to have two to four active credit instruments and to use less than 50 percent of that available credit. This rule, along with making your payments on time, shows you have control over your credit, thus improving your score.

College is one of the most expensive things you’ll encounter in your life, and certainly the most expensive if you’re only 18 when your freshman year begins. To that end, there are often different ways of dealing with the cost.

Find out if you can pay tuition in installments or if you have to cough up the full amount every semester. Schools often provide an installment plan, but may charge interest for the privilege.

So, what do you do if you’ve been out of work longer than six months…or if you’ve had a second job loss in less than two years? Any kind of response sounds trite to those who are in such difficult circumstances. A survey from ExecuNet.com showed that 10.1 months is the average length of time many senior managers are taking to find employment.

As simplistic as it sounds, looking for work is a full-time job. Those that have the most success have put in the time—20 to 30 hours per week. You cannot be a passive job seeker in this market. Stop just sending out resumes and hoping to get a call back. Take real action. Here are some examples…

• Do personal networking among vendors, old relationships, customers, volunteer affiliations, etc. Aim for 12 contacts per week. Keep thinking about who you know, or who you know that might know someone else.

• Get on board with social networking on the Internet—LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. Blog about your subject area.Showcase your knowledge. Include your Twitter and LinkedIn links in your e-mail signature for prospective employers to check out.

• Vigorously review the Internet job boards—big names and the niche sites. Go to your public library for assistance.

• Stay active in any volunteer or charity groups. Let these colleagues know you are seeking new opportunities. In addition to networking leads, such work helps to maintain your confidence level and keep your skills fresh.

• What do the trade associations in your industry have to offer? Workshops? News bulletins? Check out alumni resources and community outreach programs.

• Don’t discount your Department of Labor—it offers many good workshops and resources.

• Take a second or third look at your resume. Is it the best it can be? Does it meet the needs of the job(s) you are targeting? Are key words apparent—ones companies might use in a search string?

• Ask yourself if you are being realistic about the jobs you are targeting…the industry…the salary? Can you make some compromises, even if it’s on the distance of your commute or your work hours?

• Are you getting interviews, but no offers? Try taping mock interviews with someone in your circle who does hiring. How do you come across—grade yourself with objectivity.

• Use this time off to train in a new area, perhaps even a new position or industry. Don’t let your skills atrophy. Take coursework in an area that you can add to your resume.

• Join a job club. Venting among others in your same situation might take tension out of your own household. Also being accountable for job search activities to others helps to make things happen.

• As difficult as it may sound, remain optimistic or your negativity will come across in any interviews. Read books about how to stay positive and practice it.

I recently came across an article, Five Handy iPhone Apps for Home Improvement, that discusses some useful tools for managing DIY projects. The post piqued my interest as it touched on two things I have great interest in: Social technology and home improvements. I now wonder if there are apps that could be developed and be useful to our clients/following? While I sit here and try and come up with something, it occurred to me to just ask! So here it is, I’m asking our readers for ideas on potential apps that you think may be useful to you. It doesn’t have to be an iPhone app, can be for BlackBerry, Facebook or Web-based as well.

I hope you find the article interesting and I am extremely interested in your thoughts. Your feedback may help us identify something that could be useful to many.

www.openmoves.com

10 Tips to Improve Subject Lines

You slave away perfecting your e-mail newsletter, but subject lines are often an afterthought. They are arguably one of the most important pieces of writing you can do, because if the subject line doesn’t intrigue readers to open your message, readers are not going to see the glory within (or be able to act on your calls to action). Here are some of our favorite tips for improving your subject lines.

Free E-mail Marketing System Clinic Join our 8-week FREE e-mail course on how to build an e-mail marketing system to generate revenue. See sample and info!
Subscribe Now!

For Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island

(Garden City Park)  For the third year in a row Sperry’s sponsorship has enabled Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island to hold their summer picnic, an eagerly anticipated event, open to all program participants, their mentors and their families.

The Annual Summer Picnic is an opportunity for the families of the Little Brothers and Little Sisters to interact with. Through events like this Annual Picnic, “Bigs” and their “Littles” experience different outdoor activities together, while strengthening their relationship.

Along with music, lunch, volleyball and softball, every child was able to pack an entire bag with brand-new books of their choice.  To help the Littles understand the importance of managing their money Sperry volunteers Jason Colton (IT Specialist) and Marjorie Leone (Loan Specialist) created a lot of excitement with a financial literacy contest and awarded some very cool prizes!  “Sperry Credit Union is honored to be able to help BBBSLI make a difference in the lives of these children,” said Andrew Kernan, Sperry’s Director of Business Services and Corporate Development.

”We value Sperry’s commitment to the community and to our agency,” remarked Susan Samaroo, Chief Operating Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island. “Sperry’s sponsorship provides our Bigs, Littles, and their families with an event that they look forward to all year long.”

—-

About Sperry Credit Union

Serving Long Islanders since 1936, Sperry Credit Union is committed to providing exceptional service and value to their membership.  The credit union has been recognized for providing value to its members with a 12^th place ranking in their asset class among credit unions nationwide and the highest ranking among all New York-based credit unions.*  Long Islanders also acknowledged Sperry by voting them “Best of LI Financial Institution” for the past three years. The credit union’s efforts have been rewarded with high member loyalty and a strong reputation – with membership surpassing 19,000.  As a not-for-profit financial institution Sperry is open to the public and serves individuals, businesses and legal entities.  Sperry offers diverse checking options, competitive savings and loan products, along with a suite of products designed to help small businesses.  Sperry engages in civic involvement and philanthropic support within the community and is a founding member of KIOLI.org (Keep It On Long Island).  For more information or to become a member visit their website at www.sperryfcu.org .

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island

Big Brothers Big Sisters has been the premiere mentoring agency on Long Island since 1977, and has cultivated thousands of relationships for children in need of additional support and guidance. Results from an independent study showed that children who met regularly with their “Bigs” were less likely to skip school, were more confident about their schoolwork, had improved relationships with their parents and peers, and were significantly less likely to engage in negative and destructive behavior.  To become a Big Brother or Big Sister, please call 516-731-7880 or visit our web site at www.bbbsli.org .

*  Callahan & Associates Return of Member report as of 3/31/10; Asset Class $250 – $500 million.

Garden City, NY – Sperry Federal Credit Union has awarded college scholarships to three high school seniors to help finance their college education.  The students, members of Sperry, were chosen based on their outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements.

“We are very pleased to award these scholarships to our hard-working young members,” said John Kumpel, Board Chairman.   “It proves that the ‘people helping people’ philosophy of the credit union movement is alive and well here in Nassau County.

The high school seniors who received Sperry awards were: Marissa Rupp, Thomas Cunningham and Victoria Noelle Sakal.  Marissa Rupp also received an award from the Credit Union Association of New York.  Marissa competed against more than 1,500 credit union members from across the state.

About Sperry Credit Union

Serving Long Islanders since 1936, Sperry Credit Union is committed to providing exceptional service and value to their membership.  The credit union has been recognized for providing value to its members with a 12^th place ranking in their asset class among credit unions nationwide and the highest ranking among all New York-based credit unions.*  Long Islanders also acknowledged Sperry by voting them “Best of LI Financial Institution” for the past three years.

The credit union’s efforts have been rewarded with high member loyalty and a strong reputation – with membership surpassing 19,000.  As a not-for-profit financial institution Sperry is open to the public and serves individuals, businesses and legal entities.  Sperry offers diverse checking options, competitive savings and loan products, along with a suite of products designed to help small businesses.  Sperry engages in civic involvement and philanthropic support within the community and is a founding member of KIOLI.org (Keep It On Long Island).  For more information or to become a member visit their website at www.sperryfcu.org.

*  Callahan & Associates Return of Member report as of 3/31/10; Asset Class $250 – $500 million.

Sure the tax deadline isn’t for another nine months, but as the saying goes, the early bird gets the worm.

Hopefully you are enjoying the beautiful summer season. This is the best time to assess your tax situation. By making some mid-year moves, you can cut your 2010 tax bill by hundreds or thousands of dollars. Here are a few ways how:

• Increase equipment purchases
• Move into a new home
• Pack off the kids to day camp
• Treat a client to a round of golf
• Hire extra summer workers

Attention Windows XP users (and there are still a lot of you out there)!!!

Have you ever heard of PowerToys? PowerToys are series of free really cool programs from Microsoft that really enhance the Windows experience. Once you use them you will not be able to use your PC without them.

PowerToys add fun and functionality to the Windows experience. What are they? PowerToys are additional programs that developers work on after a product has been released. After you download and install these free programs from Microsoft, you will never know how survived without them:

Virtual Desktop Manager
Manage up to four desktops from the Windows taskbar with this PowerToy.

Power Calculator
With this PowerToy you can graph and evaluate functions as well as perform many different types of conversions.

Taskbar Magnifier
Use this PowerToy to magnify part of the screen from the taskbar.

Color Control Panel Applet
Professional-level photographers and designers know that getting consistent, accurate color from file to screen to print and beyond is a requirement for great results. This new tool helps you manage Windows color settings in one place.

SyncToy
With new sources of files coming from every direction (such as digital cameras, e-mail, cell phones, portable media players, camcorders, PDAs, and laptops), SyncToy can help you copy, move, and synchronize different directories.

RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer
Are you a serious photographer? Now you can organize and work with digital RAW files in Windows Explorer (much as you can with JPEG images). This tool provides thumbnails, previews, printing, and metadata display for RAW images.

ClearType Tuner
This PowerToy lets you use ClearType technology to make it easier to read text on your screen, and installs in the Control Panel for easy access.

HTML Slide Show Wizard
This wizard helps you create an HTML slide show of your digital pictures, ready to place on your Web site.

Open Command Window Here
This PowerToy adds an “”Open Command Window Here”" context menu option on file system folders, giving you a quick way to open a command window (cmd.exe) pointing at the selected folder.

Alt-Tab Replacement
With this PowerToy, in addition to seeing the icon of the application window you are switching to, you will also see a preview of the page. This helps particularly when multiple sessions of an application are open.

Tweak UI
This PowerToy gives you access to system settings that are not exposed in the Windows XP default user interface, including mouse settings, Explorer settings, taskbar settings, and more.
Version 2.10 requires Windows XP Service Pack 1 or Windows Server 2003.

Image Resizer
This PowerToy enables you to resize one or many image files with a right-click.

CD Slide Show Generator
With this PowerToy you can view images burned to a CD as a slide show.

Webcam Timershot
This PowerToy lets you take pictures at specified time intervals from a Webcam connected to your computer and save them to a location that you designate.

The programs listed above can be download at Microsoft by either typing or copying the following link into your web browser:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx

Check out the link, you will not be disappointed. Once again, these are really cool programs that are free. Download them while it’s on your mind!!!”

One of the best ways to save money is to simply watch where you spend it. Specifically, do it from the chair at your desk, rather than in person at a store.

Bank and purchase online. The reduction in your driving will help save on gas. In addition, when it’s time to pay those bills, do your banking online. This will reduce the use of paper products.

www.openmoves.com

Proposed E-mail Legislation

We previously discussed how important it is to make sure you’re compliant with the current CAN-SPAM regulations. These regulations were passed in 2003 and many believe it’s time for additional rules to reflect the changing world of e-mail marketing. The E-mail Experience Council recently published an article reviewing two active proposals of new legislation that could have significant impact on e-mail marketing and the e-mail industry as a whole. Read more.

Free E-mail Marketing System Clinic Join our 8-week FREE e-mail course on how to build an e-mail marketing system to generate revenue. See sample and info!
Subscribe Now!

It noted the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the temporary help industry had added 284,000 jobs in the past five months, from November 2009 to March of this year. But I didn’t need a press release to know that local business activity had picked up. I could tell that just by the office buzz, the shuffling of resumes and the number of interviews taking place on a daily basis. It’s good to hear the rhythm of the workforce again.

Historically, the number of temporary workers typically peaks out at about 2 percent of the workforce, but this number is likely to grow as a number of factors come together to fuel the push. Temporary work has become increasingly attractive to both millennials and aging baby boomers. The flexibility and freedom of temping is part of a new mindset. And temping isn’t just the domain of office support workers anymore—almost any industry and job can be turned into an “on demand” role. Some people relish the chance to explore different company environments and to choose when and where they want to work. The biggest drawback of a “temporary” lifestyle is probably the lack of a benefits package with portability options—the chance to work for various staffing suppliers on different assignments without losing coverage between downtimes.

Sure, professors are the ones who decide what letter appears on your transcript next to their respective class, but they aren’t the only ones in power. Besides, there’s no reason to be nasty. It’s college!

Always speak politely and treat everyone in a college office well. Don’t disrespect the assistants and secretaries, for instance. These gatekeepers have great power to affect who you get to see and when.

Falling into debt is a burden that goes beyond your wallet. It takes an emotional and mental toll on you, and can easily begin to effect other facets of your life. The key to emerging from debt is to establish a plan to do so and then follow through.

The first step in taking control of your debt is to put it on paper. Create a spreadsheet listing the loan amount and payment schedule for each of your loans. This overview will make it easier to face your debt, especially when the numbers begin to decrease on the spreadsheet.

A loan here, a loan there, and before you know it, you’ve stacked up a quite a few. Rather than manage each one separately, deal with less headaches and (hopefully) less interest by consolidating them.

If you have several high-interest loans, consider consolidating them into one. Consolidation cannot only reduce your monthly payments and the rate of interest you are being charged, it can also make bookkeeping easier with one electronic transfer or check to write. Ask your financial institution about the available options.

College is an expensive endeavor, which is why financial aid is such a helpful tool. However, as with everything, there is fine print you should read over before signing any dotted lines.

Financial aid often comes with conditions. Usually, you must remain in good academic standing to keep your financial aid. Also, if family circumstances change, the aid package may be adjusted accordingly. If you’re receiving financial aid, make sure you understand the conditions.

When Thomas Wolfe wrote, “You can’t go home again,” he probably wasn’t talking about your old job. You know, the one that laid you off last year—or wait, maybe you can go back. A CareerBuilder.com survey released last month that polled more than 900 unemployed workers revealed that 57 percent of workers who were laid off in the last six months had been re-hired by their former employers.

As economic conditions improve, companies often recall those workers who they were forced to lay off based on budget, not on performance. In fact, a survey conducted by Right Management showed nine out of 10 companies were open to rehiring laid off workers. It also showed 37 percent would rehire because an individual understood the job, while 33 percent looked at if the ex-employee understands the organization’s culture and 20 percent said it minimized the likelihood of a bad hire. Only 10 percent said it was not their policy to hire back former employees.

If the recent spell of 90-degree days hasn’t reminded you to, allow us: Make sure your air conditioning is up to snuff, or you’ll be spending time in the heat outside and inside.

One of the best ways to see improvement in your AC unit’s operation is to change the filter in the central air unit. Alternatively, if you have a window unit, be sure to clean the filter. In either case, simple maintenance will give new life to your AC.

Due to the recent extension of the popular Homebuyer’s Tax Credit program, more taxpayers who entered into a written, binding contract to purchase a new home prior to May, 1, 2010 can qualify for a IRS credit of up to $8,000. To qualify, the home closing must take place no later than Sept. 30, 2010. Call on us at 516-409-5000 to find out how we can help you!

www.openmoves.com

Direct Marketing Insights

Ernan Roman, one of OpenMoves’ clients, is a direct marketing expert. He recently attended the Digital Marketing Days conference and shared his insights with his readers in his most recent newsletter. Here are the high-level points:  Social Media is not Necessarily “Social”, Multichannel Integration is Still a Challenge… Read more.

Free E-mail Marketing System Clinic Join our 8-week FREE e-mail course on how to build an e-mail marketing system to generate revenue. See sample and info!
Subscribe Now!

Have you ever tried explaining what you see on your screen to someone? Sometimes it is very difficult to put into words what you are seeing on your screen. Wouldn’t it be easy if you could take a picture of it and send it to them?

It is very easy to take a screen shot (a picture of what is on your screen). Here is how it is done:

• Press ‘Ctrl’ and ‘Print Screen/SysRq’ in the upper right hand corner of your keyboard
• You have now taken a picture of your screen. Now open a blank e-mail and paste it in by pressing ‘Ctrl’ and the letter ‘V’ at the same time.
• You can also open the ‘Paint’ program that comes with Windows and paste it in there too. In the ‘Paint’ program you can edit the screenshot before e-mailing it. This is a very helpful and easy-to-use tool.

We all know how easy it is to be roped into opening numerous bank accounts, signing for credit cards and the like. Often, we never even use the actual accounts (hello, free beach towel). But leaving them open can become a real pain down the road.

Keep a record of all the financial institutions where you have accounts. If you stop using an account, close it. After time, inactive accounts are hit with dormant fees. If the funds in the account are drained to pay fees, it will hit the negative mark and incur more fees.

College is a give and take, and believe it or not, schools do pursue some students. What does that mean for you? Well, it means you could do a little bartering with them…

Smart students with brilliant high school transcripts investigate the aid offered by all the colleges that accept them. Then they see if they can get more money from their first-choice college by bargaining. Hey, it’s worth a shot.

We yawn when we are bored or tired. It signifies a lack of oxygen to our brains so we breathe more slowly. A little research and I learned that the average yawn lasts about six seconds—obviously six seconds too long if you are in the middle of a big business meeting with your boss. And it only gets worse if you set off a chain reaction among your fellow meeting attendees—since 55 percent of people will yawn within five minutes of seeing someone else yawn.

A 2007 Harris Interactive poll conducted in conjunction with Diet Pepsi revealed:

• 58 percent of all respondents have yawned in a meeting.

• One in five Americans feels embarrassed having yawned at work.

• 42 percent find it offensive when someone yawns in the middle of a conversation.

• 18 percent have faked a yawn to get out of a conversation.

• One in 10 has yawned on a job interview.

• 45 percent of New Yorkers say they apologize after yawning, but only 31 percent of Los Angeles yawners will offer up a “Pardon me.”

Although 85 percent of the respondents believe that excessive yawning should not have professional repercussions, a more recent (2009) poll in HRmagazine.co.uk reported that one in 10 managers would overlook an employee for promotion if they persistently yawned or came to work looking tired.

Keeping your house well-insulated isn’t just an economically sound decision in the winter time. As good as insulation is at retaining heat, it’s just as good at retaining cool air in the summer time.

Add a layer of insulation to the attic. Believe it or not, this is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to cut cooling costs, save energy and make the home more comfortable to live in.

In recent years, courts have ruled that a business—even though it has no physical location in a state—may, under certain circumstances, be liable for collecting sales tax on shipped goods into that state. A business owner must be aware of all nexus-creating activities in each state where business is conducted, since the rules may differ from state to state.

There are two common mistakes I think everyone makes when using email: deleting a message that you needed to keep and immediately wishing you could get back the message you just sent. If you read onward it will help you correct both of these.

Recovering deleted items

• In the ‘Folder List’, click ‘Deleted Items’.
• On the ‘Tools’ menu, click ‘Recover Deleted Items’.
• Click the item you want to recover. To select multiple items, click the first item, and then hold down ‘CTRL’ and click additional items.
• Click the ‘Recover Selected Items’ button.
• The items will be returned to your ‘Deleted Items’ folder, and then you can move them to other folders.

Some items may no longer be recoverable if it is past the amount of time that deleted items can be stored on the server.

Recalling sent messages

• Click ‘Sent Items’.
• Open the message you want to recall or replace.
• On the Actions menu, click ‘Recall This Message’.
• To recall the message, click ‘Delete unread copies of this message’. To replace the message with another, click ‘Delete unread copies and replace with a new message, click OK, and then type a new message. It’s been my experience that the second of these two works better.
• To be notified about the success of the recall or replacement for each recipient, select the ‘Tell me’ if recall succeeds or fails for each recipient check box.

www.openmoves.com

Anatomy of an E-mail Newsletter

We previously posted an e-mail design checklist, which covered overall design and style tips, including how to handle formatting, fonts and images. Great design is important, but you need to make sure your e-mail newsletter has all of the necessary elements. Compare each of your designs against this checklist before approval and coding. Preheader text, header & navigation, table of contents, content, footer…read more.

Free E-mail Marketing System Clinic Join our 8-week FREE e-mail course on how to build an e-mail marketing system to generate revenue. See sample and info!
Subscribe Now!

No longer do you have to physically go to a credit institution to access your financial accounts. Computers and smart phones offer the ability to check balances, make transfers and more, with a few clicks of some buttons. But that comes with increased security risks.

If your computer, smart phone and/or other devices contain sensitive, personal financial information, make sure they are password protected. It’s important to choose a password that’s not easy for others to guess. Avoid using information commonly known by those around you such as your date of birth or child’s name.

College may be a time of freedom, but it’s certainly not a spending free-for-all. Being on your own means responsibility, and financial awareness is part of that.

If you don’t have enough money, consider taking a part-time job. If you are working, think about increasing your hours or getting a job that pays more. If that’s not possible, you’re going to have to spend less. Set yourself limits, something like $15 a week for incidentals. Pay your bills on time so you don’t incur late fees. Most importantly, keep track of your money. Write down how much you spend every day. See how your money vanishes…and how you can keep more of it.

Judging by my own e-mail, the frustration level is high among the 40-plus set. Employers typically praise the work ethic of this age group while simultaneously rejecting them due to perceptions about their reluctance to change or learn new technologies. It’s a unique conundrum, but there is some solid advice on the horizon. Best-selling author and career guru Robin Ryan has written a new book focused entirely on the 40-and-over job seeker. Titled Over 40 & You’re Hired! Secrets to Landing a Great Job, the book has just been published by Penguin. It’s an easy 234-page read chockfull of great tips and a bonus section referencing custom Web pages available only to book buyers. Readers can download exclusive tools, forms, templates, charts and more that will be useful in their quest for employment.

According to Ryan, “Hiring is different now—for everyone. Baby boomers can definitely land a great job, but they have to approach the entire job search process—resumes, cover letters, interviews, and how you look for openings—differently from how they have before.” Ryan goes on to name 12 possible hiring roadblocks that her research shows impacts the opportunity for a job offer for the mature worker, among them the possibility of a good culture fit, an old-fashioned management style and expectations for special considerations relating to compensation or time off. More importantly, the reader learns how to deal with these objections and how to ace the interview using what she terms as “the age advantage.”

A wood deck is an ideal place to spend the warmer months, but after the pounding it takes all winter from snow, it can be in a weakened state. After months of cold weather, a wood deck can be a single rain storm away from becoming warped and ruined.

Freshen up that “water repellent” on wood decks. A good indicator for this is to wait for a few dry days and pour a glass of water onto the deck. If the water soaks into the dry deck, it’s time for a new coat. If the water beads off, your still in good shape.

Outsourcing is the practice of using outside firms to handle work normally performed within a company. The flat economy caused many companies into huge layoffs and subsequently outsourced functions that were better kept in-house. Wise outsourcing, however, can provide a number of long-term benefits: Control capital costs, increased efficiency, reduced labor costs, start new projects quickly and focus on your core business. An outside provider’s cost structure and economy of scale can give your firm an important competitive advantage.

There are several factors that a business must consider when determining if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. The key is to look at the entire relationship, consider the degree or extent of the right to direct and control employees and or projects. Once you make your decision, be sure to retain proper documentation of each of the factors used in coming up with the determination. If you classify an employee as an independent contractor and you have no reasonable basis for doing so, you may be held liable for employment taxes for that worker. Non compliance could create a liability in the thousands of dollars, even for a small employer.

www.openmoves.com

The Power of Personalization

OpenMoves case study on ZapMyTax, a Long Island based company which assists homeowners in need of lowering their Real Estate taxes, continues with a look at Zap’s personalized email campaign. ZapMyTax wanted to utilize email marketing to promote their services and build a relationship. They envisioned an e-newsletter that was specific to their e-mail recipient’s town. The challenge for OpenMoves was to create a dynamic image, a sense of personalization and one-to-one communication. Read more…

Free E-mail Marketing System Clinic Join our 8-week FREE e-mail course on how to build an e-mail marketing system to generate revenue. See sample and info!
Subscribe Now!

The Internet is very big and it keeps growing bigger every day. If you want to search it effectively you are going to need to develop a few tricks to help you narrow the search.

Using +, – and “ ” (quotes) to help narrow your searches:

Let’s say you were looking up apples on yahoo.com. If you just type in “apples” you may see 19 million returns. That is more sites than you can check in a year, so let’s narrow the search down. Let’s say that what you’re really interested in is yellow apples. To see all the apple websites that also have the word “yellow” on them, type this: apples +yellow

Now you will only see those apple sites that have the word yellow on them. Unfortunately you will still be getting almost 4 million returned websites:

To narrow the search even more you can eliminate a word from it. For example, some of the websites are also about Apple Computers so let’s get rid of them by typing this: apples +yellow -computers

That reduced about 1 million of the returns but we still have about 3 million Web pages to check out. A final way to narrow the search is to use quotes to narrow the search to an exact phrase. For example, if what you are really interested in is granny smith apples you can add it to the search like this: apples +yellow –computers “granny smith.”

Now you will only see websites that have the words “granny smith” on them in that order spelled the way you spelled them. Using quotes is always a great way to narrow a search and in my example I was able to go from having 19 million web pages returned from my original search for “apples” to around 220,000 by my last example.

You would be surprised what a difference these little search tips will make…

Warm weather, high temperatures—winter is certainly gone. But the damage it may leave behind will keep it from being forgotten.

Check for winter roof damage. The pounding it takes over the cold months, from snow, ice and wind, can leave problems totally unforeseen. Catching blistering or curling in your roof early can save you time, aggravation, and most of all money in the future.

The best way to handle a low salary offer without jeopardizing your prospective employment is to NOT take it personally. Your ultimate goal, presuming you want this job, is to secure the position while negotiating the best deal you can make for yourself. Most firms will expect some discussion about compensation. Once an offer has been extended, the time between the offer and your acceptance is when you’ve got your greatest leverage. The employer has narrowed the field of candidates and chosen you—they want you to accept and are most willing to listen to your needs providing they are not completely out of line with their own criteria. If you have decided you want to negotiate, say something like this: “I’m very pleased to be offered this opportunity, but I believe the salary doesn’t take into consideration the value I bring to this position,” and then be ready to offer a few key points. Name a salary that is higher than you expect to receive, but within reason. Leave room for the company to counter. Of course, if their offer has no wiggle room then it’s up to you to decide if you can live with this low(er) number.

When discussing salary always sound conversational, not demanding. You want to get off on a good foot with your new employer without creating a situation that will change the dynamics that allowed you to get the offer in the first place. Asking for too little will make you reluctant to begin and being too greedy can damage your image with the firm going forward. Be gracious and professional and have some alternative upgrades ready if the firm is unwilling to meet your desired salary—these might include professional training opportunities, paid vacation, sick days, insurance, savings, bonus plans and frequency of reviews. Once settled, ask for a formal offer in writing with all the components of your compensation plan in writing.

Before you apply to college, discuss with your family how much they can afford to pay and how much you can afford to pay. Talk about ways to make up the difference. Make sure you all clearly understand how much college really costs, including tuition, room, board, books, entertainment, travel, club dues, clothing, phone bills, and incidental expenses. You can get this information from the colleges.

Financial aid is given on the basis of merit and need. Today, most colleges award the bulk of their scholarships on the basis of need, not merit. To earn a merit award, you had to do something extraordinary in high school, like teaching penguins to tap dance. Few students fall into that category. As a result, most students are given need-based packages. This means your family’s income will be scrutinized.

Sure, creditors are made out in movies to be big tough men in black suits and sunglasses who knock on your door when you’re behind on payments. But in reality, they are far more understanding and approachable.

If you find yourself behind on payments or may be in the near future, don’t be afraid to contact your creditors. Be specific and honest. Creditors want to know the cause of your hardship. They may be more willing to work with you if these difficulties were beyond your control.

It’s new…it’s exciting…it’s an E-Branch – www.sperryfcu.org

This press release is not just about a new web site…it’s about the fact that banking is experiencing a dramatic shift with more and more people embracing technology to do their banking.  It’s about the fact that they are checking their accounts several times a day.  It’s about the fact that they are not visiting their branches as often.

Sperry recognized this evolution and opened its E-Branch for business on Thursday, April 1, 2010 to give their members what they want – convenient and rewarding service.  With a refreshed website and the introduction of the E-Branch, Sperry better aligned their service resources to meet members’ remote banking behavior while attracting the new members of tomorrow.

Quick Facts

• Live Chat is featured throughout Sperry’s website.  Sperry is the ONLY credit union on Long Island to provide this convenience!
• Right now almost 1,600 people log into Sperry’s Online Banking and Online Bill Payment system (PC 24) every single day.
• Almost 72% of all Sperry member transactions are performed electronically.
• “Individuals who bank online look at their financial information four times more often than those who bank the old-fashioned way.” 1 .
• As of December 31, 2009 Sperry Credit Union ranked 12th nationally in Return of the Member and 1st among its peers in NYS 2 .

How the E-Branch Evolved
What started out as a website redesign, evolved into a whole new way of interacting with Sperry’s members.   Sperry’s research revealed that the credit union sees more members online in a single day, than they see in three months combined in their branches!    James Duffett, Vice President, recognized this growing channel and presented the E-Branch concept to the management team and Board of Directors.  They all agreed that Sperry needed more than just a website refresh; they needed a whole suite of online products and the resources to support them. Sperry needed an E-Branch!

It was time to serve these online banking members and better understand their relationship with the credit union. By learning how they were banking, the credit union was able to identify the new products and services needed to build an E-Branch for members to call their own.

Jim assembled a team of professional to make it happen.  Angela Fulgieri, who had been Sperry’s Branch Manager, turned the Call Center into an Interactive Solution Center responsible for answering calls, opening accounts, responding to emails and chatting with members online in real-time. Danielle Pappas, the credit union’s E-Specialist, researched and redesigned the website to make it more user-friendly, with better information flow and integration of various state-of-the-art financial tools.

What’s an E-Branch all about?
The credit union’s new E-Branch is a fully operational e-delivery channel that includes a Call Center, Online Banking and Online Bill Payment (PC-24), with enhanced elements such as e-mailed account alerts, online account open and fund, FinanceWorks, live chat and co-browse.  The credit union is also rewarding members for using the E-Branch with special loan products and promotions.  Planned enhancements will include mobile banking, remote deposit, and online fund transfers and additional future enhancements will be guided by member feedback.

Today the website is refreshed and updated and includes some exciting new features:

• FinanceWorks: Manages all accounts and budgets in one place with this powerful personal financial tool.
• Live Help: Members don’t always have time or the opportunity to pick up a phone. Now they can “talk” to a Sperry Solution Center representative online.
• Co-Browse: When members need help online, a Sperry representative can “see” what they are looking at and walk them through it.
• Life Stages: These new sections of the website are a resource to members at various stages of their lives, such as getting married, buying a home or starting a business.
• E-Specials: Offers, emails and banner ads are tailored to our members – things like loyalty discounts and more.
• Web Alerts: A red button will appear on our homepage when we have important information to share.
• Account Alerts: An email is sent when a check clears, if an account falls below a certain balance, when a large transaction clears and more.
• Online Account Opening: Members can add an account or open a new one online.  Enhancements to this feature are coming in the months ahead as well.

Sperry Credit Union Background:
Serving Long Islanders since 1936, Sperry Credit Union remains committed to delivering exceptional service and value to our membership.  As of the fourth quarter of 2009 we ranked 12th among credit unions nationwide in returning value to our members.2   These efforts have been rewarded with high member loyalty and a tremendous reputation – with membership surpassing 19,000 and assets eclipsing $372 million by the end of 2009.

As a not-for-profit financial institution Sperry is open to the public and serves individuals, businesses and legal entities.  Sperry offers diverse checking options, competitive savings and loan products, along with a suite of products designed to help small businesses.  Sperry engages in civic involvement and philanthropic support within our community and is a founding member of KIOLI.org (Keep It On Long Island)..

Sperry Credit Union Branch Locations:
Garden City Park, NY   11040    2400 Jericho Turnpike
Garden City, NY   11599    830 Stewart Avenue
Farmingdale, NY   11735    521 Conklin Street

Phone: 516-873-7171
Fax: 516-873-7628
E-Branch: www.sperryfcu.com

Business Services and Corporate Development
330 Old Country Rd., Suite 204
Mineola, NY   11501
Phone: 516-873-7171, ext. 1200
Fax: 516-279-4141

Notes:
1   More – finance, Jean Chatzky, April 2010
2   Callahan & Associates – a renowned consulting group profiles the credit union industry regularly and measures the value credit unions give back to members.  Ratings published by www.creditunions.com, April 2010.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your time in considering Alure Home Improvements for your next remodeling project. We have been exceeding clients’ expectations since 1946 and while much of our success can be attributed to many different factors, the one we’d like to share with you first is this: We recognize that OUR success is dependent upon YOUR happiness. We not only recognize it, we preach it everyday…to every employee.

Our commitment to customer service is unparalleled in the remodeling industry. We stand behind all our work well beyond manufacturer warrantees and we have a dedicated service team for each of our specialty departments, ensuring that we are always available when you need us.

We are thankful to the thousands of satisfied clients who have continued to show their trust in Alure by coming back, referring their friends and family, and helping make us the area’s #1 Home Improvement Remodeler over the past half century. We focus on building relationships and your trust has resulted in the majority of our business coming from repeat clients and referrals…an accomplishment not possible without consistently delivering superior work and a great value. A commitment to ethics and values has always been an integral part of the Alure vision and we pledge to continue to exceed your expectations and strive to make every customer a Raving Fan.

We invite you to come and visit our 3 floor showroom in East Meadow to fully appreciate everything Alure has to offer. Our state-of-the-art showroom is designed to make your home improvement decisions easier with our one-stop shopping approach.

Our goal…a relationship with you as our customer for life. We welcome the opportunity to be your friend in the business.

Sincerely,
Sal, Carl and Bob

Our NEW Kitchen & Bath Selection Area in Our Long Island Showroom

Full-size samples to pick all the colors, styles, materials, cabinets, countertops, and fixtures with the expert guidance of our designers. An infinite number of combinations — mix and match to find the style that is uniquely you!

Here are just a few pictures. Call us today or stop by to see for yourself…

EAST MEADOW, NY June 8th, 2010 — ABC’s Emmy-winning hit show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has selected another Long Island family to feature on its award winning show that helps change the lives of families and inspire remarkable community support. Each week, the show renovates the entire home of a deserving family on national TV, traveling across the country.

Alure Home Improvements of East Meadow N.Y., with a long standing reputation in the industry as a leading and premier remodeler, and also with a history as a philanthropic contributor to the community, has become the show’s go to remodeler for makeover projects in the metro area. This will be Alure’s eighth project for the inspiring show.

While Alure is the main builder and a major contributor, the makeovers rely on numerous volunteers and community support, and all of Long Island is invited to join this amazing experience. Alure will host a pep rally on Monday, June 14th at Suffolk County Sports Park, home of the Long Island Ducks (formerly Citibank Park) to kick off the volunteer effort necessary to help accomplish this amazing feat for a deserving family. While the exact town and family details won’t be released until after the door knock on June 21st, volunteers will now have a week before the knock to sign up and get involved.

The pep rally will be hosted by Sal Ferro, President & CEO of Alure Home Improvements, and he’ll be joined by several members of the production team from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, who will be present to talk about the show and how people can help. John Hampson of Nine Days will make a special appearance and perform their top ten hit, “Absolutely (Story of a Girl).”

Alure Home Improvements is inviting volunteers from the community interested in providing their time, support and/or resources to help ensure the success of this life-altering project. Interested individuals or companies can find more information on how to volunteer time and/or resources at www.alure.com. Following the pep rally, Alure will start to sign up volunteers for the project, which will start a week later. Alure will also coordinate a food drive for the INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) who will collect canned or packaged food donations at the makeover site all week long.

“We are thrilled that Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has selected a Long Island family for their next makeover and we are excited to not only make a difference in the lives of a deserving family, but to also play a part in inspiring the Long Island community to come together for a great cause.” Sal Ferro Ty Pennington along with rest of the show’s design team, will notify the selected family by showing up at the Suffolk County family’s residence on Monday, June 21st.

For up to the minute information, and door knock and family announcement information, visit Alure’s website at www.alure.com and register on Alure’s fan Extreme Fan Page.

Information and sign up forms on volunteering and donating can be found there, and you can also email extremelongisland@alure.com for more information.

Alure is the area’s premier home remodeler, specializing in kitchens, baths, finished basements, siding, windows, roofing, sunrooms, dormers and extensions. In business since 1946, Alure prides itself on friendly and knowledgeable salespeople, creative designers, meticulous installers, and superior lifetime customer service. Qualified Remodeler magazine has ranked Alure as #10 in its annual list of Top 500 Remodelers. Professional Remodeler Magazine has listed Alure as one of the Best Remodeling Companies to work for, and also voted Alure the Remodeler of the Year in 2005. Alure’s Long Island showroom is located at 1999 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow, NY. For more information about Alure, call 877-44-ALURE or visit www.alure.com

The Emmy award winning reality program “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” now in its 7th season, is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. It’s executive-produced by Brady Connell and George Verschoor. David Goldberg is Chairman, Endemol North America. The show airs Sundays from 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET on ABC. Sundays 8/7c on ABC

Applied Mathematics

Available to all baccalaureate majors except Applied Mathematics, the requirements for a minor in Applied Mathematics are completing three sequential semesters of calculus up to and including MTH 252 or MTH 322, and at least 15 credits in mathematics (with at most six overlapping with the major area) with the approval of the department chair.

Computer Programming and Information Systems

Available to all baccalaureate majors except Computer Programming Information Systems, the requirements for a minor in Computer Programming and Information Systems consist of 15-21 credits in BCS.  BCS 101 Programming Concepts and Problem Solving, BCS 120 or BCS185 Programming Language – Level I, and BCS 230 or BCS285 Programming Language – Level II are required courses.  When it is deemed necessary, substitutions may be made at the discretion of the department chair.

Italian Studies

Available to all baccalaureate majors, the Italian Studies minor consists of 18 credits (six 3-credit courses). Students will be required to take MLG 306 and Italian 223, and four additional courses chosen with the approval of the program’s coordinator. Students interested in learning the Italian language and perhaps teaching Italian should concentrate on courses taught in the Italian language, while those interested in different careers should choose courses in other disciplines (film, sociology, art, etc.). Students are encouraged to study abroad in Italy. Courses taken in Italy will be reviewed by the coordinator and considered toward the minor requirements.

Legal Studies

Available to all baccalaureate majors, the Legal Studies minor consists of 15 credits (five 3-credit courses). Students will be required to take the introductory course in legal studies (POL 110: Introduction to Legal Studies) plus additional courses chosen with the approval of the program’s coordinator.  This minor is intended for students who are interested in the study of the law in their undergraduate education and may serve as an introduction for students who are interested in pursuing a legal career.

Ornamental Horticulture

Available to all baccalaureate majors except Horticultural Technology, the minor in Ornamental Horticulture is designed to give the student a basic core of horticultural skills that can be amplified through a series of elective courses.  The field of Ornamental Horticulture is a diverse array of growers, retailers, designers, installers, and maintenance personnel serving public and private gardens, homeowners, golf courses, parks and recreational facilities.  The Ornamental Horticulture minor consists of 21 credits in Ornamental Horticulture. The selection of electives must be done in consultation with a full-time member of the Department.

Sociology

Available to all baccalaureate majors, the sociology minor is designed to enhance students’ understanding of this society and this culture, as well as other cultures and societies.  The discipline of sociology provides students with a unique perspective to solve social problems in the workplace and in their personal lives.  Building on the basic concepts, theories and research methodologies of sociology through an academic minor in sociology can provide students with useful tools not only for the workplace, but for solving problems in their personal lives as well.  The Sociology minor consists of 15-21 credits in sociology, as approved by the department chair.

Sport Management

Available to all baccalaureate majors, the Sport Management minor is an undergraduate minor which consists of 15-21 credits; four SMT courses and three PED courses are required.  The selection of electives must be done in consultation with a full-time member of the Department.

Business Management

Available to all baccalaureate majors except Business Management, the minor is intended for students who wish to attain a broad understanding of the foundation topics in this multifaceted field.  The minor consist of 21 credits; BUS 101 – Accounting, BUS 109 – Management Theories and Practices and BUS131 – Marketing Principles are required, plus four Business courses (12-credits) at the 200 level or above.

Web Developmentent

Available to all baccalaureate majors except Computer Programming Information Systems, this minor is intended for students who have an interest in expanding their knowledge in Web development.  The minor consists of 21 credits (seven 3-credit courses), all to be approved by the department chair.

Spanish

Available to all baccalaureate majors, this minor offers the opportunity to study the language, literature, and cultures of millions of Spanish-speaking people.  Students learn to speak, write, read and understand the diversity of Spanish speakers in American society.  Students also come to appreciate the dramatic influence of European life and letters, seen in the literary and artistic heritage of the classical works of Spain and in the socio-political developments of more modern times.  Students are encouraged to study abroad in Mexico and/or Spain.  Courses taken abroad will be reviewed and considered toward the minor program.  The minor requirements for Spanish are 18 credits (six 3-credit courses) approved by the department chair.

Economics

Available to all baccalaureate majors, the Economics minor equips students from with the foundational skills for higher education in economics and the social sciences, business, and law.  Students choosing to minor in Economics will take a total of 18 credits, which includes required core courses (9 credits).  Students exposed to these economics courses will have skills and ability to compete or increase employability that the marketplace demands.

Management Information Systems

Available to all baccalaureate majors except Computer Programming Information Systems, the Management Information Systems minor consists of 18 credits from a list of required Business Computer Systems (BCS) courses.

Sustainable Energy and Environment

Available to all baccalaureate majors, the objective of the Sustainable Energy and Environment minor is to focus the attention of students on current Sustainability, Energy and Environment issues of the society and help them become ambassadors of change in the society.  This would also enhance their job opportunities particularly in organizations and companies adapting or looking to adopt green technologies.  Students will complete 15 credits of course work, with a minimum of 9 credits from Sustainable Energy and Environment (ENV) courses.

Biology

Available to all baccalaureate majors except Bioscience, this minor is intended for students who wish to incorporate a study of biology into their academic background.  In addition to the freshman Biological Principles sequences, the recommended list of courses provides the opportunity for students to explore various specialties within the field of Biology.  The Biology minor requires at least 20 credits of Biology, including at least three 4-credit laboratory courses.  At least 12 additional credits are required at the 200-level or above with appropriate prerequisites satisfied.

Automotive Technology
Business Administration
Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement
Dental Hygiene
Landscape Development (Ornamental Horticulture-Landscape Dev.)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Medical Laboratory Technology
Nursing
General Horticulture (Ornamental Horticulture-Hort. Mgmt.)

Aeronautical Science – Professional Pilot
Applied Economics
Applied Mathematics
Applied Psychology
Architectural Engineering Technology
Aviation Administration
Bioscience
Business Management
Computer Engineering Technology
Computer Programming and Information Systems
Construction Management Engineering Technology
Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement Technology
Dental Hygiene
Electrical Engineering Technology
Horticultural Technology Management
Industrial Technology – Automotive Management Technology
Industrial Technology – Facility Management Technology
Manufacturing Engineering Technology
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Medical Technology
Nursing
Professional Communications
Security Systems
Software Technology
Technology Studies
Visual Communications: Art and Graphic Design

There is a ton of learning to be done in your four years of college. And while all of it is important, some parts are more vital than others.

When you’re listening to a professor’s lecture or reading on your own, write down the main points. They include the thesis statement; important names, dates, numbers; and any questions you have about the material. Professors and writers often repeat vital facts in different ways, so also watch for repetition.

Sure, new cars come with louder sound systems and more advanced gadgets to help you see when backing up, but they also come with an improvement to your wallet: Better fuel efficiency.

Choosing a car that gets more Miles Per Gallon (MPGs) can save you money. If you drive 150 miles a week and gas cost $3.25, you would save $72 a month driving a car that got 30 MPG than one that got 15 MPG!

Winter is brutal on your driveway, patio and walkways. Now that the weather is nice and warm, be sure to take care of any damage, before it becomes more than you can handle.

Inspect concrete slabs and/or driveways for cracks or movement. All exterior slabs should drain away from the foundation of the home. Fill cracks with concrete crack filler or silicone caulk, and then power wash and seal.

College comes with a lot of course work, and that means lots of reading. Save yourself some time by mastering the art of skimming.

There’s a ton of reading in college, so knowing how to skim a text can save you a lot of time. You skim a text to get the gist, the main idea or key point. To skim a text, first preview the text, make predictions, and set a purpose for reading. Second, run your eyes across the page, reading as fast as you can. Look for the facts you need. They are often in the first and last sentences of the passage. Read these facts more slowly. Last, pause at the end of every page or passage to restate the meaning in your own words.

ATMs are great conveniences, but the $2 and up fees tacked on make using them a double-edged sword. There’s a cheaper way to get cash.

Stop making extra trips to the ATM and paying foreign fees; get cash during your daily activities with no charge. When you go to the drugstore or supermarket, pay with your debit card and ask for cash back! When you select “debit,” you can get cash and pay no fees.

Even with the recent advancements in washers and dryers being more efficient and using less power, there is still a way to be more green.

One of the biggest things that regularly goes in the wash are bath towels. By letting your towel air dry and getting multiple uses from it, you’ll take up less space in your washer and be able to do fewer loads.

There are whiz-kids. There are prodigy children. There are students who can stare at a book for a week and still not grasp even the title. Wherever you fall, you’ve got nobody to blame but yourself if you don’t put in the time.

You’re going to need at least two hours of studying for each hour you spend in the classroom. Thus, if you’re taking 15 credits (five classes) a week, you’re going to need 30 hours of studying. You might be able to study less if you have already taken a similar course in high school. However, many students need this amount or more to do well in college. Further, you’ll need more study time as you move into junior and senior years because the work gets harder.

Income tax refunds are like early Christmas gifts, right? Wrong, and you should be cautious with how you use it.

Expecting an income tax refund this year? Use it wisely! Pay down high interest debt, fund your retirement account, make an extra mortgage payment or look to invest it. Remember, it may feel like a gift from Uncle Sam, but it’s actually money you’ve overpaid on your income taxes.

Summer is the perfect time of year: beautiful weather, no school and months to do nothing. Well, it’s also the perfect time to grow up.

Summer is the perfect time to introduce teenagers to the idea of a real, paying job. School may be out, but they’ll learn an invaluable lesson: the value of the dollar. Help first-time jobseekers find interesting, age-appropriate employment such as mowing lawns, babysitting walking, or working at the local mall.

Smoke alarms are a vital part of any home security system because they can detect a fire from the faintest of smells before your nose. They only require minimal maintenance, but that makes the little bit of work all the more important.

Be sure to keep your smoke alarms clean. This is easily taken care of by using the upholstery attachment from your vacuum cleaner. The main thing to look for is dust. Cobwebs could be present too. Check your alarm’s instruction manual to see if it’s safe to clean the inside before doing so.

Robert Ench to be Honored at 91st Commencement

Dr. W. Hubert Keen, president of Farmingdale State College, is pleased to announce that Robert Ench of Avondale, Pennsylvania is the 2010 recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the State University of New York.  Dr. Ench will receive his degree on Sunday, May 16 at Farmingdale’s 91st Commencement.

“Bob Ench is a prime example of what hard work and vision, combined with the proper education can produce.  His success in the horticulture industry is outstanding and his support in many ways of Farmingdale State is greatly appreciated,” said President Keen.

Dr. Ench, originally from Brooklyn, is a 1960 graduate of the Department of Ornamental Horticulture. He has become a nationally recognized leader in the horticulture industry.

Shortly after graduating from Farmingdale’s horticulture program, he grew a local garden center, Flower Time, to encompass a chain of 38 retail centers.  Dr. Ench then became chairman of an operation that incorporated 250 stores across the nation, including Frank’s Nursery.

A leader in the field of sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes, he was selected to work in Washington D.C. with Lady Bird Johnson on a number of beautification projects. Furthermore, he served on the Board of Directors of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas,

As the president and owner of Hopewell Nursery, he continues his success, even in retirement, supplying nursery stock from Maine to Virginia.
Dr. Ench has been exceptionally loyal to his alma mater through fund raising for scholarship, generous donations of plant material and service on the College Council, the College Foundation and the Alumni Association.

There is a reason in the digital age people still purchase planners. They are an effective way to manage time beyond thinking about what you need to do.

Time has a way of slipping through our fingers, so track your time effectively. A spreadsheet works well, but paper-and-pencil is effective, too. To start, make a grid by listing the days across the top, and the time (in hours or half hours, whichever you prefer) down the left-hand side. First, record essential activities, including sleeping, eating, attending classes, and study time. Second, fill in chores. Third, record commuting and job time, if they apply. Fourth, write in socializing, clubs, sports, and other fun activities. Then adjust the schedule as needed. For example, add more study time a week before midterms, finals, and other crucial exams.

One of the best parts of the spring and summer is cooking a dinner on the barbecue and dining outside. But be careful when preparing, or the flames might get the best of you.

Not all grills take the same type of lighter fluid, so be sure to check with the manufacturer to see what works with yours. Once the fire is going, never add more fluid. Doing so could cause the flames to flare up and catch on to nearby things.

Governor Paterson and Congressman Israel Propose “Smart Energy Corridor” – Bold Energy Initiatives Will Help Put People to Work by Creating Clean Energy Jobs

Farmingdale State College has teamed with LIPA to create Long Island’s first “Smart Energy Campus.” Under the partnership, LIPA will work with Farmingdale State College to expand the college’s solar center to become a Renewable and Sustainable Resource Center for demonstration of customer-owned renewable resources such as wind and solar. The College will also utilize the renewable energy center to expand certificate training programs for renewable resources for green technology entrepreneurs and industry workforce.

Additionally, Governor David A. Paterson and Congressman Steve Israel today announced that the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), along with Stony Brook University and Farmingdale State College, have proposed the creation of Long Island’s first integrated Smart Energy Corridor. The initiative would assist residential, commercial and industrial LIPA customers in monitoring and reducing energy usage, increase reliability, encourage energy efficiency by facilitating smarter technologies, and create clean energy jobs.

Both initiatives will also create clean energy jobs, include a plan to develop and train future clean energy workers, and continue the State’s leadership in energy efficiency and renewable technologies. LIPA will seek funding for the Smart Energy Corridor under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Dr. W. Hubert Keen, President of Farmingdale State College, said:

“Farmingdale State College has a long, rich legacy in both energy efficiency and workforce development. As SUNY’s largest college of applied science and technology and one of the key academic institutions in the region, we look forward to being a part of this important initiative. Governor Paterson and Congressman Israel have shown great leadership on this important issue.”

LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law said:

“Today’s announcement reinforces LIPA’s commitment to building a smart grid which encompasses ongoing LIPA projects, including a smart metering initiative in Hauppauge and Bethpage, a 50MW solar program that will be integrated onto the LIPA grid, and LIPA- incentivized programs for customer-owned renewable programs such as solar, wind, and geothermal.”

“We need to be smarter about the way we use energy, both as individuals and as a State. Programs like these can help New York achieve its goal of meeting 45 percent of its energy needs through efficiency and renewable sources by 2015, and help put people back to work,” said Governor Paterson. “The clean energy economy that we are developing here in New York will create jobs and bolster Long Island’s workforce.

Building a stronger and smarter grid will also help us reduce energy consumption and energy costs.”

Congressman Steve Israel said: “Our nation’s electricity grid is outdated and in need of an upgrade. With the work of LIPA, our State government, and Stony Brook and Farmingdale Universities, and investment from the federal government, that upgrade can start right here on Long Island. The ‘Smart Energy Corridor’ is a game-changing proposal that will continue the evolution of the Route 110 Corridor, and make the Corridor a prototype for the deployment of the latest energy technologies. The federal government recently committed $4.5 billion to the deployment of Smart Grid technology. This project is exactly what we should be investing in. I look forward to working with Governor Paterson, LIPA CEO Kevin Law, Dr. Keen and Dr. Strum Kenny on this innovative plan.”

The Smart Energy Corridor would run along the 110 Corridor, the Long Island business community’s “Main Street,” from Route 109 in Babylon to the Long Island Expressway in Huntington. The initiative would focus all of Long Island’s key energy related technology resources into advancing the development and implementation of a “Smart Grid.”

The electric grid provides the conduit to transport electricity from the generation source to the end user. Currently, the grid is structured such that electricity flows from centralized power plants to local sub-stations via the grid’s transmission system and then from those sub-stations through the grid’s distribution system to the end user when it is demanded. This structure, however, does not readily allow for the increased penetration of distributed generation that is located closer to where it is used, renewables that are often intermittent in nature, residential generation systems such as solar electric, energy storage systems, or electric and hybrid electric vehicles, all of which have the potential to green the grid. These clean energy technologies require an upgrade of the electric grid to a “Smart Grid” that allows for increased communication, control, monitoring and diagnostic capabilities.

In addition to creating badly needed clean energy jobs, the goal of the “Smart Energy Corridor” is to elevate Long Island’s energy infrastructure to a level that will accommodate 21st

Century energy technology, with specific goals that include:

• Deploying smart grid technology along the Route 110 Corridor to enhance the operational intelligence and connectivity.
• Utilizing Long Island’s energy technology development resources to create new technologies and new businesses.
• Utilizing Long Island’s energy education capabilities to develop and train workers for clean energy jobs.

Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone, who also chairs the Route 110 Partnership, said: “Just as we are committed to the continued development of the Route 110 Corridor as Long Island’s Main Street, the Town of Huntington is also committed to making it a Smart Corridor.

Initiatives such as this one combine the equally important objectives of economic development and sustainability. I commend Governor Paterson, Congressman Israel and Kevin Law at LIPA for this innovative effort.”

Forget about wood or marble and opt for a bamboo floor instead.

Why bamboo flooring? Well, unlike traditional wood, bamboo doesn’t take years to grow, so cutting it down is much less a hit to Mother Nature as a tree is. It’s also considerably cheaper, ranging between $1 and $3 per square foot. It also withstands foot traffic and spills better than most flooring material.