John Tavares (Associated Press)

John Tavares of the New York Islanders has long been recognized for his achievements and this year is no different.

Tavares, who was the Islanders first overall pick in 2009 NHL Entry Draft, played in his first NHL All-Star Game this past January.

In Ottawa, the 21-year-old scored a goal and an assist for Team Alfredsson. But it wasn’t just his success in the All-Star Game that got him the most recognition in January.

The National Hockey League has just announced Tavares as the First Star of the Month for January, 2012.

Tavares led the league in scoring January with nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points during the month.

“He recorded a point in 12-of-13 Islanders games and had a hand in 62.9 percent of the team’s goals,” said the New York Islanders in a statement, “Tavares’ month also included four game-winning goals.”

According to the New York Islanders, the first month of 2012 also saw Tavares extend his point streak to an NHL season-high 12 games, he posted eight goals and 13 assists from Dec. 31 to Jan. 21.

Philippe Chow rang in the 2012 Chinese New Year at its Jericho location and is extending the celebration to all Long Island patrons.

The famous modern Chinese restaurant is celebrating the year considered one of the most exciting on the Chinese calendar—The Year of the Dragon has long been said to bring luck and fortune.

The Year of the Dragon is part of a 12-year cycle in the Chinese Zodiac and is projected to be one of the most popular years for births—People born in the Year of the Dragon (1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, and 2012) are said to be innovative, enterprising, self-assured, brave, passionate, conceited, and quick-tempered, free and uninhibited, extroverted and irrepressible.

In celebration, the famous Chinese restaurant known for it’s black, white and red posh dining rooms, classy candles and celebrity clientele has crafted a stylish menu by Chef Philippe.

The menu features signature-favorites including Crispy Beef, Peking Chicken, Chicken Satay, Maine Lobster Spring Rolls and Green Prawns and specialty drinks like the Philipptini (Absolut vodka, lychee and fresh squeezed pineapple juice, triple sec, splash of Chambord), which the restaurant says is the perfect complement to a night-out-on-the town.

Sag Harbor zoning laws have proven to be the death of Legs, a sculpture that has been standing tall at sixteen feet and one inch since 1969. The sculpture crafted together out of fiberglass by Larry Rivers, a South Hampton sculptor, was taken down on January 20 with orders from Sag Harbor’s Zoning Board.

The sculpture has found its home at Ruth Vered and Janet Lehr’s home in Sag Harbor. The art enthusiasts and dealers value the history of this sculpture. Rivers, who is often considered the “godfather” of pop art, initially sculpted Legs as apart of a sculpture intended for the Smith Haven Mall. However, after the mall shifted owners the sculptures were removed and Rivers forcibly relocated the enormous pair of legs to his studio in Southampton. In 1994, a collector requested Rivers recreate this sculpture. Eventually, the second pair of legs landed in the hands of Lehr and Vered who believed, in 2008, it would compliment the side of their house rather nicely.

Legs has since become a landmark for many in the town of Sag Harbor. It is not only a strangely intriguing piece of pop art with a history to match, but a piece of Sag Harbor in itself. Many residence of Sag Harbor believe that the sculpture is an ideal representation of the “artsy” connotation that residences have delighted in for years.

For other villagers, Legs is nothing but an eye-soar that currently represents Rivers’ darker history. After the scandal in 2010, in which videos of Rivers’ filming his daughters topless were discovered, Legs has become somewhat of a taboo for the town. Some residents do not want Sag Harbor to be associated with the artist’s disgrace.

These residents no longer view Legs as a masterpiece from an extraordinary artist but rather an unpleasant structure of Sag Harbor. As a structure, Legs needed to be a registered building with a permit. The Historic Preservation and the Architecture Review Board also needed to review the structure. This initiated the two-year debate of the legality of this structure that kept art lovers and angry residents clashing throughout the debate. The biggest dispute was properly labeling Legs as a structure or a piece of artwork.  The Zoning Board concluded the debate with the final verdict: the structure was to be removed.  Legs was removed leaving Sag Harbor with one less historic landmark.

February 14 is meant to honor St. Valentine, a romantic Christian martyr, who allegedly left a special, dear friend behind when he sacrificed his life in the name of Christianity. Valentine’s Day has since been a day reserved for loved ones. It is used as an intimate day for lovers to express their undivided love for each other. Though each couple typically has their own unique and intimate way to celebrate the lover’s holiday, Long Island boasts a few great places that are sure to satisfy and just about everyone can try. Here they are:

Oheka Castle

The Oheka Castle

135 West Gate Drive,

Huntington

631-659-1400

www.oheka.com

For a romantic escapade, Oheka Castle has planned a few intimate activities for Valentine’s Day weekend that can make any couple feel like royalty.

On Sunday, February 10 and Tuesday, February 14, the castle is opening up the gates to allow lovers the opportunity to tour the acres of breathtaking grounds.  The tour consists of an afternoon exploration of the historic site followed by coffee and sweet Valentine’s Day treats straight from the pastry kitchen.

For the complete noble experience, Oheka Castle will host a Valentine’s Dinner and Dance on Friday, February 10. The night will consist of a cocktail hour followed by a stuffing meal from the castle’s award winning restaurant. The meal is completed with three tasty, classic Valentine’s Day specials: a heart shaped red velvet cake, three cake pops on a stick and mini croquembouche. Throughout this four course meals, couples can share intimate moments on the dance floor with music provided by Good Clean Fun.

WMHO Educational and Cultural Center

111 Main Street

Stony Brook

631-689-5888

www.wmho.org

On February 4 the Ward Melville Heritage Organization will host a night of music and dancing. This “All You Need Is Love…” event will be a night of Beatle’s love and romance for couples to share and enjoy together.

Long Island’s singer and songwriter Ed Ryan, who has been featured in numerous WBAB competitions, will perform classic Beatle’s songs like Love Me Do to help spread the Beatle’s messages about love to celebrate the day designed for lovers. For $75, the night will also include a buffet courtesy of the Three Village Inn with a side of wine for couples to enjoy though out the night.  Together, this night of dinner and dancing will an unforgettable night devoted to classics and lovers.

Fire Island Light House

4640 Captree Island

Captree Island

631.661.4876

www.fireislandlighthouse.com

Lovers will have the opportunity for share an intimate moment while watching the sunset during the “Lighthouses is for Lovers” event. The Fire Island Lighthouse, for $40 per couple, will provide couples with light refreshments on the terrace after climbing the 180 ft. tower together. The couples are then invited to watch the sun set delicately over the Great South Bay, a picturesque visual they can intimately share together.

Each couple will also receive a complimentary flower and chocolates. Together the sunset, the chocolate and the company of a loved one will truly make this Valentine’s Day unique and memorable.

Prime- An American Kitchen and Bar

117 New York Ave

Huntington

631-385-1515

www.fireislandlighthouse.com

Prime, nestled behind the Huntington Harbor, has organized a Valentine’s Day special stretching from February 11 to the 14. A loving atmosphere will be preserved all weekend long with Prime’s special Valentine’s Day menu.

Couples can share a three-course meal from the international award-winning restaurant. The meal includes a special Valentine’s Day “Surf &Turf.” The “turf” includes a selection of fine steaks such as filet mignon, porterhouse and ribeye which can be paired with lobster, king crabs and prawns from the “surf” side of the menu.  Following the entrée, two mouthwatering deserts – flourless chocolate torte and macadamia nut dried cranberry tart-  make for a sweet end to a sweet holiday.

January 23 marked the start to the Year of the Dragon in Chinese culture. One Long Island hotel is celebrating.

Chinese New Year celebration is underway at the Viana Hotel and Spa in Westbury. Tonight, the hotel will ring in the Chinese New Year with a series of Chinese theme events.

“We are a feng shui property, and since feng shui originated in China, it is only fitting that we hold a Chinese New Year celebration,” said Nancy Lupo, corporate sales manager for the Viana Hotel and Spa in a press release.

The hotel will be decorated with Chinese lanterns and dragons and guests checking into the hotel today and Wednesday will each receive a fortune cookie.

Guests can celebrate with Chinese drink and appetizer specials in the Marco Polo restaurant and lounge Monday night.

The Chinese theme will also be infused into Wednesday evening’s manager’s reception, a weekly event in which hotel management invites overnight guests for wine and hors d’oeuvres at Marco Polo.

“It’s a gourmet retail experience with hospitality of a 5 star restaurant,” said Cary Tober, sales and marketing director of The Meat House in Nassau County.

The Meat House opened its doors to Long Islanders for the first time on Friday during its grand opening celebration. It comes from a national gourmet butcher shop and grocer that has 28 locations in 10 states and this is Long Island’s very first location.

“It’s the perfect location,” said Jason Gerbsman, of Welco Realty, who handles properties for the store. Gerbsman said The Meat House is a truly unique experience and is sure to satisfy the local community.

The Meat House offers local meats, dairy and fresh produce. The store got a warm welcome from the Flower Hill Mayor, Charles W. Weiss, who instead of cutting a ribbon, cut a slab of meat.

“It’s always exciting to welcome a new business to Flower Hill,” said Weiss, “and to bring a very well known brand, a very high end brand will be a great convenience to all residents in the area.”

After cutting the slice of meat and posing for photos, Weiss walked around the store alongside shoppers. ”It’s very clean and the food looks so appetizing,” he said.

Weiss was accompanied by Flower Hill Village Treasurer, Kathy Wade. She too, was impressed with the store.

“It’s beautiful, the display cases are really nice,” said Wade. “The food is so wonderful and fresh.”

The food is not only fresh, it’s also all local.

The bakery goods come from Long Island’s A Taste Of Home Bakery, while other products like the milk, meat, bread and even the coffee beans hail from local vendors.

“We source as many local products as we can,” said Tober. “By supporting local providers we have a bigger impact on the community because we can support them economically.”

And Tober ensures they’re the highest possible quality from the cookies to the exotic meats like ostrich and alligator tail.

“The quality of this place reflects businesses here,” said Ronnie Shatzkamer, Flower Hill Village Administrator. “Flower Hill is an upscale village.”

The high quality of the shop like that of a Fifth Avenue boutique, is thanks to the employees of The Meat House, who go great lengths to handpick their products carefully. The whole team at The Meat House does the taste testing around Long Island, it’s a commitment and focus of the entire team, which Tober says the entire team enjoys.

“It’s the best part of our job, being able to find the local food is the fun part. We get to go out and taste all of the great food, which also makes it so hard to choose,” he added.

While The Meat House handpicks their products, customer feedback is equally important. The store relies heavily on customer feedback for their ever-evolving food stock.

Expanding their food supply is one thing, The Meat House also looks to expand its locations on Long Island. The Roslyn-area location is the first of many stores planned to hit Long Island.

“Over the next few years, we’re looking to expand all over Long Island,” said Tober. “We’ll be opening five to 10 more stores here.”

New York Islanders (Associated Press)

Islanders fans rejoice, Tattoo Lou’s will not be leaving the concourse anytime soon.

This week, Lou Rubino Jr. of Tattoo Lou’s announced exciting news: Tattoo Lou’s partnership with the New York Islanders hockey club will be extended for the remainder of the 2011-2012 NHL season.

Originally, the Tattoo Lou’s Penalty Box, that offers fans tattooing and piercing services during Islanders home games, was to remain active only for 10 select Islander games but thanks to its success, it will remain open for the remaining 21 Islander home games of the current season.

“The first 10 games of the opening of the Tattoo Lou’s Penalty Box have been a great success,” said Lou Rubino Jr., president of Tattoo Lou’s in a statement and also noted that it boosted business at his Tattoo Lou’s locations across Long Island too.

The partnership started back in September, when the Islanders announced news they had designated Tattoo Lou’s as the team’s official tattoo shop, marking the first time a professional sports franchise has ever designated an official tattoo shop.

Since then, fans were able to get Islanders ink or any tattoo of their choosing including the rival team’s logo done during game-time at the tattoo shop’s booth at Nassau Coliseum. The area was dubbed “The Penalty Box” and includes a television with the hockey game playing at all times.

“Fans have been loving the idea of artists tattooing right there on the spot, yet many didn’t believe it was true until they actually walked up to see it with their own eyes,” said Rubino.

And fans aren’t the only ones getting inked, Rubino Jr. says the players and coaches have even sought their services.

“We have tattooed many of the players and assistant coach Scott Allen,” said Rubino. “The players love the idea of having their official tattoo shop to go to and get their ink and it brings a special treatment and closeness to our partners.”

Along with two tattoo artists providing tattoos averaging around $60 to hockey fans, players and coaches, there is also one professional body piercer offers piercing services. The Penalty Box also offers those not wanting to commit to a permanent tattoo, temporary and airbrushed tattoos. Additionally, Tattoo Lou’s sells Islanders-centric body jewelry along with tattoo-inspired Islanders T-shirts and sweatshirts.

The New York Islanders held their second annual Special Hockey Day Saturday, January 14 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Long Islanders headed to the coliseum to attend the special event before the Islanders beat the Sabres at Saturday evening’s hockey game— Their proceeds went to benefit the Long Island Blues.

The all-day affair, which began at 1 p.m., featured Islanders players, present and past, who dedicated their time and talent to assist developmentally disabled children and adults in an on-ice clinic and exhibition.

The Islanders hosted the Long Island Blues, Long Island’s only developmentally disabled hockey team, along with other members of the American Special Hockey Association. Special guests included former Islanders star Benoit Hogue, who joined members of the current Islanders team to help run the players through drills.

“This is an event that shows how great our game is,” Hogue said in a statement. “It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re able to do in your everyday life, it’s simply about our passion and love for the game of hockey within our community. Being part of Special Hockey Day and making this unforgettable for everyone is totally priceless.”

This weekend, the LIU Post Tilles Center in Greenvale will serve as a time machine and transport families to the Mesozoic Era. Children and adults will be invited to an exciting Dinosaur Petting Zoo.

The petting zoo will be presented by Erth, and will kick of January 20 where the Australian based physical theater company will combine puppetry, aesthetics and performance to recreate a Jurassic Park-like experience. The interactive petting zoo will be presented as a live animal show that allows children to pet, water and even feed life size puppets while “zookeepers” entertain and educate the audience about their life.

Of course, a scare or two is tossed into each show as the puppeteers manipulate every move of the dinosaurs to create a genuine prehistoric feel.  The dinosaurs will roar, run and some may even rebel.

The special dinosaur guests include a dwarf allosaur and a leptictidium. One of the most popular dinosaurs is the surprisingly adorable baby dryosaur, which is carried out in a sling by zookeepers. The zookeepers will cradle these ancient infants, while the audience learns about life as a herbivore. The audience members will then catch a glimpse into the life of one of the most ferocious dinosaurs to roam Australia: the tyrannosaurus rex. The tyrannosaurus rex may appear to be under the command of the zookeeper, but beware; this terrifying carnivore may try to take a taste of a naughty audience member.

To meet these ancient celebrities, the Tilles Center has arranged numerous show times beginning on Friday for $22 per ticket.

You knows your favorite restaurant, the go to place for that special date, birthday or just to cheer you up if you’ve got a case of the blues. Now is your chance to nominate that dining establishment and give them the credit they deserve for serving you so well.

Long Island Restaurant News is now asking Long Island foodies to nominate their favorite eats for the “Finest Plates 2012″ poll. The poll will share the best restaurants with Long Islanders looking for a place to grab great grub, as well as give recognition to the best local restaurants.

“The poll not only shows diners what are the best restaurants on the island and tell restaurateurs what their customers love, it gives us great insight into which restaurants people want to hear more about,” said Tara Berkoski, managing editor of Long Island Restaurant News in a statement.

Voters aren’t limited to one choice, the poll provides a slew of different categories including:

Best Restaurant
Best Chef
Best Service
Best Deal
Best Romantic Restaurant
Best Restaurant for the Holidays
Best View
Best Outdoor Dining
Best Brunch
Best Wine Bar/Wine Selection
Best Bar Scene
Best Steakhouse
Best Seafood
Best Burger
Best Italian
Best French
Best Mediterranean (includes Greek, Turkish, Lebanese, etc.)
Best Asian (includes Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Korean & Asian-fusion)
Best Mexican

Long Islanders looking to get in on the competition and nominate their favorite restaurant can click here!

The American Bombshells will be gracing the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum to sing the National Anthem at Thursday’s Islanders game. The group will be performing as the Islanders take on the Flyers on their home turf.

The American Bombshells Entertainment is a charity entertainment organization with the mission to provide entertainment to our wounded and disabled Veterans, along with our U.S. troops and patriotic American citizens.

If you are interested in attending the Islanders game and watching the American Bombshells perform, they’re still tickets available. Check out www.Islanders.nhl.com. If you are unable to attend, the American Bombshells say video footage will be posted on the American Bombshells website in the coming weeks.

The exciting Alure Design & Planning Show is back for another year.

Alure Home Improvements just announced that the 5th annual Free Design & Planning Show for Long Island will kick off Martin Luther King weekend.

The event will take place Saturday, Jan. 14 through Monday, Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at Alure’s showroom in East Meadow.

“We are pulling out all stops,” Alure Home Improvements said on its website.

The show, as every year, is open to the public and will include free educational seminars as well as free food, drinks, raffles, prizes and special promotions for attendees. In addition, the show is super kid-friendly with tons of kid’s activities including spin art, games and balloon animals.

“Attendees will be able to see displays of the hottest and most popular trends in home remodeling,” Alure Home Improvements said in a press release.

Visitors will learn about “The Underground Revolution,” and how to transform wasted space into more living space with the Owens Corning Basement Finishing System. Visitors will also learn about “Green Remodeling,” with the Going Green Seminar, and find out what it means to truly go green and how to make a difference and help the environment. Alure will be providing other interesting educational seminars ranging from five-day bathroom remodels, do-it yourself tips to cooking and wine pairing.

“Want to understand the basics of the vino? Come joine the wine specialist, Joe Bertuccio and take the well-charted journey through the world of wine,” Alure Home Improvements said.

Bertuccio will provide a special seminar, The Grapevine, where visitors will learn everything about pairing and storage.

The show will also feature special seminars provided by Alure’s partners including Felicos Catering, Audio Video Invasion, JLC Landscaping, Moen Faucets, as well as three celebrity Long Island Chefs who will be conducting cooking seminars.

Experts will also be on hand throughout the weekend to answer any questions visitors may have.

One of the most exciting aspects of the show is that attendees can receive a free 15 minute Design Imaging Session at the show. The visitors will see their homes transformed right before their eyes with Alure’s digital imaging software.

Attendance is free and online registration is now open. A full listing of the seminars and kids activities can be found at the Alure blog.

Five Towns College will be hosting their first Open House and Transfer Enrollment Week of 2012 later this month.

It’s the perfect time to visit the college for those who are considering transferring schools. It’s not too late to apply to Five Towns College in Dix Hills as classes start January 24.

The Open House will kick off Saturday, January 14 at 1 p.m., where the school will provide presentations to prospective students covering all of the school’s most popular programs such as Audio Recording, Music, Music Business, Theatre, Filmmaking, Mass Communication, Elementary & Music Teacher Education.

During the Open House, attendees will be able to experience the innovative technology that students get to work with everyday and will be able to witness mixing in one of the school’s audio recording studios featuring the SL9000J, a 72 channel sound board.

Aside from checking out one of the many recording studios on site, attendees will also have the chance to speak with faculty regarding the field of business or music business featuring audio recording and music business.

“Take this opportunity to meet with our talented staff as well as Admissions, Financial Aid and Career Services Representatives,” said the college in a press release.

Additionally, career services will explain the wide-range of internships available, as well as job placement and career opportunities while representatives from Financial Aid and Admissions will be answering questions throughout the day.

If you can’t make it to the Open House, stop by the school during Transfer Enrollment Week taking place from January 17 to January 20, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

“We’ll give you an on-the-spot evaluation of your transcripts and waive the application fee,” says Five Towns College.

For more information or to speak with an Admissions Representative, call 631-656-2110 today or visit www.ftc.edu.

Tuesday, January 24 at 6 p.m., actress Mercedes Ruehl will be interviewed by Dawn Watson for a special Art & Dine Series at The Living Room in East Hampton.

The Living Room Restaurant just announced its exciting next segment as part of a special Art & Dine series that features special dinners highlighting guest artists, writers, musicians and more.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. at the East Hampton restaurant where guests will be able to enjoy a meet and greet with the special guests followed by a prix fixe dinner of two courses prepared by Executive Chef James Carpenter with a cookie plate for dessert and a glass of wine.

After dinner, Southampton Press Features Editor Dawn Watson will interview Queens-born actress Mercedes Ruehl.

Ruehl is an American actor who began her career in regional theatre with the Denver Center Theatre Company. She is best known for her film role in “The Fisher King;” her performance in the film earned her the 1991 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as well as an American Comedy Award, a Boston Society of Film Critics Award, a Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award, and a Golden Globe.

She’s the first Cuban American female Academy Award winner and has appeared in “Married to the Mob” which earned her yet another award; the 1989 National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also played KACL station manager Kate Costas in five episodes of Frasier, and had a major role in the made-for-TV film All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story.

Additional Art & Dine dates in 2012 include February 7 and February 21. The cost of the evening is $36 per person.

The Bohlsen Restaurant Group is set to open their newest restaurant, Monsoon – Asian Kitchen and Lounge this year.

The new restaurant is set to open its doors to the public in February, offering patrons a plate within the 9,500-square-foot former Bank of Babylon in Babylon Village.

“There is a lot going on behind-the-scenes in what is a truly cavernous expanse,” said co-owner Michael Bohlsen in a statement.

The restaurant will feature a below ground IT room, two basements, and a complete prep kitchen. A state-of-the-art hot kitchen with a 20-foot-long viewing window can be found on the second floor while a bar, lounge and mobile DJ booth can be found on the ground floor.

“Building a restaurant today is like preparing to launch a rocketship,” said Bohlsen.

Michael and his brother Kurt are currently working together to renovate the space and are posting updates on their website Monsoonny.com. They’ll be restoring the grey stone exterior to its original luster and will “bring a modern sensibility to the classic column styled building.”

Monsoon will be the family’s sixth restaurant and the first Asian dining concept for them.

“Monsoon is also about really great food. The food of Monsoon extracts the essence of Asia. Monsoon bridges the gap between authentic Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai and what Long Islanders love most about modern Asian cuisine,” said Bohlsen. “Among the scores of dishes designed to excite and entertain our diners’ palates are Millionaire’s Curry Crab from the best street restaurant in Bangkok, Bahn Xeo and Shaking Beef from Vietnam, and Hong Kong’s Under the Bridge Chili Crab.”

The Bohlsen brothers currently own Verace in Islip, Prime in Huntington, Tellers in Islip, H2O in Smithtown, and Long Island’s Beachtree Restaurant in East Islip.

“We hope everyone across Long Island will come see what we see as a restaurant of the 21st century, making use of all of the toys technology has to offer us, while taking some of the oldest and most tried and true Asian dishes, and bringing them, the Bohlsen way, to Long Island,” he said.

New Year’s Eve is traditionally a night for reminiscing about the closing year and welcoming the year ahead all mixed with champagne, dancing and loved ones. But that is just the general recipe for New Year’s Eve as each New Year’s Eve event has its own flavor. Some may chose to ring in the new year the classy way in ballrooms, while others may hit the club for a night of fist pumping while “Jersey Shore” star Pauly D spins house music.

Regardless of taste, Long Island has got New Year’s Eve covered. On December 31, Long Island will be home to countless events to ring in the new year, each with its own flare. So, to ensure that 2011 concludes with a bang, head to the following places:

The Paramount

370 New York Avenue

Huntington

www.paramountny.com

In September, the theater opened its doors to the public and has since been dubbed a “hot spot” on Long Island. Now, The Paramount will be home to the Rockin’ Eve party beginning at 8 p.m. The night will include a live performance from Canada’s newest artist Mia Martina, and sets from DJ Fresh to ensure non-stop music all night.  The party will also be home to Long Island’s radio and television personality, Vic Latino and former NBA star Dennis Rodman. This star studded night will make each guest feel like a celebrity as they dance the night away with hats and noisemaker provided by the venue.

Tiles Center for Performing Arts

720 Northern Boulevard

Greenvale

www.liphilharmonic.com

The Tiles Center for Performing Arts will be hosting Long Island’s Philharmonic’s New Year’s Eve Spectacular.  The orchestra, directed by David Stewart Wiley, will perform “Over the Rainbow,” from the Wizard of Oz, “A Whole New World” from Disney’s Aladdin, “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic and much more. To accompany these classic songs will be Broadway stars Matt Cavenaugh, Jenn Gambatase, and Sean MacLaughlin.

Harbor Front Inn

209 Front St.

Greenport

www.theharborfrontinn.com

The Harbor Front Inn of Greenport is opening its doors this New Year’s Eve to guests seeking an intimate start to 2012. The hotel is offering a celebration getaway package, which includes a two night stay from December 30 to January 1. Upon checking in, guests will discover a premium North Folk wine and that’s just the start to the stay. The place will host a New Year’s Eve cocktail party hosted by the manager in the lobby who will serve up appetizers and Champagne. Wake up the next day and enjoy a complimentary breakfast.

Tis’ the season for skating, ice skating that is.

As the temperature drops and the snow starts to fall, droves of Long Islanders head to local rinks to try out their best triple axels and layback spins.

Grab a pair of skates and lace up. Here are a few of the best rinks to try this season:

Newbridge Arena- The ice skating rink on Newbridge Road is a great place to go with friends or family to skate and have a good time. The indoor ice skating rink offers both skating and hockey lessons, hockey games, as well as general skating. Skates are available to rent or to buy at the skate shop. Residents of the town of Hempstead can even receive discounted admission (the general price of admission is $7.50).

Christopher Morley- The outdoor ice skating rink is located in Roslyn, and was built back in the 1970s. The rink is surrounded by scenery beautiful enough to take your breath away and makes for quite the skating experience. Inside the admissions office, is a warm fire pit to help warm skaters on break. The rink also offers skating lessons. Admission goes for $7.

Tanger Outlets At The Arches- The outdoor ice skating rink circles the outlet’s giant Christmas tree in the center court. Ice skating rentals available for $4 and admission is $7. When off the ice, skaters can explore and shop in the outlets. This Tanger was modeled after a stucco Tuscan Village, and offers a myriad of stores and shopping experiences, including a Regal Cinemas Theatre.

Bayville Winter Wonderland- Bayville theme park is the place to be all year, with a mini golf course, haunted house and winter wonderland depending on season. Ice skating is the activity of the winter at Bayville theme park where it’s offered forf $6, which include rentals. Along with skating, visitors can enjoy a Toy Factory 3D attraction, train ride, and light show.

Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center- The new, indoor ice skating rink is for all to enjoy including figure skaters, hockey players, and recreational skaters. It’s NHL regulation size and connects to a separate pool complex, making it perfect for all seasons. The facility is also equipped with locker rooms, showers and community rooms. Admission prices vary.

The Rinx- The indoor ice skating complex in Hauppauge includes public skating, adult hockey, day camps, pre-school, hockey clinics, and skating lessons. The complex is equipped with a separate complex with a pool and swimming. Public skating admission for adults is $10 and $5.50 for skate rentals.

Reckson Plaza Ice Rink- Previously known as EAB Plaza, in Uniondale, Reckson Plaza now boasts a beautiful outdoor ice skating open to the public. The skating complex also offers snacks and food, and the plaza offers seasonal window displays and shopping.

New York Islanders' Kyle Okposo (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

February 20, Long Islanders will have the chance to enjoy an amazing night of hockey and support a great mission: to give children with disabilities the opportunity to participate in sports.

The New York Islanders are teaming up with Mastic Sports League Kyle Sports to fundraise for the special needs program.

The pairing will provide a memorable night for Long Islanders this President’s Day when Mastic Sports League Kyle Sport becomes the ’Charity of the Game.’

The hockey team will donate a portion of the 50/50 ticket raffle that night to their organization. But that’s not all, the charity will also be hosting a slew of fun activities that day.

The event will kick off at 11 a.m., with an optional buffet at the Long Island Marriot, then a pre-game skate will take place followed by an exciting Islanders game and post-game pictures on the ice.

Tickets are available now with an authentic Islanders t-shirt included with purchase. Additionally, all children will receive a special Islanders gift bag.

Even more exciting, each ticket holder will be automatically entered for the chance to win a spot to high-5 the Islanders, ride on the fanzam or watch warm-ups from the penalty box.

For more information or to inquire about tickets contact Debbie Metz : 631-767-4354.

licares.org

During this time of the year it is exceptionally difficult to scrape by. The holiday season can be an enormous financial burden with the purchase of gifts, food, decorations and travel expenses. In one month a bank account can be wiped clean. However, the holiday season is also the time to dive into our nearly empty wallets and give to others. After all giving is what Christmas is all about.

It often pays to be charitable; generosity can go a long way. Just one donated toy can keep hope shining in a child’s eye. A few dollars can feed an entire family, and a coat could clothe a child during the cold, harsh Long Island winter. So do your part this season and spread the holiday cheer. Here are a few not-for-profit organizations on Long Island that could use your help this season:

The Mary Brennan Inn

Hempstead

the-inn.org

Serving the Town of Hempstead since 1983, the Mary Brennan Inn has been a savior to many suffering financially. Under the direction of Toni Ebron, the volunteer project manager, benevolent Long Islanders head to the Inn each weekday to serve lunch to the “guests” of the Inn. Regardless of the season, these volunteers manage the kitchen, the dining room and the pantry to ensure each guest is fully satisfied.  If cooking isn’t your thing, you can still do your part at the Mary Brennan Inn and clear out your pantry for canned goods to be handed out to guests for the weekends. You can also raid your closet for those warm sweaters you haven’t touched in years. Clothes, especially warm clothes, are always accepted at the Inn.

This holiday season the Inn has two special missions. The first is to collect 1,000 coats to ease the pains of winter for the guests. The second is to provide the younger guests with new, unwrapped toys so the joys of the holiday season are felt by all. With your generosity and donations of coats or toys, the Mary Brennan Inn will certainly ensure that all guests have a special Christmas.

The Ronald McDonald House on Long Island

New Hyde Park

rmhlongisland.org

For years the Ronald McDonald House in the Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York has open their doors to families enduring the troubles of a sick child. Equipped with bedrooms, kitchens and living areas the house is designed to provide a comfortable environment for families while their child heals. The house regularly provides shelter and food, with the help of volunteers of the dinner program. The house offers as much amenities as possible to console the families.

To contribute and help lessen a family’s burden, monetary donations are always accepted to keep the house open or to keep a family afloat. The house also has a regular wish list of goods not provided for the families, but are necessary for the family. The list includes linens, cleaning supplies, toiletries, and canned goods. These goods will go directly to families suffering financially as their child undergoes countless treatments. New toys can also be accepted to keep the children’s spirits. To raise funds during the holiday season the Ronald McDonald House on Long Island is offering to craft together holiday greeting cards for a small consolation. Cards being distributed to family and friends will cost a mere five dollars and while cards for business associates will cost ten dollars. It is a great way to advocate for the house, and to spread holiday cheer.

Toys of Hope

Huntington Station

toysofhope.org

Established in 1994, Toys of Hope has been providing the underprivileged children of Long Island with faith and entertainment via toys.  The organization believes that toys can be a redeeming feature for a child; they can instill a sense of pride in a child with little. Each year, Toys of Hope will place smiles on about 65,000 children as they are presented with new toys of their own from this thriving organization. As Toys of Hope is strictly voluntary, the organization continually asks Long Islanders to extend their heart and help organize fundraisers and aid with networking. All efforts will be repaid with the joy radiating from the children you have helped.

Toys of Hope works year round, but the holiday season is their busiest time of the year as the organization works diligently to ensure each child has a present under the tree and hope in their heart. So give a local child hope and donate an unwrapped gift. With your help, you can foster a sense dignity in a child presented with financial difficulties.

Long Island Cares

Hauppauge

licares.org

As Long Island’s first food bank, Long Island Cares has provided many with the basic necessity of food.  Since 1980, the corporation has helped countless families become self-sufficient and has supplied them with food in emergencies. Each year about 6 million pounds of food are distributed to those in need through Long Island Cares. The corporation also seeks to educate all of Long Island about the roots of hunger and the devastating effects of hunger in an attempt to wipe hunger off of Long Island.

To help campaign against hunger on Long Island, food donations are always welcomed with open arms. Foods such as pasta, peanut butter and canned soup are constantly needed. Long Island Cares is also seeking donated toiletries, baby cares and cleaning products to help sustain a family. So to ensure all Long Island families have a stuffing holiday rummage through your kitchen to help disseminate cheer and some extra Christmas pasta.

Reporting by Gina Brindisi.

Tangeroutlet.com/riverhead

For the holidays, Tanger Outlet Center in Riverhead is getting into the spirit of giving by remembering the men and women that serve Riverhead.

The outlet center has donated over $2000 to the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance, Riverhead Police Department and Fire Department this year.

“It is an honor to recognize the members of our local police and  volunteer fire department and ambulance,” stated Janine Nebons, General Manager of the Tanger Outlet Center in Riverhead in a press release. “They are the backbone of our community and do so much to serve and protect us all year long.”

This isn’t the first time Tanger has made charitable donations. The outlet center has made donations throughout it’s history. Since 1994, Tanger has raised over $10 million to fight cancer. In the past year, Tanger donated $41,000 to the North Fork Breast Health Coalition and $41,000 to Peconic Bay Medical Center Cancer Screening program to battle breast cancer and help save lives in the Riverhead area. Nationally, Tanger raised and donated more than $1.1 million to fight breast cancer as part of its TangerStyle Pink campaign.

Winter is typically not a season many of us look forward to. Shoveling snow off your driveway, scraping off ice from your windshields in the wee hours of the morning, hauling about five extra pounds of clothing around each day, and the worst, spending all your savings on holiday presents for people you barely know.

The funny thing about the chilly season we consider one of the least favorites is that it’s considered just the opposite for kids. It’s one of the most exciting times of the year for them: Santa bringing toys, sledding with friends and lots of snow days and snow angels to make.

Your opinion of the season can easily change by incorporating fun outings! And that’s so easy, thanks to the slew of great places on Long Island. Here are a few places to go to enjoy the winter weather.

Big River Barn in Old Westbury (bigriverbarn.com)

Winter horseback riding is all the rage this year and Big River Barn is even offering great gift certificates that make awesome holiday presents ($100 for a ride lasting at least 1 1/4 hours). It’s a fun, healthy gift that will lift the spirits. Share your love of horses, adventure, the outdoors, riding.

Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead (longislandaquarium.com).

Long Island Aquarium offers an array of aquatic animal activities from penguin encounters, allowing visitors to get up close to a penquin, to shark dives, allowing visitors to get up close (and behind a cage of course) to sharks. Additionally, Long Island Aquarium boasts an all new butterfly exhibit, that will showcase thousands of butterflies and birds set in an enchanted garden. While your there, don’t forget to check out the new beautiful banquet hall, that comes as an elegant take on the lost city of Atlantis!

Nassau Coliseum in Hempstead (nassaucoliseum.com)

Nassau Coliseum has long been the go-to place for families looking for a good show. For years, the place has provided visitors with the very best in entertainment. One upcoming show you don’t want to miss is Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil. The show is set to take place April 7 & 8. The amazing show comes as a fusion of visuals, dance, music and fantasy that immerses audiences in Michael’s creative. Through awesome performances, Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour underscores Michael’s global messages of love, peace and unity.

NYCB Theatre in Westbury (livenation.com)

NYCB Theatre at Westbury has long been providing the very best in concerts including David Archuleta, Psychic Medium John Edward and George Lopez. One of the most exciting acts to hit the Westbury stage in 2012 is Jack Hanna’s Into The Wild Live. He’ll be at Westbury January 15 at 1 p.m. Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild takes viewers on an exciting journey with footage of his adventures around the world. The live show also features many of his favorite exotic animal friends.

Dix Hills Performing Arts Center in Dix Hills (dhpac.org)

You can always count on The Dix Hills Performing Arts Center for a great musical performance. The place boasts a slew of amazing shows including Jazz Ensemble, Black Tie Affair Orchestra with Tom Manuel and The Magical Music of Stevie Wonder with Steve Briody sand Friends. Aside from music, Dix Hills Performing Arts Center also provides some great magic shows like Thaddeus’ Magic Emporium. Thaddeus’ Magic Emporium is set to take stage Sunday, January 22, 2:00 p.m. (costs $10), where Thaddeus takes viewers on a tour filled with adventure, mystery, and surprises in his Magical Emporium.

The Nassau University Medical Center has announced the launch of 230 slice coronary CT angiography, becoming the first to offer the technology in Nassau County.

The new technology allows doctors to better visualize coronary arteries and evaluate blocked arteries by a non-invasive method. It allows for high quality pictures of the heart vessel with faster but lower radiation exposures than ever before.

“Most scanners available currently use 64 detectors. The advantage of using the 320 detector technology is to achieve very high quality pictures of the heart vessels, faster, but lower radiation exposure,” said President and CEO of the NuHealth System, Arthur A. Gianelli in a press release.

According to NuHealth, the 320 Detector Coronary CT-Angiography is a modification of CT chest to provide optimized views of the coronary arteries, improving image quality of the heart and adjacent structures compared with previous generations of CT scanners.

The technology will allow for more thorough check for the presence and extent of coronary artery disease as well as allow better views of the pulmonary veins before procedures.

“The 320-slice AquilionOne CT provides very high temporal and spatial resolution and increased anatomic coverage in a single heartbeat. It’s an advanced scanner which avoids attempting to reconstruct images from several beats, so it makes the images remarkably clear for diagnosis,” said Dr Amgad Makaryus, director of cardiovascular imaging at North Shore University Hospital, who helped launch the new cardiac CT program at Nassau University Medical Center.

Next week, 60 lucky women of the Family Service League will receive a free make-over thanks to Cactus Salon.

On Monday, December 12, the Dix Hills’ Cactus will be hosting their annual Dinner & Make-Over Night.

The event will take place from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. where Cactus has invited over 60 women from the Family Service League to help get them prepared to re-enter the workforce.

The women will receive color and cut from Cactus stylists, but that’s not all. The women will also receive dinner, accessories and more, all courtesy of the owners and staff of all 25 Cactus locations that will volunteer their expertise and time for the special event.

According to Cactus Salon & Day Spa, there goal is to make these women feel beautiful and confident to overcome life’s obstacles.

The women invited to the event come from Family Service League of Long Island, which helps individuals, children and families to use their strengths and improve the quality of their lives at home, in the workplace and in the community. They help families affected by substance abuse or homelessness, teenage eating disorders and elderly assistance, among other things.

“I feel if you can touch people and brighten their day… it’s worth it. Happiness for me is seeing others smile,” Joe Secreti, owner of the 25 Cactus Salons across Long Island states.

For more information, check out www.cactussalon.com.

(Photo Credit: Danny Newland,John Burns, Domingo Lantigua, and Michael Papile.)

Meet Deadly Bison Entertainment, a group of Long Island guys with an ardor for gaming. Though this may sound like most young males on Long Island, DBE not only has the talent necessary to excel in advanced video games, but they also possess sophisticated business savvy that has been allowing them to make a profit off of what is commonly known as a “hobby,” with their primary goal of providing the Long Island community with competitive gaming footage of tournaments and even casual game play.

Their members consist mainly of  Danny “Zookeeper aka Dynamite Lion” Newland, who is in charge of graphics and music for the videos which appear on Deadly Bison’s youtube,  RJ “Rooster” Lamb does the marketing and advertising for the group and Justin “JTimms” Timms edits Deadly Bison Entertainments film.

“We are a group of gamers/video game enthusiast who’ve decided to take the opportunity to broadcast live games via the internet. Our content includes live game tournament footage or interviews with players or questions and answers about specific games. Our current focus is the game Ultimate Marvel VS Capcom 3, however we will extend our endeavors to other games market,” explains Danny Newland of Deadly Bison Entertainment.

DBE derived their name based off the character “M Bison” from the Street Fighter series. He happens to be one of the more well known villains within the Street Fighter story and the group thought it would be a good idea to continue with that concept, transform the Bison into the deadliest of all bisons, thus Deadly Bison Entertainment.

Newland explains that as ESports began to grow, he and his friends decided to become a part of the community and contribute “exclusive content that hails from Long Island.”

The guys practice several times a week. Casual games are held weekly at what is referred to as the “home base” or the FNC Arena in West Islip and “in house” sessions are held more frequently at a member’s house. Tournaments, played biweekly, are quick games that can last anywhere from ten to sixty seconds. Winners are determined in either best of three, five or seven and winners at this level can expect to compete at a higher level where cash prizes can be won.

DBE plays and promotes Ultimate Marvel VS Capcom 3, a highly competitive 1v1 fighting game. It is a swift and inherently fast game where players must simultaneously attack and counter attack; anticipating the next move of their opponent.

While it may seem obvious that gaming is entertaining, there is an ample amount of technique, “People don’t realize there’s a lot of skill involved in gaming. Not only do you need to have the proper mental capacity; but it’s also physically trying too; your hands are constantly moving,” Newland states.

Though cash prizes can be won through competing, the majority of money comes from the advertisements promoted on DBE’s live streaming youtube videos. For those who are not familiar, live streaming videos gives people on Long Island, and even globally, an opportunity to see the professional qualities involved in gaming and can help other gamers pick up on new ideas and techniques while expanding the community for all gamers. DBE’s videos can be found on YouTube.

“Most people are not aware of the professionalism that is beginning to grow within the gaming community or how a career can even flourish because of it.” Newland continues, “Of course it sounds silly at first, but it is the next big thing. It’s a community where everyone is welcomed, especially for expressing ideas and expressing creativity in general.”

Check out Deadly Bison Entertainment’s videos on Twitch and connect with DBE via their Facebook.

Jeffrey Combs being honored by Anthony Scotto of Fox Hollow in Woodbury.

Tuesday, Sergeant Jeffrey Combs, of the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Division, was honored at a Toys For Tots Holiday Gift Drive and Tree Lighting in Woodbury.

The event took place at Woodbury’s Fox Hollow Catering, where the local marine helped the Scotto family celebrate their 2nd annual Toys For Tots Gift Drive and Tree Lighting event.

Attendees brought unwrapped toys for donation to the catering hall where they also enjoyed an evening of performances, photographs with Santa, desserts, and more.

During the evening, Combs was honored by Anthony Scotto and his wife Tina. He was thanked for his dedication and hard work. Scotto described Combs’ time in Iraq, which started in 2002 when he was just 17.

“In 2004, he deployed with 1st Bn 8th Marines to Fallujah, Iraq, in direct support of “Operation Phantom Fury” which was the siege of the City of Fallujah,” said Scotto.  ”In 2006, Jeff deployed again to Fallujah, with 2nd Scout Reconnaissance Platoon and on August 31st 2006, he was wounded in action from a pressure plate IED which resulted in traumatic amputation of his left arm above the elbow.”

Raquel Castro of "The Voice" performs the National Anthem before delighting the crowd with her very own Christmas song..

Upon his return, Combs was awarded 2 Purple Hearts and was nominated for a 3rd. Although Combs’ time serving with the Marines is over, he continues to serve the country as a Wounded Warrior Project Outreach Coordinator for the Northeast Region.

Combs took the microphone to discuss the importance of the Toys for Tots program and thank everyone for coming out. The humble Marine noted that he’s not to be thanked but instead, is thankful to be here.

“I’m just a guy who got blown up,” he said. “But I’m thankful to be the guy here today.”

Combs was joined by singer, Raquel Castro, who was on hand to perform the National Anthem and her very own holiday song.

“Thanks to the Marines,” she added after her performance.

To end the exciting night, around 8 p.m., attendees headed outside for the tree lighting ceremony.

Helping Hands has announced their annual holiday toy drive will be held on Wednesday December 7, from 3-5:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, located at 340 Union Blvd. in West Islip.

“Everyone is welcome to help! Please bring your own scissors and tape,” stated Helping Hands in a press release. “Having the drive held after school will allow an excellent opportunity for our children to drop off their own donations and have a first hand glimpse of how wonderful our community is, as we come together for the sake of all the precious underprivileged children throughout Suffolk County.”

Last year Helping Hands collected well over 5000 toys and this year they hope to see the same success. But Helping Hands notes that this year may be challenging without your help.

“Local charities once again are forecasting donation lows for this holiday season,” stated Helping Hands.” Many of the children will only receive your Holiday gift.”

Helping Hands asks everyone to donate this year and advises the following:

• If the toy is not new, it is vital that the toys you donate be spotless. The children line up to see Santa for their one special treat.  When the toy is damaged or dirty they miss out until next year.
• If you are not sure of a toys condition, please do not send it in. We can not accept loose, “bottom of the toy box” type donations for this drive. We operate on zero funding and limited volunteers. We don’t even have the dollars to pay for the bags to throw “junky” stuff out.

“Traditionally, we ask that every toy be cleaned and decorated with a ribbon, candy cane or a lollipop,” stated Helping Hands.

Here are some donation suggestions from Helping Hands:

• Dangle Recycled Happy Meal toys from a stuffed animal’s neck.
• Give a doll’s hair a makeover.
• Fill Backpacks and lunch boxes with assorted goodies.
• Stacks of children’s books are tied together with a ribbon and small toy.
• Costume and sterling jewelry make great gifts for the older girls.
• Goody bags are filled with extra bath and body samples.
• Fill recycled gift bags with an assortment of presents for one child. Please label these packages with the sex and age of the child.

Five Towns College will be hosting their December Open House, this Saturday, December 10 at 1 p.m.

“At this event you will be able to meet with faculty and staff, as well as students involved in the many programs we offer at Five Towns College,” stated the college in a press release.

During the Open House, attendees will be able to experience the innovative technology that students get to work with everyday. Visitors will be able to witness mixing in one of the school’s audio recording studios featuring the SL9000J, a 72 channel sound board.

Aside from checking out one of the many recording studios on site, attendees will also have the chance to speak with faculty regarding the field of business or music business featuring audio recording and music business.

Those interested in music will hear presentations from the music faculty on our various programs in music education, performance, song/writing with concentrations in audio recording technology or music business.

“Those interested in theatre will be fascinated by the excellent theatre productions performed by the students over a semester, ranging from musicals, dramas, comedies and even children’s theatre,”stated Five Towns College. ”Our film/video production program is outstanding, featuring the most up-to-date film/video equipment on the north east coast, and with faculty that offer students hands-on experience from the first semester to the last.”

Additionally, career services will explain the wide-range of internships available, as well as job placement and career opportunities while representatives from Financial Aid and Admissions will be on hand to guide you and answer questions.

The Open House starts promptly at 1:00 p.m. at the Dix Hills campus. For more information or to speak with an Admissions Representative, call 631-656-2110 today or visit www.ftc.edu.

The New York Islanders put down the puck and pushed shopping carts through Toys-R-Us in Carle Place in an effort to help brighten up the holidays for hospitalized children.

Players and their families took to the toy store and filled up their shopping carts, purchasing hundreds of toys for pediatric patients at hospitals throughout Long Island.

“Picking out toys and then being able to deliver them to kids in need is a great thing,” Streit said in a press release. “So many kids are going through tough times during the holidays and need our help, so it’s very special that we can make them a little happier. I feel very fortunate to be a part of this.”

The shopping spree, which is sponsored by Emblem Health this year, comes as the fifth for the team.

“Having the Islanders deliver the toys they personally chose brings incredible joy to children who are facing medical challenges at this time of year,” says EmblemHealth President and COO Frank Branchini, who adds that the shopping spree is part of the company’s ongoing effort to give back to the communities it serves. “We’re delighted to partner with the New York Islanders in this wonderful event.”

The shopping spree comes as only the first step, next week, the players will make a trip to pediatric patients at various Long Island hospitals to deliver the gifts.

Hospitals that will receive toys include: Stephen and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park; Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow; Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola; Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook; Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip; St. Mary’s Hospital for Children in Bayside; North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset; and the Henry Viscardi School, serving children with severe physical and medical disabilities, in Albertson.

Restaurant Week proved so successful for one Long Island restaurant, that they have extended the dining promotion to  an entire year.

Popular dining destination in Jericho, Philippe Chow, that serves up a variety of traditional Chinese dishes, has launched the first-ever “Restaurant Year” initiative.

“Focused on growing Philippe Chow Jericho’s largely suburban customer base, “Restaurant Year” presents the special menu offered during the weeklong event and expands the casual dining program throughout the entire year,” states Philippe Chow in a press release.

The promotion is effective immediately and offers patrons, Philippe’s inspired Asian cuisine at a 35 percent discount. According to Philippe Chow, the concept gives frequent customers a real reward but has also proven successful in attracting new customers.

“The explosive response generated by Restaurant Week has led us to reposition Philippe Chow Jericho to satisfy both our highly-discriminating upscale clientele, who will continue to enjoy our signature approach to traditional Asian fare, as well as newer customers who have warmly embraced our food after becoming increasingly disenchanted with the product served at most other local Asian establishments,” said Stratis Morfogen, Principal, CEO, Philippe Chow in a press release.

Modular Build in Deer Park (Photo: Rashed Mian)

Edward Boss admitted he was “a little freaked out” when construction workers with Alure Home Improvements lifted a prefabricated two-box set modular, the size of a school bus, on top of his house to create a new second story to his modest Deer Park home.

A crane, sitting on his front lawn, slowly and methodically lifted the first modular over cable wires and away from tree branches for about 10 minutes before allowing it to hover over what used to be the second floor of Boss’ house, as a handful of construction workers banged some screws and managed to fit the modular perfectly in place atop the house.

The modular build, performed by Alure, attracted a number of interested neighbors to observe what was going on as construction workers prepared the modular for liftoff. Boss’ family set up lawn chairs on the street to catch the instant change to his house during a mild November morning. Others snapped pictures as they looked on.

The change was necessary, said Boss, because a handful of family members, including his sick mother, were moving in with him. He needed more space, so Boss contacted Alure and asked about adding more space to his house.

The company, and Boss, who has lived in Deer Park for all 51 years of his life, agreed that this would be the quickest way to add more space to the house.

“In a week I’m going to have a house,” he said as workers prepared the modular.

Modulars are prefabricated buildings that can instantly be added to a house. Boss’ modular already came with a built in kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms and living room. All that required was for the modular to have a safe trip over the George Washington Bridge and a secure flight into the air before it was nestled on top of Boss’ house.

“We started the process [a week ago],” explained Frank Stehlik, director of operations of the modular division. “We removed the exterior of the house, the roof area…we built a new wall around the perimeter of the exterior of the house to get ready for the modular to be put in place and installed.”

Stehlik said the main concern for a modular build is making sure there is enough clearance over cable wires and on the street. After sales designers and project managers give the thumbs up, then a modular can be installed.

Boss said he chose Alure because of their reputation and their openness with him during the entire process.

“Every time you had a concern they were right there,” he said.

As the second modular rolled in, Boss peeked through a hole to inspect the kitchen area before the modular was to be lifted into the air, completing the nerve-racking segment of the project.

The interior was in perfect condition. Better than he envisioned, he said.

This is one holiday dinner you don’t want to miss.

Library Café, located at 274 Main Street, in Farmingdale will host a special holiday beer dinner on Tuesday, December 6 at 7 p.m.

The dinner features four courses paired with Sam Adams’ Winter Classics brews for $40 per person. Also on hand, will be guest speaker, Jonathan Galeno.

The menu is as follows:

Pretzel
Cinnamon Sugar
Old Fezziwig Ale

Goat Cheese and Apple Salad
Infused Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic Dressing
Angry Orchard Cider

Skirt Steak, Marinated in Boston Lager
OR
Chicken Breast
Marinated in Cranberry Lambic Dressing
Winter Lager

Molten Lava Chocolate Cake
Choice of Black and Brew Coffee Stout
or Chocolate Bock

The Library Café, a casually upscale American bar and restaurant, is one of eight restaurants owned by Lessing’s. The centerpiece of this literary hangout, built in 1907, is a top shelf, full-mirrored bar towering over two stories spanning 25-feet, accessible by a vintage library ladder.

The Hofstra Athletics Department has just announced a new sponsorship agreement with New York Life.

“We are very pleased to announce our new partnership with New York Life and are very grateful for their support,” commented Hofstra University Director of Athletics Jack Hayes in a press release. “Hofstra Athletics is confident that this sponsorship will enable New York Life a great platform, in our women’s basketball program, to promote its brand and to highlight its proactive role in promoting women’s initiatives on Long Island and the greater New York metropolitan area.”

New York Life joined the Pride Corporate Sponsorship family and is the title sponsorship of the upcoming women’s basketball tournament, the New York Life Holiday Invitational—The holiday tournament will feature the Hofstra women’s basketball team hosting Auburn, Marist and Central Connecticut in a two-day tournament on December 21 and 22.

“In addition to the tournament, New York Life will also be the presenting game sponsor at the Women’s Basketball home opener versus St. John’s on Friday, November 18 as well as the Think Pink/Girl Scout Day on February 19 and Family Fun Day on February 26,” stated Hofstra University in a press release.

The agreement will include branding throughout the Mack Sports Complex like on the main scoreboard, and basketball pole padding as well as public address announcements, on-court promotions, co-branded giveaways, and Web presence on GoHofstra.com.

“New York Life is proud to be a part of the season-long sponsorship of the Hofstra women’s basketball team,” said Salvatore Farina, managing partner of the Long Island General Office of New York Life in a press release. “We are pleased to join the fans, students and alumni in our support of our hometown team of talented athletes that, like our agents, take great pride in their performance and believe that it can be achieved through great leadership, support, training and dedication.”

Long Island Cares and Mid Island Collision donate food to needy

Employees of Mid Island Collision and volunteers from Long Island Cares, the Harry Chapin Foundation, worked together Tuesday morning to load boxes of Thanksgiving food donations into trucks outside the Rockville Centre repair shop, with the hope of feeding at least 10,000 hungry families on Long Island this year.

From chicken to yams, both the mechanic shop and nonprofit hunger relief nonprofit group purchased food that would end up on the dinner tables of needy 40,000 Long Islanders who aren’t fortunate enough to create a spread of assorted Thanksgiving sides for a family dinner this holiday season.

“The people that are hurt by this economy—you read about, you hear about—it’s the ones that you don’t hear about, which is almost 80 percent of the people that don’t go to food missions or emergency places for support,” said Robert Jesberger, owner of Mid Island Collision.

At the bustling repair shop, volunteers plucked boxes from large piles and placed them onto pallets before unloading the boxes into dozens of cars and trucks that started pulling up outside the repair shop as early as 5 a.m. Tuesday. The event didn’t halt business at the repair shop, however. Mechanics were working on vehicles on one side of the shop, while pallet jacks rolled in and out as boxes of food were emptied into cars.

In an effort to try and feed as many people as possible, Long Island Cares decided to purchase chickens instead of turkeys this year because the price for the traditional Thanksgiving bird was too exorbitant this year. Recipients will still have the usual Thanksgiving sides and desserts on Thursday.

Paule Pachter, executive director of Long Island Cares, said the chicken decision allowed the nonprofit to buy 20 more percent more food than usual.

“Well of course Thanksgiving time the community’s awareness is heightened because of the issue of hunger,” Pachter said of the significance of donating food during this time of year. “And you know to us Thanksgiving is 365 days a year, but right now, the holiday season, Thanksgiving and Christmas, if the community has the ability to support the local pantry that’s what they should do.”

He encourages people to donate non-perishable foods and frozen turkey to local pantry’s or soup kitchens to help the estimated 320,000 people on Long Island who are hungry, which is up about 30 percent from last year because of unemployment, said Pachter.

“Too many people have lost their jobs, too many people are struggling to get by and this is the time of the year when we reach out to the community to be aware…but frankly its all year long that the hungry need your support,” he said.

Turkey day is coming and it’s coming quick. Really, what’s better than seeing all of your long lost relatives? Not seeing them. After all, don’t we just put up with hiding Great Grandma Carmella’s purse (because she thinks the rest of the family is out to steal it) just to get some of her delicious Thanksgiving grub anyway?

If you don’t have the luxury of seeing your nearest and dearest this holiday, you’re in luck. Long Island’s best cuisine is waiting for you, and it sure gives your Aunt’s delicious desserts a run for their money.  From beautiful views to bountiful buffets, there sure are a lot of choices. Here are a few great places to take up plate this Thanksgiving Thursday.

Talk about a view. Oakdale’s View will be providing an elaborate traditional Thanksgiving Day buffet dinner from 1 to 6 p.m. The newly revamped riverfront destination overlooking the Great South Bay, will serve up Roasted turkey giblet gravy and Roasted prime rib, Pineapple glazed Virginia ham and Roasted Atlantic salmon, among other salad choices and harvest selections like Candied yams and Country stuffing. Desserts are equally as tasty and include Pumpkin pie, Hot apple cobbler and Brownies. The cost is $39.95 per person, $19.95 for children under age 12 and free for children.

Port Jefferson’s Danfords Hotel & Marina will also offer great scenery: beautiful views of Port Jefferson Harbor, while also serving up a traditional Thanksgiving feast. Seatings will take place at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.  The menu, created by Executive Chef Jonathan Levine, boasts an action station, entrees that include Cornish Game Hen and Pumpkin Ravioli, and choice side dishes like Sweet Potato Puree, Grilled Corn on the Cob or Creamed Spinach. The Thanksgiving Table offers patrons Roasted Carved Turkey, Rolled Dark Meat or Cranberry Dressing Spiral Ham. To finish your dining experience with a fine dessert, the restaurant is serving Hot Cranberry Cobbler, Pumpkin Macaroon or Pumpkin Bars Chocolate Mousse Domes. The cost is $44.95 for adults and $19.95 for children under 12.

There’s nothing like spending a holiday at a quaint inn. Stony Brook’s Mirabelle at Three Village Inn will present a Thanksgiving Day Grand Buffet with reservations starting at 12 p.m. The menu, created by Chef Guy Reuge, includes a cold course which boasts Assorted Smoked Fish and Shellfish, Artisan Cheese and Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail; salads and soups that include, Lobster and Potato Salad and Creamy Pumpkin Soup; and carving station that offers Turkey with Natural Pan Gravy, Herb-stuffed Leg of Lamb and Puff-pastry Wrapped Halibut. Traditional Sides include Candied Yams and Cornbread Chestnut Stuffing while Chafing Dishes include Stuffed Turkey with Natural Pan Gravy and Chicken Vol Au Vent. Desserts include Fresh Sliced Fruit Platter, Holiday Pies, Cakes and Cookies. The cost is $49 for adults with children age 12 and under are half-price.

Fine Dining isn’t just for a date, treat yourself to a fancy Thanksgiving feast at East Hampton’s The Living Room. The restaurant will serve a four-course menu from 1 to 8 p.m. with food prepared by Executive Chef James Carpenter. Patrons will dine on everything from Organic Mixed Green Salad and Roasted Pumpkin Soup for the first course; Homemade Pork Rillette Ravioli and Living Room Pate for the second. For the third, options include Traditional Heritage Turkey Dinner with all the fixings or Grilled Berkshire Pork Tenderloin with pumpkin chutney of Hand Cut Fettuccine with mushroom Bolognese. For dessert, opt for Classic Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream, Granny Smith Apple Tart or Sticky Toffee Date Cake with elderberry flower frozen yogurt. All plate choices will be paired with a wine, including dessert—the menu boasts a Dessert Wine Trio, a tasting of three styles of dessert wines. The cost is $85 for the food offerings only, an additional $45 with wine pairings, and child-sized portions for $40.

Other establishments offering Thanksgiving eats include Wading River’s Blackwells Restaurant at Great Rock Golf Club, Huntington’s Prime, Albertson’s Mitch and Toni’s American Bistro and The Garden City Hotel’s signature restaurant, REIN.

All Music Inc Presents: A Very Special Long Island Cares Holiday Food And Toy Drive event that will be taking place at All Music’s locations this December. The event will feature a Martin Guitar giveaway, live performances and a visit from Santa.

On Saturday, December 10,Long Island Cares, founded by Harry Chapin, will be hosting a unique holiday food and toy drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. A live performance and a visit from Santa will be happening at All Music in Plainview at 1 p.m. At the same time, Long Island Cares and The New 94X Radio will be at All Music’s located at Rock-n-Roll University in Hauppauge.

The public is encouraged to bring both non perishable food items and new unwrapped toys to either location.

“It’s always important to give back to the community, but at this time of season I find it to be especially necessary to make sure we don’t forget those less fortunate than ourselves.” said Guy Brogna, Owner of All Music Inc in a statement. “That’s why we are extremely excited to be working with LI Cares on this event, to try and make a real difference this year”.

The person who makes the largest food donation, in pounds, at either location will win a new Martin DC16-GT Guitar and case, usually retailing for $1,450, courtesy of All Music Inc! Additionally, every toy donation gets a raffle ticket for a prize at both locations.

The Long Island Ducks have just announced the official holiday shopping schedule.

The Ducks announced that the team’s official merchandise store, Waddle In Shop, will open for holiday shopping on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 10:00 a.m. The store will be open until Dec. 21 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Saturday’s hours will be 10 a.m. to  2 p.m.

The Waddle In Shop is the only place to buy official Ducks merchandise, including brand new 2011 Liberty Division champions apparel.

Holiday shopping will kick off Dec. 3 with visits from Ducks players, coaches and beloved mascot QuakerJack. Santa Claus will be on hand as well.

Additionally, the Long Island Ducks will be collecting new toys at Bethpage Ballpark during store hours for those spending the holidays in the hospital. (If fans cannot make it during Waddle In Shop hours, the Ducks will also be accepting donations at the Bethpage Ballpark executive offices Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

The donated toys will be delivered by members of the Ducks and QuackerJack to the pediatric units at Stony Brook University Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, and North Shore LIJ/Southside Hospital.

Hospitals have made the following suggestions for gifts based on the age of patients:

• Newborn-12 Months: Rattles, stuffed animals, board books, bibs
• 1-3 Years: Shape sorters, soft bath books, pop-up toys, ring stacks
• 4-7 Years: Board games, action figures, sticker sets, books
• 8-11 Years: Arts & crafts kits, board games, card games, new release videos (G & PG)
• 12-18 Years: Music/movie gift certificates, electronic games, journals, sports items,
• new release videos (PG & PG-13)
• 18 & Up: Restaurant/music/movie gift cards, new release videos or DVDs, comfort items, sports items
• Gifts for Any Age: Pillows, blankets, gift cards, holiday items, disposable cameras

Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m., the New York Islanders will unveil a new Team Store at Nassau Coliseum with a special event.

“Join us for a very special Islanders Children’s Foundation event to kick-off the holiday season,” said the New York Islanders in a press release. “It’s the Winter Wear Wonderland Party.”

Fans will have the chance to join Islanders Captain Mark Streit and some of his teammates as they introduce the latest Islanders Winter-Wear.

The Basic Ticket ($75 each) includes an open bar, the launch of the Islanders “Winter-Wear” for the 2011-12 season, the debut of the team’s new third jersey, 25% off all merchandise in the store and the chance to meet Islanders original Captain, Ed Westfall and current Captain, Mark Streit, along with additional Islanders players.

Extra-special guests, VIP Ticket holders ($125 each), will have all of the benefits listed above as well as an early entrance into the cocktail party at 5:30 p.m., the ability to shop in the store prior to the event, and an autographed photo of one of the players in attendance.

All proceeds from this event will go towards the Islanders Children’s Foundation.

The 22^nd Annual Long Island Festival of Trees is set to take place later this month.

The annual event will kick off November 25, and continue through November 27 at The Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.

The event will boast a spectacular array of designer-decorated trees and gingerbread village.

All trees and gingerbread are for sale with all proceeds raised benefit the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Inc. and the Cradle of Aviation Museum.

The display of trees is amazing with Chief Equipment of Freeport is doing “John Deere” themed tree that comes with a snowblower. KJOY’s tree features a myriad of tickets to the NYCB Theater at Westbury, parking passes and VIP Club passes. The unique trees by community groups and designers include, “Au Pair Care Tree of Nations,” “Peppermint Twist,” Santa’s Silhouette,” “Park Avenue Splendor,” “Precious Moments, Precious Memories,” A Comic Christmas,” “Home for the Holidays,” “Let’s Have a Ball,” “Dragons & Fairies,” “A Firefighter’s World,” The Mardi Gras Tree,” Baskets of Beanies,” “NY Cheer,” and the “Tree of Angels.”

Culinary students from the Barry Tech Institute in Westbury are creating almost 100 original gingerbread creations. With paid admission, children will get to decorate a gingerbread cookie with all sorts of fun trimmings in the Silverlake sponsored cookie area.

The event will feature live entertainment: American Idol’s Robbie Rosen will appear Saturday at 1 p.m. Sunday; Kevin Covais will grace the stage and Jenna Rose, of “My Jeans” internet fame appears at 12:15 p.m. on Friday.

Additionally, the event will boast Santa, a vendor marketplace, children’s activities, Department 56 village and display, and raffle drawings.

Entrance to the Cradle of Aviation Museum is included with your paid admission to the Festival.  Admission is $12 per person; children under two are admitted free. Admission includes entry to the Festival and Cradle of Aviation Museum and a ride on the Carousel.

The Long Island Press held its 2^nd Annual Kioli Business Summit on Thursday at The Inn at New Hyde Park, bringing together dozens of local businesses and hundreds of other guests with the same initiative in mind: Keep it on Long Island.

More than 500 people were on hand to check out the vendors, network, enjoy a luncheon and learn about the businesses that employ thousands of Long Islanders and continues to make LI tick, despite the lethargic economy.

“In order to really keep it on Long Island…we’ve really got to focus on gaining customers the right way and retaining those customers the right way, and retaining employees as well,” said Sal Ferro, President of Alure Home Improvements.

“This is real important for the future of the Long Island economy,” Ferro added, “because if we’re not thinking ahead and we’re not focusing on real important issues like gaining customers, retaining customers and best practices to keep it on Long Island we’re going to continue to lose to other areas…we’re losing some of the great young minds.”

Cactus Salon & Spa table at the Kioli Business Summit

Vendors parked their products in the main reception hall and handed out pamphlets as people navigated the room and interacted with business owners from all across Nassau and Suffolk counties.

As an employee of Cactus Salon & Spa spoke to an interested observer about the salon’s $200 gift certificate offer, Karen Vito, marketing director at Cactus, talked about how important the summit is to local businesses and potential customers.

“We’re real big believers about keeping business on Long Island,” said Vito. “This is a very important cause to us to be able to support and work with the Kioli founding members to really build Long Island, businesses on Long Island, keep families on Long Island, keep their children on Long Island.”

To the left of Cactus’ table was Island Harvest, one of Long Island’s largest hunger and relief organizations. Randy Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest said companies that get involved in collecting food and raising money for charity create a “huge moral builder” for their staff.

She added: “This is event is very important for us because it’s an opportunity for us to meet new people and educate people about…hunger on Long Island and talk to them about very simple ways that they can get involved and bring their staff involved.”

Three separate business seminars with 10 well-known speakers highlighted the event.

Growing Sales Seminar, moderated by Sal Ferro of Alure Home Improvements.

Ferro moderated the Growing Sales seminar, which included a panel of three successful Long Island executives who educated spectators on their strategies for better business.

Members of each panel gave tip after tip as those in attendance took notes and asked questions. Spectators were also invited to a more personal discussion during meet and greets after each seminar.

The two other seminars were titled: Banking, Borrowing, Investing, and Social Media and Search Marketing.

Throughout the afternoon, those in attendance stressed the importance of keeping jobs and businesses on Long Island, while also growing homegrown talent in order to grow the Island’s economy for the future.

“If there’s a true focus on keeping it on Long Island,” said Ferro, “and we’ve got a spirit about it, summits like this will just gain momentum and spread the good will about keeping it Long Island.”

Long Island Restaurant Week has officially arrived—From Sunday November 6 through Sunday November 13, Long Island residents will have the chance to sample the Island’s top cuisine at a fixed price: $24.95 gets you a three-course meal all week long (except Saturday, where the prix fixe ends at 7 p.m.).

This year, almost 500 restaurants are participating in the sixth annual LIRW.

Click to find out what restaurants are participating this year.

Additionally, LITweetup Helps teamed up with LIRW to offer food drive locations at participating restaurants to benefit Island Harvest—Restaurants will be collecting non-perishable food items and cash to be donated to Long Island’s leading hunger relief organization.

Five participating restaurants will even host a Tweetup for one evening during Long Island Restaurant Week.

• Amityville’s Vittorio’s Restaurant & Wine Bar will host a Tweetup Monday, November 7 at 5 p.m.
• Huntington’s HONU Kitchen & Cocktails will host a Tweetup Tuesday, November 8 at 5 p.m.
• Cold Spring Harbor’s Grasso’s will host a Tweetup Tuesday, November 8 at 5:30 p.m.
• Roslyn’s Thyme Restaurant & Café Bar, will host a Tweetup Wednesday, November 9 at 5:30 p.m.
• East Hampton’s Nick & Toni’s, will host a Tweetup Wednesday, November, 9 at 6 p.m.

“We’re all here because we believe in Kioli,” said Sal Ferro of Alure Home Improvements, who played host to one of three seminars held at the 2nd annual Kioli Business Summit Thursday.

“It’s special to me. It means keep our youth here, and business here,” he added.

Hundreds of local business owners, entrepreneurs, non-profits, CFO’s, account executives and HR professionals attended this year’s Kioli Business Summit at The Inn at New Hyde Park.

They came to network with other business professionals, enjoy a luncheon and get invaluable business-building advice.

Through three hour-long seminars, attendees were able to learn new and effective ways to grow their business and strengthen the Long Island economy. Seminars including Growing Sales, Banking, Borrowing and Investing and Social Media And Search Marketing. Each session was followed by a Q&A with the audience members.

The Growing Sales seminar was hosted by Alure Home Improvements’ Sal Ferro, who explained to the audience what Kioli meant to him and how Keep It On Long Island was first started by Long Island Press Publisher, Jed Morey.

He then went on to introduce the topic, “Strategies for better business and things we all need to know” as well as introduce the panel of experts that included Keith Banks of LLoyd Staffing, Jeff Goldberg of Jeff Goldberg and Associates and Randi Busse of Workforce Development Group, Inc.

Banks spoke to the audience about timeless strategies in difficult times and highlighted the importance of reputation and relationships.

“It’s exceeding delivery at all times,” he said after sharing a humorous story about how he once needed to help out a customer by lending his own secretary to them.

Goldberg explained the importance of studying your company’s history, and how looking back can make your business better in the future.

“Look back,” said Goldberg. “Who were my best customers?”

He added that by asking them why they liked you, you will gain great insight into creating a more successful business.  ”And referrals,” added Goldberg. “They’re the best way to grow business.”

Goldberg gave several helpful sales tips:

• Start with a question like, “Just curious, how did you get to be the president of the company?”
• Shut up and let the client speak. Something all salespeople have trouble doing, he joked.
• Find out what makes sense to your prospective client before making a presentation. Then, recap and propose.
• Give a relatable success story as verbal proof (“This client was just like you and they lived happily ever after with our help.”).
• Negotiate, don’t just discount. “Give and get,” advises Goldberg.

Busse spoke about focusing on sales and service at all times.

“You’re only as good as your last at bat,” said Busse.”We need to look at how we treat customers, not only before but also after we get them. Outstanding service sets you apart.”

“If you don’t take care of your customers someone else will,” she added.

Busse also highlighted the importance of checking social media for comments.  ”They’re all talking about you, whether you’re in the conversation or not,” said Busse, who also said that complaints are helpful and considered a “Gift.”

“Complaints allow you to fix something,” she said. “Instead of a customer just leaving without saying anything.”

Busse gave helpful tips on how to provide successful customer service:

• Think and act like the owner of a business, even if you’re not.
• Assurance of help is always appreciated by the customer.
• Personalize the service. “There’s nothing sweeter than thy own name,” says Busse.

The second seminar was called Banking, Borrowing and Investing, which was hosted by Long Island Press Publisher, Jed Morey.

“Thank you everyone for being here,” he said. “Our goal is to encourage more transactions between local businesses.”

Morey talked about the Kioli movement and how important it is to support local businesses. He then introduced the seminar’s three experts: Steve Krausner of Signature Bank, Joe Secreti of Cactus Salon & Spa and Maria Sanjurjo of Schwartz & Company.

“This panel is perfect,” he said of the experts he handpicked. “I gave you my resources.”

Krausner highlighted the importance of the relationship you have with your bank.

“If you relationship with a bank is that you use the third teller from the left,” said Krausner. “Leave.”

He also spoke about how to get a loan and gave the audience insight on what banks look for people seeking a loan:

• Know how much money you need.
• Be ready to report what you are planning on doing with the money (pay down debt, pay off operating expenses, buy new assets). Have a written business plan.
• Be ready to give a time. How long will it take you to repay the loan?
• Do your homework. Fill out documentation before you walk into the bank.
• Know what you can use for collateral, know what you have.

Krausner also advised attendees to be careful on social media sites, adding that bankers are always looking to mitigate risks.

“Bankers use Google too,” he said. “We want to know everything about you before investing in you.”

Secreti spoke about his past and how he started his own business at just 24 years old.

“I opened a salon,” he said. “But I didn’t know business.”

Secreti told the audience about his trouble finding loans and where he went to borrow money. His first $50,000 loan came from his aunt, Secreti said.

Over the years, Secreti expanded Cactus to become a $50 million company but says he had to borrow money from almost everyone he knew to make it happen saying, “I’ve borrowed money in a million ways.”

Although Secreti’s business and borrowing became a great success story, he advises others to learn from his experience and seek better business help.

“You really need a great CFO, accountant,” he added.

Sanjurjo highlighted the importance of having a good accountant.

“I’m representing the people you think about last,” she told the crowd of business owners. “I’m here to say, think first who your accountants are.”

Sanjurjo says accountants can help clients with their relationships alone, “We have experience, we know the bankers,” but adds that you need to find an accountant you can trust and to do your research on the different companies.

“It’s important to know a firm that handles entrepreneurs regularly,” she said. “That knows the business, that has been there.”

The last seminar to take place was called Social Media And Search Marketing with Long Island Press Interactive Content Director, Joe Garraffo hosting.

“Since being with the Press, we’ve increased traffic by 900%,” said Garraffo, who went to tell the crowd, Kioli is what attracted him to work for the Long Island Press in the first place.

“I believe in Kioli,” Garraffo told the crowd of Keep It On Long Island. “I live so close to where I grew up and my daughter is in the same fourth grade classroom that I was once in.”

He then introduced the panel’s four experts: Ellen DePasquale of Constant Contact, John Doyle of Alure Home Improvements, Gerard Hiner of Webair, and John McHugh of Brainstorm Studio.

DePasquale spoke about the importance keeping engagements, relationships and raving fans through social media.

“Treat your customers really well,” says DePasquale. “In marketing too.”

She says by treating them well, they will start talking about you too, more importantly, to potential customers.

“Continue to reach out to people who love you the most,” she says. “By being referred, new business comes in.”

Doyle shared a success story, and how Alure incorporated social media to help the business expand.

Doyle revealed that Internet users are more apt to use social media sites than Google now (Facebook visits surpassed Google visits recently) and social media is more important than ever for a business. He also advised business owners to keep up with the times and be wary of “social media experts.”

“Social media is always changing,” he says. “If someone tells you they’re a social media expert, run.”

Doyle shared his acronym for bringing the human aspect to social media: FANS: Friendships, make people feel Appreciated and Needed, and then allow them to Share.

Hiner spoke on search engine traffic and what qualifications a company would need for good rankings. For one, he says content is key and it needs to be the highest quality possible with no misspellings or duplicate content. Also of great importance, is how your content relates to the search terms.

“What are people searching for?” asks Hiner. “Provide them with the answers to what they are looking for.”

Hiner also spoke about the need to present your expertise, through how-to posts, videos or bio information.

“Google likes to know how experienced you are,” said Hiner.

Another important thing to know, Hiner says, is how quickly your site loads.  The closer the web hosting company is located to your business, the quicker your site will load.

Lastly, McHugh spoke about SEO, Search Engine Optimization.

“Content is key,” said McHugh, who also noted the importance of inbound links. “It’s like a vote for you.”

He noted that having a well-optimized site can help a business in these hard economic times when companies have little advertising dollars. McHugh also gave attendees a helpful site to check how their websites fare  as search engine friendly.

“Check out websitegrader.com,” said McHugh. “It’s a great tool.”

By 4:15 p.m., the crowds had their notepads full and most headed to the seminar’s after hours cocktail hour, where they discussed their favorite seminars.

Five Towns College is hosting an Open House Saturday, November 12 at 1:00 p.m.

During the Open House, attendees will be able to experience the innovative technology that students get to work with everyday.

“You will be able to witness mixing in one of our audio recording studios featuring the SL9000J, a 72 channel sound board,” said Five Towns College, located in Dix Hills, in a statement.

Aside from checking out one of the many recording studios on site, attendees will also have the chance to speak with faculty regarding the field of business or music business featuring audio recording and music business.

“The school’s Admissions Department, Financial Aid and Career Services staff will be on hand to answer any questions prospective students may have,” said Five Towns College in a press release.

The school’s array of offerings described as “The most unique and diverse programs,” include Audio Recording Technology, Music, Music Business, Theatre Arts, Filmmaking, Journalism, Broadcasting, and Elementary and Music Teacher Education.

Additionally, Five Towns College will have career services on hand to help explain internships and career choices.

“Our career services will explain the wide-range of internships available to you, as well as job placement and career opportunities,” said Five Towns College in a statement. “Representatives from Financial Aid and Admissions will be here to guide you and answer your questions.”

For more information call 631-656-2110 or visit www.ftc.edu.

It’s one of the most revered, and biggest, show jumping contests in the United States, and Thursday it will be aired.

The Network for Horse Sports, HRTV, a 24-hour network dedicated to horseracing, will air highlights from the iconic Hampton Classic Horse Show, from Bridgehampton, this Thursday—The highlights will air November 3 at 9:30 p.m.

“We encourage everybody to watch HRTV’s telecast of this year’s Hampton Classic,” said Shanette Barth Cohen, Hampton Classic Executive Director in a press release. “HRTV is recognized as a leader in equine-related telecasts and we were thrilled to have them join us this year.  Their production of McLain Ward’s history-making performance in the FTI Grand Prix is sure to excite horse fans all over.”

The Hampton Classic Horse Show is typically held over the Labor Day weekend but this year’s competition faced a challenge when Hurricane Irene hit. It prompted a delayed start, but didn’t shorten the prestigious events.

“We believe it is important for US equestrian athletes to be known and supported here and abroad.  The Hampton Classic is, traditionally, one of the most celebrated events in US show jumping.  HRTV is pleased to showcase American horse and rider teams by bringing this event to our national TV and world-wide online audience,” said Scott Daruty, HRTV President in a press release.

The show features world-class equestrian competition and attracts many of the nation’s top professional and amateur riders. The Classic’s chic Hamptons charm and full schedule of family attractions make it the perfect destination for anybody looking to add some style to their summer. It is highlighted by the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup™ Qualifier that features Olympic, World Championship and USET veterans.

Long Island is going green this week—Green Home Groundbreaking and Construction Demo will take place this Tuesday.

United Way’s YouthBuild Long Island and the Town of Islip have partnered with J. Barrow Inc. Building Consultant, Fusion Architecture and Long Island-based, OceanSafe, a green building material manufacturer, to build two attainable (green and affordable) homes in Brentwood.

The homes will be green, energy efficient, durable and partially constructed by young adults from the United Way’s YouthBuild program.

The first location will feature a groundbreaking ceremony with YouthBuild team and students, Town of Islip Supervisor Phil Nolan, U.S. Congressman Steve Israel and private partner representatives. The second location will feature a project overview followed by a construction demonstration and explanation of the home’s design and innovative green building materials from OceanSafe.

Groundbreaking will begin at 11:30 a.m. at 209 Clark Street in Brentwood. It will be followed by a Presentation and Demonstration at 12:00 p.m. at 47 Patton Street in Brentwood.

Members of the New York Islanders visited ten Long Island elementary schools Tuesday morning to talk about everything from schoolwork to their favorite restaurants.

The visits were part of the seventh annual Islanders School Day presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union and New York’s 529 College Savings Program.

Forward Josh Bailey and Goaltender Al Montoya stressed the importance of healthy eating and hard work to a gym full of students at John H. West School in Bethpage.

“Dream big, work your hardest and try to have fun along the way to make that dream come true,” Montoya told the students.

Bailey and Montoya also answered questions from the students, including what would they do if they didn’t play hockey (Montoya: study psychology, Bailey: become a firefighter or police officer) and their favorite places to eat on Long Island (Montoya: Café Baci in Westbury, Bailey: Café Formaggio in Carle Place).

The schools were selected from a fundraising contest where students collected donations to benefit their individual schools.

The schools and visiting players were:

Centre Street School, Williston Park- Blake Comeau and Marty Reasoner

Guggenheim Elementary School, Port Washington- Rick DiPietro and Jay Pandolfo

Summit Lane Elementary School, Levittown- Mark Eaton and Andrew MacDonald

Idle Hour Elementary School, Oakdale- Steve Staios, Milan Jurcina and Evgeni Nabokov

Parkview Elementary School, Kings Park- Kyle Okposo and Michael Grabner

Holbrook Road Elementary School, Centereach- PA Parenteau and Matt Martin

West End Elementary School, Lynbrook- Brian Rolston, Frans Nielsen and Trevor Gillies

Washington Street School, Franklin Square- Mark Streit, John Tavares and Matt Moulson

Hewlett Elementary School, Hewlett- Mike Mottau, Travis Hamonic and Nino Niederreiter

John H. West School, Bethpage- Josh Bailey and Al Montoya

When people think of the holiday Halloween; things that cross their mind are children dressing up in their favorite costumes, a lot of candy, and ghosts. Here on Long Island, Halloween is a big deal for another reason, haunted houses.

There’s a wide variety of haunted houses on Long Island that can be visited throughout the month of October.  One of the favorite haunted houses among Long Islanders is located in Wading River and it’s called, Darkside Haunted House.

“If you haven’t Been to the DARKSIDE in a while we are BIGGER AND SCARIER than ever!!! Come Make Your way through the new Expanded Haunted Village If You Dare!!! Then the Terror Continues as you make your way through the Haunted House!!!,” reads the website.

Darkside Haunted House is definitely one you don’t want to miss. It provides movie quality sets, bone chilling special effects, and the heart pounding scares.

Bayville Scream Park is another haunted house on Long Island deemed a Halloween favorite. It’s a theme park that scares people like no other. Every year, the doors of the Bay Family Mansion are unlocked and the ghosts and ghouls come out to play.

There are five thrilling attractions at the park including Bloodworth Haunted Mansion, Uncle Needle’s Fun House of Fear, Temple of Terror, Zombie Pirates and Evil in the Woods. Last year a new attraction; Uncle Needles Fun House of Fear was created in 3D with the mystery of Mirror Maze.

Bethpage’s Long Island Fear Fest is another crowd pleaser. It’s located in Old Bethpage, and provides a lot of tours and rides for every scare level. The park is known for “putting your stomach back down your throat.” One ride you would want  to get on is the Haunted Hayride. It comes as a full-blown tractor and wagon journey (also one of the largest and scariest hayrides on Long Island) that takes groups of fearless mortals through an array of “out of this world” experiences you will not soon forget.

Munday's

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, M&M’s and Hershey’s Kisses—Halloween is upon us and that means, lots and lots of candy.

But besides going door to door (using your baby cousin as an excuse to collect candy), Long Island boasts two places that are perfect to celebrate Halloween indoors and with great food you don’t have to unwrap.

This holiday, sit down and enjoy tasty treats in an equally haunting atmosphere.

Munday’s
259 Main Street
Huntington, NY 11743
Tel: 631-421-3553

Munday’s takes you back in time to a quaint hamburger/soda shop in the charming village of Huntington. Patrons can enjoy everything from french toast and chocolate milk to a hamburger and homemade desserts. But the restaurant takes on a whole new style during October when it transforms from quaint and charming to a haunted house.

For Halloween, Munday’s has impressive decoration—The restaurant is draped in cobwebs and orange lights with ghosts and ghouls hanging around each corner and on every counter. The restaurant even dimmed its lights to offer patrons a real haunting experience—To read the menu, patrons are given a flashlight.

The Witches Brew
311 Hempstead Tpke
West Hempstead, NY 11552
Tel: 516-489-9482

The Witches Brew is always set for Halloween with a year-round gothic theme. The cafe serves out of an old house that looks like it came right out of “Hocus Pocus.” Inside patrons will find everything from skulls hanging from the ceiling as decoration to a real tarot card reader performing on certain days (starting at $5 for a reading).

This place is perfect to celebrate Halloween with a delicious dessert. The cafe is best known for its desserts, one of the most popular being a massive brownie topped with peanut butter. The scones and biscotti are also palate pleasers. From a slew of exotic coffee flavors (coffee is served in a tall glass instead of a mug) and a huge selection of tea, the place also satisfies with it’s drinks.

Benefit Horse Show at Paard Hill (www.pal-o-mine.org)

Pal-O-Mine Equestrian is looking for those wanting to make a difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities.

Pal-O-Mine Equestrian is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing therapy and recreation to children and adults with disabilities using horses as their equine partners, is looking for volunteers this year.

Duties of volunteers include assisting in therapeutic riding lessons, barn duties and horse maintenance. Volunteer opportunities are available Monday through Sunday. The organization requests a 3 hour minimum commitment a week.

Pal-O-Mine Equestrian dates back to 1993, when Founder and Director Lisa Gatti started a small therapeutic riding program for individuals with disabilities. Today, Pal-O-Mine operates a full time program, seven days a week, all year long providing a comprehensive therapeutic equine program using horses to facilitate growth, learning and healing.

Weekly, Pal-O-Mine supports 18 program horses on an 8-acre facility that serves 300 individuals ranging from disabled children and adults, abused or neglected individuals, the military, and additionally the economically compromised.

All interested in volunteering should contact 631-348-1389 or visit www.pal-o-mine.org for more information.

A new website looks to help Long Island businesses connect with local home service pros. The online directory LongIslandContractors.com provides extensive lists of home improvement businesses serving both Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

LongIslandContractors.com, a recently launched website, helps Long Island homeowners quickly find contractors and home service professionals.

“Covering all types of home repairs and remodeling, LongIslandContractors.com can best be described as a ‘yellow pages on steroids,’ stated LongIslandContractors.com in a statement. “Users can easily search by specialty and location. As example, you can see all landscapers within 5 miles of Hicksville or all plumbers in Bohemia.”

The new online directory is based in Hauppauge, and claims it can do a better job serving Nassau and Suffolk counties because Long Island is its sole focus, unlike other online directories like AngiesList based in California.

Currently, the website has over 2,000 company listings and says it’s adding several hundred per month.

LongIslandContractors.com also has many unique features like the ability to view a listed company’s picture gallery, video, online brochure, quick link to their website plus connectivity with social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Additionally, the website also has a section on home improvement how-to’s such as screening a contractor and checking their local licenses.

Wendy Williams attends Pink Style - A Girls Night Out With Wendy Williams at Tanger Outlets on October 20, 2011 in Deer Park, New York. (Photo by Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage for Tanger Outlets)

Television personality, Wendy Williams took over Deer Park’s Tanger Outlets at the Arches on Thursday, as she was on hand to help Tanger celebrate Pink Style, a girls night out. But besides style, astrology and conversation, Wendy’s biggest message was about breast cancer awareness.

“Breast cancer awareness is so important,” said Wendy, who noted that all women should be made aware of the deadly disease because it’s not all about family genes. “My friend Guiliana Rancic was diagnosed with breast cancer. No one in her family had it.”

After the talk show host took the stage and shared her breast cancer awareness message, she passed on the speaking duties to the hundreds of fans in attendance, who turned the tables around, and were the ones asking the questions. They got to ask Wendy a wide range of questions ranging from favorite food to favorite guest.

Wendy added: “I am grateful for all of my guests and also for my fans in the studio audience,” but did mention she took a liking to guest Simon Cowell who she described as “handsome” and whom she enjoyed having smart conversations with.

Another fan asked Wendy if she would consider going back to radio, the media industry where she got her start, and was notorious for being a tough celebrity interviewer. She responded: “I don’t have enough time in the day, I’m 48-years-old. I need to rest.”

Emmy nominated stylist, Merrell Hollis and astrologer to the stars, Jennifer Angel joined Williams on stage to dish on everything from celebrity style secrets to staroscopes.

Hollis introduced three models wearing the latest styles from Tanger Outlet at the Arches stores including faux fur vests, Badgley Michka heels, fur gloves from Off Saks, and a Michael Kors bag.

Angel talked about starology but noted that her most important message—one that was so important to Angel that she hopped on a flight from Miami earlier that day for the event—was also one of breast cancer awareness.

“I’m here to support the breast cancer research. A very dear friend died of breast cancer so it’s a cause that’s close to my heart,” said Angel. “I really think that early detection is key and if we can all bond together, we can make a difference. To have a concentrated effort during one month is a very powerful message to send out.”

By the end of the night fans left satisfied and one more than others. One lucky shopper left with an ultimate PinkStyle $1,000 shopping spree to Tanger Outlets at the Arches with Wendy and her personal stylist. Another winner received a personalized year-long horoscope bound book, courtesy of Angel.

Merrell Hollis, Allison Hawkins, Wendy Williams, Robyn Moreno, Angelina Aslig and Jennifer Angel attends Pink Style - A Girls Night Out With Wendy Williams at Tanger Outlets on October 20, 2011 in Deer Park, New York. (Photo by Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage for Tanger Outlets)

The event was part of Pink Style. During the month of October, shoppers are able to take part in Pink Style, by purchasing the Tanger Pink Card and Powerful Pink Card through October 25. Proceeds of the Pink Card will benefit local breast cancer organizations in each Tanger market and proceeds of the Powerful Pink Card will benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

For a $1 donation, receive a special Pink Card that gives you an instant 25% off bonus discount on a single item at participating stores at Tanger. Purchase a Power Pink Card for a $5 donation for an instant 30% off bonus discount and be part of the raffle to win a TangerStyle $1000 Fashion Raffle—one to be given away at each center. The Powerful Pink Card also enters you for a chance to win the national prize drawing for A Sea Island Spa at Cloister Vacation Package valued at $5,000, $3,000 Tanger Outlet shopping spree or one of 10 pink iPads.

Winner James Marvullo with model, Executive Director of the Fair Media Counsil, Jaci Clement.

Long Island students brought red-carpet glamour to Roosevelt Field Mall this past week as part of Simon Fashion Now, a free and dynamic celebration of style.

Design Wars, an interactive design competition, took place Friday, October 14, at the Garden City mall, where eight fashion students paired up with a local “mover and shaker” model and revealed their looks in hopes of winning the $500 prize.

“This exhilarating competition gives these future leaders in the fashion world visibility to a wider audience at Roosevelt Field while adding to their impressive resumes,”said Roosevelt Field Area Director of Mall Marketing Kathleen Herrmann.

The red-carpet creations were crafted by Nassau Community College students for the competition that began production in September.  During the past month, the students paired with a “mover and shaker” from Long Island to create a custom look inspired by the model’s choice of celebrity style to emulate, while also catering the design to their model’s personal style.

Among the participating notable Long Island women are Fair Media Council’s Jaci Clement; Peri Appollo from WKJY’s Steve & Peri Show; singer Mary Lamont, the Long Island Queen of Country; and Miss Long Island 2012 Jessica Pinckney.

“Through Design Wars, our students have become empowered to take their learning to the next level beyond the classroom,” Nassau Community College Professor, Sharyne Wolfe said. “To have the opportunity to design for such notable Long Island women is a tremendous real-life experience for these talented individuals and one that will benefit them as they embark on their chosen career path.”

Runner-up, Royner Sarria with model, Co-Host of "The KJOY Morning Show with Steve & Peri."

Under the guidance of Wolfe, the students sketched designs for their “client,” drafted a pattern for their design, constructed the garment and created the ensemble while staying on a budget of $100 for materials, provided by Roosevelt Field.

At 1 p.m. Friday, the designs were revealed for the first time on the Simon Fashion Now runway. Newsday.com Senior Multi-Media Producer Meredith Daniels served as event emcee while four fashion experts including JCPenney Store Manager James Skopkowski, Freelance Fashion Contributor Jennifer Kim, Bare Escentuals Boutique Manager Rosemary Dietrich and Long Island Press Fashion Blogger Licia Avelar judged the designs.

Student, James Marvullo, whose model, Executive Director of the Fair Media Council, Jaci Clement walked the runway in a grey grecian gown took home the grand prize, a $500 American Express Simon Giftcard. Student, Royner Sarria was named the runner-up and received a $250 American Express Simon Giftcard.

As the two winners and their models posed for photos, the other contestants joined them onstage to congratulate them.

“Everybody’s a winner,” emcee, Meredith Daniels said.

John Tavares (Associated Press)

This week, the National Hockey League announced that Islanders forward John Tavares has been named the Second Star of the Week.

Tavares posted back-to-back four-point games last week, totaling five goals and three assists, as the Islanders won three-straight contests. The Mississauga, ON, native posted his first points of the season on Wednesday, October 13 with two goals and two assists in the Islanders 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tavares then doubled his season total with another four-point game, netting his third-career hat trick, while also adding an assist in a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers.

Tavares’ eight points placed him in a three-way tie for the league lead, alongside Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel, who was named the NHL’s first star, and Nashville Predators forward David Legwand, who was named the third star of the week.

October marks the start to National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and one Long Island organization is doing their part to help those suffering from cancer and hair loss due to chemotherapy.

Rodolfo Valentin, located in Cedarhurst, wants to make it easier for cancer patients suffering from hair loss, by donating hair prosthesis.

This month, Rodolfo Valentin will be donating 1,000 of hair prosthesis for the “HEWLETT HOUSE 1 in 9,” an organization whose name is derived from the research done in 1990–research showed the chances of developing breast cancer for a woman living on Long Island was one in nine, and has since become one in eight and in parts of Suffolk County, one in seven.

Rodolfo Valentin was the first in the world, to design hair prosthesis.  This was inspired by his mother who’s struggle with cancer and subsequent hair loss from chemotherapy, for which Sofia’s Hair for Health was created.

Rodolfo Valentin decided to donate hair prosthesis to “Hewlett House 1 in 9” because the organization is committed to helping people avoid the profound isolation, despair and fear often felt by people with cancer.

The hair will help give a sense of confidence back to those who lost hair due to cancer and feel depressed—the hair is going to give a natural look and allow patients to live their lives without making a statement of being sick to the rest of the world.

Each hair prosthesis donation is delivered with a certificate of $200 value to customize it which includes shampoo, cut and style.

Head to a local spa this week, where you can snag a great deal in honor of biannual event, Spa Week.

The 15th installment of Spa week arrives October 10 and goes through October 16 and comes as a week dedicated to great deals on varying spa treatments.

Day spas, medical spas, resort spas, yoga and Pilates studios, and fitness & weight-loss centers will all offer two or three of their most exclusive services, originally costing up to $500, for a discounted price of $50 each.

The $50 price point allows consumers of all budgets to try different treatment types at different spas—Customers sure have a lot to choose from, over 1000 spas in the United States have already participated in this year’s spring Spa Week.

Spa-goers can find everything on the Spa Week menu.

“From acne zapping laser-facials, pain alleviating trigger-point massages, and meditating yoga classes to nutritional counseling sessions, Spa Week offers an experience specific to the unique wellness needs of everyone,” Spa week stated in a press release. “The highly anticipated Fall 2011 Event will feature the most contemporary and cutting-edge services available to help jumpstart and maintain optimal health.”

The bi-annual Spa Week looks to expose customers to the benefits of spa services and has proven to be a success not only for spa patrons but for spas, who have garnered more regular customers thanks to their discounted trial treatments during Spa Week. Customers too, get quite the treat, so much so that over one million affordable spa treatments have been booked and enjoyed since its inception.

In order to take part in Spa Week, consumers should register on SpaWeek.com for exclusive information on participating spas and their $50 treatments. Local Participating Spas include, Red Door Spa in Woodbury, LifeSpa in Syosset and Aveda Red Bell Spa in Hicksville, among others. To find out all the participating spas in your area click here.

Last year's Kioli Business Summit at The Inn At New Hyde Park

Inviting all business owners, entrepreneurs, non profits, CFO’s, account executives and HR professionals, the Kioli Business Summit is right around the corner.

Network with other business professionals and get invaluable business-building advice, learn the newest and most innovative business practices, research the market for leading products and services—ultimately learn new and effective ways to grow your business and strengthen the Long Island economy.

The annual Kioli Business Summit is set to take place November 3, 2011 at the The Inn at New Hyde Park. It will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The event will include a networking tradeshow, luncheon, and seminars including Growing Sales, Banking, Borrowing and Investing and Social Media And Search Marketing.

For those who want to stay for a drink, a happy hour party will take place following The Kioli Business Summit.

All attendees must be pre-registered and space is limited so please RSVP here so you don’t get locked out of the seminars.

This month, you can snag a great deal at a local spa.

The 15th installment of Fall Spa Week kicks off October 10 and offers great spa deals through October 16—The event banishes the “rich and famous” spa stigma and proves that luxurious spa treatments can be for everyone.

During this special biannual event, treatments average $50, which is a steal compared to regular priced spa treatments—The average price of a massage is $85, a facial is $91, and a body treatment is $95.

A fan getting her picture taken with Islanders Captain, Mark Streit

New York Islanders fans from all over flocked to Farmingdale’s Adventureland to celebrate the annual Islanders Children’s Foundation Day this weekend.

Sunday, with the hockey season just days away, fans got a chance to meet all of their favorite players and coaches stationed throughout the amusement park.

“Every year, it seems like it’s a longer line with more fans,” said New York Islanders fan favorite, John Tavares. “It’s a great way to give back and help people out that are less fortunate.”

The event comes as the third annual Islanders Children’s Foundation Day, which will provide donations to the ICF.

“It’s a full day of family fun for a good cause,” said Islanders Community Relations Manager, Ann Rina.

Children lined up in front of their favorite Islanders’ table hoping to snag an autograph and snap a picture.

“You see the young kids and you remember when you were a kid and the thrill of meeting a professional athlete,” said New York Islanders player, Travis Hamonic.

Season ticket holders, Tom Curry and his daughters Sarah and Abigail

Among the fans were season ticket holders, who were invited to the park extra early at 9 a.m. to kick off their special autograph session. One family getting a jump start was the Curry family of Bluepoint, who had already collected most of the players’ autographs by 10:30 a.m.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Sarah Curry, who, along with sister Abigail and dad Tom, an Islanders fan for over 30 years, walked the park collecting each player’s autograph for their special plaque.

While decades-long fans like Tom Curry shared his love for the Islanders with his young daughters, Tucker Buonomo of New Jersey, was just introducing his kin to the team.

He brought along the newest Islanders fan, his newborn baby. Buonomo and his family walked the park collecting autographs on a big portrait of the baby donning an Islanders hat.

Islanders fans posing for a picture with New York Islanders player, John Tavares

“They’re more fans here today than the last couple of years,” Buonomo said as he waited on line for Tavares’s autograph while his wife waited on line for goalie, Rick DiPietro’s.

The event comes right before the new season kicks off Saturday.

“Saturday night can’t come fast enough,” said Hamonic of the opening game for the 2011-2012 season against the Florida Panthers.

At the end of the day, the event was a huge success, for the Islanders Children’s Foundation, the fans, and even the players.

“We’ve got a lot to prove still, and it’s good to have that fan support,” said New York Islanders player, Josh Bailey.

Today on Long Island on in 1910 Margery D. (Peg) McIntire was born.

She was raised in Woodmere, Long Island.  As a child, she attended Woodmere Academy, where she excelled in her classes and was a good athlete.  She was also a very talented pianist.  She received a scholarship at Vassar College in 1927, but left in the middle of her junior year to pursue a marriage with writer Larry Goldstone.

After the death of her older brother, Peg was motivated to do something that he would have found admirable. This led her to listen to a talk given by Gordon McIntire in which he spoke about his efforts to create a union in Louisiana of small farmers, tenant farmers, and sharecroppers. They fell in love, but were not able to marry until six years later. They spent time in Italy, but Peg moved  back to the U.S. in 1980.

She continued her work as an activist in NOW, Pax Christi, and the statewide Florida Coalition for Peace & Justice.  Peg was the Treasurer of the Coalition and managed its summer Peace Camps and music festivals for fifteen years.

Her work in activism continued full force until 2008, when Peg suffered a major heart attack at the age of 97.  She did not stop working toward her goal of peace until May 29, 2008, when she peacefully passed away.

(Sources include Cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com and codepinkflorida.blogspot.com)

Today on Long Island in 2010, Shinnecock Nation would become federally recognized!

The Shinnecock Nation is now a federally recognized Indian Nation located on the East End of Long Island, not too far from Montauk. This recognition was gained on October 1^st, 2010. Even though the nation has been documented for thousands of years, the Shinnecock Nation struggled with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Shinnecock Nation holds the spot of being the 565^th federal tribe of the United States.

The Shinnecock population is made up of Algonquian people that have lived on the shores of Eastern Long Island for thousands of years. Their history has been passed down orally between generations. They measure time with the use of seasons and moon patterns. Today, the nation includes over 1,400 people, and more than half of them live on the reservation. Their territory stretches from the Town of Easthampton to the Town of Brookhaven.

For the Shinnecock’s economic stability and development, the nation uses an annual Powwow. It started in 1946, for the use of benefitting the church. Now, yearly, it hosts thousands of new and revisiting people that help support their church and tribal budgets. At this Powwow, there is food, entertainment, crafts, and tribal traditional dances.

(Some information taken from: www.shinnecocknation.org)

Today on Long Island in 1948, Edith Roosevelt died!

September 30, 1948, on this day in 1948, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt died at the age of 87. She was the second wife of Theodore Roosevelt who first married Alice Hathaway Lee in 1880 before her death from kidney failure in 1884. Edith married Roosevelt during a ceremony on December 2, 1886 at St. George’s Church in Hanover Square in London, England when they were both 25-years-old.

Both Edith and Theodore knew each other as children and Edith was known to accompany Roosevelt during summer days in Oyster Bay when they were teenagers. The couple had five children throughout this marriage; Theodore, Kermit, Ethel, Archibald and Quentin. During their marriage the two lived in their Oyster Bay house on Sagamore Hill that was originally home to Roosevelt’s first wife, Alice Lee.

After President McKinley’s assassination Edith became the first lady during Roosevelt’s Presidency from 1901 to 1909 serving as the 26 President of the United Sates. Edith was known for overseeing major renovations of The White House during her time there. After Roosevelt’s death in 1919, Edith continued to live in the Sagamore Hill home.

Costello’s Ace Hardware of Long Island will team up with the American Cancer Society and join the fight against breast cancer this October.

Costello’s Ace Hardware has partnered with 70 Ace Hardware retailers throughout Connecticut and New York to raise funds and awareness during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“Costello’s Ace Hardware is committed both to supporting causes that impact the lives of our customers and to making a difference in our community,” said Michael Costello, President of Costello’s Ace Hardware in a statement. “We’re proud to join with other Ace Hardware retailers to make strides against breast cancer, while at the same time providing customers with fun opportunities and incentives for donation.”

Costello’s month-long fundraising campaign kicks off with a “Pink Bucket” sale on Saturday, October 1 at participating stores. Each customer who makes a donation to the American Cancer Society will receive a free five-gallon pink bucket and 20 percent off of any merchandise that fits inside. For the remainder of October, customers who donate to the American Cancer Society will be able to write their names on pink paper ribbons to be displayed in participating stores.

Through this partnership with 70 other participating retailers, Costello’s Ace Hardware hopes to raise approximately $20,000 for the American Cancer Society in October.

On September 29, 1952, the Sagtikos State Parkway was opened in Long Island, New York.

This highway, constructed of two twenty four-foot-wide roadways, took over two years to build and cost a total of eight million dollars.  It is located between the Northern State Parkway and the Southern State Parkway, and its creation closed the gap that previously existed between these parkways’ east ends.

This parkway, which took two decades to plan, has two lanes in each direction with a nine-foot grassed median separating each lane.  The Sagtikos State Parkway joins with the Sunken Meadow and Robert Moses highways to form the only fully controlled-access highway in Suffolk County that runs north-south. The Sagtikos State Parkway continues as the Sunken Meadow State Parkway to the north of the Northern State Parkway, and as the Robert Moses Causeway to the south of the Southern State Parkway.

Since its initial opening, the Sagtikos State Parkway has undergone some design changes in order to satisfy federal and state traffic safety laws. High-intensity lighting was installed along the length of the parkway, and a new concrete barrier was installed down the center median.

(Sources include nycroads.com)

Tobay Beach will be hosting a boat show this September & October.

The Tobay Beach Boat Show will take place September 30 through October 2; Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The show will take place at Tobay Beach Marina on Ocean Parkway, 4.5 miles east of the Jones Beach Theatre. Additionally, “Twiggy” the waterskiing squirrel will be on hand and performing daily.

Boats are available for under $150/month, children under 12 are free, while Seniors only $8.

A local American soul and blues musician, Edward ‘Little Buster’ Forehand was born on September 28, 1942.  He was born in North Carolina, and moved to Westbury, Long Island in 1959.

Little Buster was diagnosed with glaucoma at the age of three, but did not let that stop him from pursuing his musical talent.  He learned to play many instruments, including the piano, guitar, and saxophone.

When he moved to Long Island, at the age of sixteen, he began to play in local clubs.  He quickly gained popularity, and was asked to join the back-up band for Allan Freed’s Rock and Roll shows at the Brooklyn Paramount.  Buster was signed to the record company Jubilee, and released one record and six singles throughout the sixties.

In 1968, he married his wife Mary, whom he had met at a club in Roosevelt. He began to be viewed more as a blues musician rather than a soul artist, and B.B. King declared Little Buster “the only musician who can fill my shoes.”

In the 1990s, he and his group The Soul Brothers became very popular, and released the album Right on Time in 1995.

In the early 2000s, he began to suffer a series of strokes.  His wife was quoted as saying that even after this he “refused to put down his guitar.”  On May 11, 2006, he died in a nursing home in Nassau County due to complications caused by the strokes.

(Source of information: Redkelly.blogspot.com, Perpetualtoxins.com, thedeadrockstarsclub.com)

Saturday, October 15, Five Towns College will be hosting its fall open house.

The open house will take place at  1 p.m. at Five Towns College, located at 305 North Service Road in Dix Hills.

Five Towns College employees will be sharing the school’s array of  offerings with prospective students—Five Towns describes their offerings as “The most unique and diverse programs.” Programs include Audio Recording Technology, Music, Music Business, Theatre Arts, Filmmaking, Journalism, Broadcasting, and Elementary and Music Teacher Education.

Five Towns will also have presentations and demonstrations featuring all programs of study held in their state-of-the-art facilities and studios.

The school’s Admissions Department, Financial Aid and Career Services staff will be on hand to answer any questions prospective students may have.

“If you’re looking for hands-on training, specialized classes and great internships that will set you apart from the rest, then you need to start your future at Five Towns College,” stated Five Towns in a press release.

For more information or to arrange a private tour call 631-656-2110 or visit www.ftc.edu

Today on Long Island in 1985, Hurricane Gloria wreaked havoc on Long Island.

On September 27, 1985, after days of forming over the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Gloria slammed Long Island—Long Island was the hurricane’s second landing spot, it also hit parts of North Carolina and then to Connecticut.

The storm was massive, the eye of the storm was large enough to cover both Nassau and Suffolk county while the storm slightly passed over Manhattan.

Although weather measuring instruments on the Island were destroyed during the storm, the wind power was reportedly estimated at being 85 miles per hour, the gusts were said to be up to 115 miles per hour, categorizing the hurricane as a category 3 storm.

Reportedly, some of the worst damage was reported to have occurred in Patchogue, JFK Airport, Islip and Brookhaven. Over 600,000 were left without power after the storm, some went without power for up to 11 days. Although the hurricane was weaker than originally anticipated, it was reportedly responsible for over $900 million dollars in property damage.

Hurricane Gloria reportedly claimed eight lives.

On this day in 1858,  Carll S. Burr was born in Commack, Long Island. He was a Republican that represented the First Senate district.

He attended Huntington Union School and wanted to attend Columbia College. Ultimately, Burr was too ill to attend college and instead decided to go into business with his father.

He soon became interested in politics and became a member of the Republican County Committee of Suffolk County. For three consecutive years starting in 1895, he was reportedly elected as a Member of the Assembly of Suffolk County. He was also very involved in the community and was a member of many Committees of the Assembly including General Laws, Internal Affairs, Public Printing, and Public Education.

He was nominated for the State Senate by the Republican Party in 1904 and beat out the recent senator for the district, Edward Bailey Jr. He was also very interested in horses and was previously a judge at the exhibitions of the National Horse Show if America. He also held a position as the inspector of race tracks and in 1905 he was appointed as a member of the Railroad, Commerce and Navigation, Forest, Fish and Game, and Affairs of Villages Committees.

(Information from books.google.com)

On September 25, 2009, Huntington native Mariah Carey released her twelfth studio album in stores, “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.”

Mariah Carey who is best known for her high vocal range, first made her musical debut in 1990 and she quickly became the first recording artists to have five hit singles on the Billboard Top 100 chart. Throughout her career, Carey has sold over 200,000 albums. She has won five Grammy Awards and 17 World Music Awards for her music.

“Memoirs” became her lowest selling studio album of her career despite receiving generally positive reviews from critics. The albums first single “Obsessed” was her fortieth song to make the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Since the albums release, Carey has released a Christmas album “Merry Christmas II You” and stared in a role in the Oscar nominated film “Precious Based on the novel Push by Sapphire” in 2009. Carey and her husband Nick Cannon became parents to their twins, Moroccan and Monroe in this past April.

Today on Long Island in 2004, Rodney Dangerfield slipped into a coma and wasn’t waking up!

On September 24, 2004, it was revealed to the public that comedian Rodney Dangerfield had been in a coma for several weeks. The Deer Park native died at the age of 82 on October 5 at the UCLA Medical Center from complications after a heart-valve replacement surgery that had been completed a month prior.

Dangerfield first became well known to the public on March 5, 1967 during a last minute appearance on the “Ed Sullivan Show”. He regular became a regular on other late night talk shows with his comedy before getting into the peek of his career in the 1980s. Some of Danger fields most well known films include the comedies Caddy Shack, Back to School and Easy Money.

He won the Creative Achievement Award at the American Comedy Awards in 1995 for his work in the entertainment industry. Dangerfield changed his public image in 1994 when he played a abusive parent in the thriller film “Natural Born Killers”. Dangerfield was laid to rest in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Today on Long Island in 1911, the first air mail pilot in the nation, Earle L. Ovington from Massachusetts was sworn in.

Ovington was reportedly best known for being an aviator, engineer and inventor. His first airmail flight was done with the plane Bleriot XI in 1911. For one week, Ovington practiced deliveries by flying to the Mineola post office before officially completing any deliveries.

He is best known for never landing a plane during flight and instead throwing sacks of mail out of the cockpit. His first airmail drop was in between Mineola and Garden City but the flight was unsuccessful as the the mail sack reportedly exploded on impact. Ovington successfully delivered over 43,000 pieces of mail throughout Mineola in his career. Delivery of mail by planes became common one decade after the Wright brothers first flight.

The process of airmail is still reportedly used today and is frequently is a faster method of delivering packages and letters than traditional delivery methods.

Farmingdale State College announced a $1 million gift, the largest in the school’s nearly 100-year history.

The generous gift came from alumna and long-time contributor, Theresa Patnode Santmann.

“Farmingdale provided me with an excellent education and helped shape my success in the healthcare industry,” Santmann, who remains active in college affairs and is a member of the Farmingdale Foundation board, said in a statement. “I continue to be amazed at the transformation that has taken place over the last few years and the growth of the research enterprise.”

Santmann, of Babylon, received her nursing degree from Farmingdale State, the largest of SUNY’s colleges of applied science and technology, in 1969. She has since become a successful health care advocate and entrepreneur.  She built and then operated Little Flower Nursing Home in East Islip, followed by the Petite Fleur Nursing Home in Sayville. She later invented and patented a walker with a folding, pivoting seat.

“Theresa Santmann is a person of extraordinary generosity—both in her financial support of Farmingdale over many years, and with her time and effort,” said Farmingdale State College President W. Hubert Keen in a statement. “Clearly, she recognizes Farmingdale’s value as an investment, and I couldn’t agree more. We are critical not only in meeting the educational needs of the region’s students, but also as an engine of economic development.”

The college’s School of Health Sciences has since been named for Santmann and her donation will go to four scholarships and support faculty research and student resources.

In previous years, Santmann has been honored at the Farmingdale College Foundation’s annual Business Hall of Fame Gala in 2010, named Farmingdale’s Alumna of the Year in 2005 as well as many other awards outside of Farmingdale College.

On Saturday, September 24, the Islanders will team up with the American Red Cross for a blood drive at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The blood drive is aimed to replenish the blood lost from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene that forced the cancellation of approximately 145 American Red Cross blood drives to date. The cancellations resulted in the shortfall of more than 4,700 units of blood.

The Red Cross blood drive will take place from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Lower Box Office of the Coliseum prior to the game. Donors can schedule an appointment in advance by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by visiting redcrossblood.org.

The first 200 donors will receive a voucher for a pair of tickets to a future weeknight Islanders game and presenting blood donors who are also attending the September 24th game, will enter into a raffle for the opportunity to “High Five” the team as they take to the ice (Prizes are non-transferrable and not redeemable for cash).

Four Food Studio & Cocktail Salon

Dine and Dance Fridays at Four!

Head to Four in Melville this September for a great time and two great events. “LIVE FRIDAYS” will take place at Four Food Studio & Cocktail Lounge, Friday, September 23 and September 30.

Friday, September 23, Four will be featuring entertainment by Freedom Williams. Additionally, ladies can enjoy 1/2 priced drinks from 10 to 11 p.m. and everyone can enjoys 15% off dinner.

On Friday, September 30, Four will present “Four Decades Of Dance” programmed by DJ Mark J with the legendary king of Freestyle, George Lamond. Again, ladies can enjoy 1/2 priced drinks from 10 to 11 p.m. and everyone can enjoys 15% off dinner.

Catch all the fun at Four Food Studio & Cocktail Salon located at 515 Broadhollow Road in Melville (www.fourfoodstudio.com).

Today on Long Island in 1776, continental army soldier, Nathan Hale volunteered to spy on British troops that were stationed on Long Island during the Battle of Long Island.

According to documents from The Library of Congress written by a Connecticut shopkeeper named Consider Tiffany, Hale was caught by British troops shortly after he began spying while he sailing in the Long Island Sound. Hale was sent to be executed by British General named William Howe after they discovered him spying.

Hale was reportedly hung on September 22 and the exact location of his death is still unknown to this day. Various locations in Manhattan including City Hall Park and the Vanderbilt by Grand Central Terminal are thought to be possible locations of his death. There are currently a statue and a plaque in his honor at both locations.

Hale reportedly said his most famous words moments before his death stating, “I only regret that I have one life to live for my country.” There is no historical proof that these exact words were said by Hale. Hale’s body has never been found but a cenotaph for him is located in Nathan Hale cemetery in South Coventry, Connecticut.

Celebrate the annual Islanders Children’s Foundation Day at Adventureland with your favorite Islanders this Sunday, October 2.

The hockey season is so close, and now’s your chance to sneak in some fun with the Islanders before they put on their skates for the 2011-2012 season. And what better way to celebrate with your favorite hockey players than supporting a good cause—The event will provide donations to the ICF.

The team is holding its third annual Islanders Children’s Foundation Day at Farmingdale’s famous Adventureland Amusement Park. The event will take place Sunday and will allow guests to meet players and coaches as well as enjoy Adventureland rides.

According to the New York Islanders website, season ticket holders have a special advantage–they’re invited to the park starting at 9 a.m. and can take part in an autograph session with the players from 9:30 to 11 a.m. (admission bracelets, a $20 donation to the ICF). All other fans are invited to the park at 11 a.m. where they too will have the chance to meet the players and get autographs, this time from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (bracelets will be $25).

Fans can purchase bracelets online.

Photo of Mark Streit (Paul J. Bereswill/Associated Press)

The New York Islanders has announced defenseman Mark Streit as the 13th captain in the organization’s 40-year history!

“It’s truly an honor to be named the captain of such a historic franchise with a rich history,” Streit said in a statement. “To follow in the foot-steps of so many legendary leaders that represented the Islanders is a role I am excited to fill. It is a privilege to be considered one of the leaders of this team and I’m committed to taking this team to the next level.”

Streit, 33, is back and enters his fourth season with the Islanders in 2011-12 after missing the entire 2010-11 campaign with a shoulder injury.

“Throughout his three seasons with the Islanders, Mark has been a steadying presence in our dressing room,” said General Manager Garth Snow in a statement. “He is constantly pushing himself to be the very best and demands the same from his teammates. Mark is a leader both on and off the ice and we are pleased to name him the 13^th team captain in Islanders history.”

In the past, he has led the team in scoring during the 2008-09 season, while ranking third in that category in 2009-10. Prior to the Islanders, Streit played with The Montreal Canadiens, where he got is start in the NHL and was selected in the ninth round (262^nd overall) of the 2004 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

Since his start, Streit has seen some 361 career NHL games and has scored 52 goals and 162 assists for 214 points. Streit has also played in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games with one goal and three assists.

Streit has also seen international play and has served as captain for Team Switzerland at numerous World Championships and Winter Olympic games—In total, he’s played in 74 World Championship games, 15 Winter Olympic games and 11 World Junior Championship games.

On September 21 in 1938, the New England Hurricane of 1938, also known as the Long Island Express hit Long Island.

The Great Hurricane of 1938 started in the Caribbean and the Bahamas and then traveled up along the eastern coast of the United States taking a swipe at Long Island. It eventually ended in southwestern Quebec, Canada.

The Long Island Express was rated as a Category five hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale before hitting Long Island and being rated as a Category three hurricane, which is still very powerful and destructive. The hurricane was estimated to have killed 682-800 people in total.

It is the most powerful and deadliest hurricane to hit Long Island on record. It is estimated to have damaged/destroyed over 57,000 homes, and caused property losses estimated at $306 million (now has the equivalence of $4.77 billion). Reportedly, there were still damages needing to be repaired 13 years later, in 1951.

Interestingly, the hurricane had no name, as they do now. That’s because hurricanes were referred to by descriptions like “Long Island Express” or “New England Hurricane of 1938″ until the 1950s when the storms began being named. Hurricanes reportedly maintained primarily female names until the 70s and by the late 70s, the system we have today was born and hurricanes began getting both male and female names.

Today, hurricanes reportedly aren’t named until they reach Tropical Storm status and then named starting with the letter A proceeding in alphabetical order.

(Some information from www.northshorewx.com.)

Today on Long Island in the 1770′s, a famous historian died.

Cadwallader Colden was a famous 18th century historian, merchant, physician, botanist, and physicist.  On September 20, 1776, he died of natural causes right here on Long Island.

Colden was born in Ireland on February 7, 1688.  Colden studied medicine in London, at Edinburgh University, and moved to Philadelphia in 1710 to start a medical practice.

It wasn’t until 1718, that he finally relocated to New York.

Colden was the author of the first scientific texts published in the colonies.  Some of his works include expansion on Isaac Newton’s work and the discovery that some of the contributing factors in a New York City epidemic were filth and foul air.  He also wrote about psychology, mathematics, cancer, and yellow fever.

While in New York, he was made Master in Chancery, Surveyor General, and President of the Governor’s Council. Colden was also the first to represent New York in the Iroquois Confederacy, and wrote “The History of the Five Indian Nations” based on his experience.

In 1771, after serving as Governor since the 1760′s, he retired to his estate, Spring Hill, in Flushing.  Here, he continued academic pursuits in many sciences, such as astronomy and botany, until his death in 1776.

(Information from nndb.com, factmonster.com and findagrave.com)

Four Food Studio and Cocktail Salon Photo (taken from Four website)

Tuesday, head to Four for a four-legged affair!

Pet Peeves and Four Food Studio And Cocktail Salon will be presenting “Four Pets” a petworking and cocktail reception at the Melville restaurant.

The event will take place Tuesday September 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. And the night will feature an open bar, hors d’oeuvres and light snacks as well as raffles.

All proceeds will go to Pet Peeves and the needy animals of Long Island. The fundraising efforts benefit animal welfare, humane education programs and pet therapy programs.

Tickets at the door are priced at $35.

The Woodbury-based Pet Peeves known as “the voice of L.I. pets” is a non profit organization that raises funds and awareness for Long Island’s struggling animal shelters and rescue groups.

Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union has instituted some changes, appointing Maureen Genna as Vice President of Operation and Sandra Baron as Director of Human Resources.

This week, Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union announced the recruitment of Maureen Genna as Vice President of Operations. Genna has over 25 years of Credit Union management experience and holds an impressive array of talents in lending, business development, call center supervision, marketing, member services, NCUA compliance and strategic planning.

“I am very excited to add Maureen’s expertise in lending and operations to our executive team,” said Sperry President/CEO James Duffett. “Our members should expect to see many improved services and new opportunities to borrow funds.”

Prior to Sperry Associates, Genna worked with LISEFCU and USAlliance Federal Credit Union in Rye, New York.

Also this week, Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union announced the appointment of Sandra Baron as Director of Human Resources.  Baron has 30 years of human resource experience. Her areas of expertise include benefits, compensation, organizational procedures, talent management, training and development, and labor relations.

“Sandra’s talents in human resources greatly benefit our organization,” said Sperry President/CEO James Duffett. “With her background in global HR management, we look forward to seeing many improved policies and programs for our employees.”

Prior to Sperry Associates, Baron worked with Country Life LLC, a Kikkoman Group Company and E-Z-EM, Inc.

Today on Long Island, in 2010, Farmingville hosted its very first Long Island Pirate Festival. The festival took place on the same day that celebrates pirate slang– International Talk Like A Pirate Day.

“What once was a goofy idea celebrated by a handful of friends has turned into an international phenomenon that shows no sign of letting up,” reports International Talk Like A Pirate Day official site.

National Talk Like A Pirate Day was made public back in 2008, with a column in the Miami Herald by Dave Barry:

“As you can see, talking like a pirate will infuse your everyday conversations with romance and danger. So join the movement! On Sept. 19, do not answer the phone with ”hello.” Answer the phone with ”Ahoy me hearty!” If the caller objects that he is not a hearty, inform him that he is a scurvy dog (or, if the caller is female, a scurvy female dog) who will be walking the plank off the poop deck and winding up in Davy Jones’ locker, sleeping with the fishes. No, wait, that would be Talk Like a Pirate in The Godfather Day, which is another variation I considered (“I’m gonna make him an offer that will shiver his timbers”).”

“But the point is, this is a great idea, and you, me bucko, should be part of it. Join us on Sept. 19. You HAVE the buckles, darn it: Don’t be afraid to swash them! Let’s make this into a grass-roots movement that sweeps the nation, like campaign-finance reform, or Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I truly think this idea could bring us, as a nation, closer together.”

“But not TOO much closer. Some of us will have swords.”

On September 18, 1996, the Asian Longhorned Beetles infestation was discovered in Amityville.

Over 23 square miles of Long Island, including multiple areas in Lindenhurst, Copaigue, Amityville, Babylon,Massapequa and Massapequa Park were all quarantined by the United States Department of Agriculture. The quarantine reportedly cost the state and federal government over $4 million to complete.

Over 5,000 trees were reportedly destroyed during the quarantine process to try to diminish the beetle problem. This type of beetle originally hails from regions of China, Korea and Japan.

These beetles are well known to this region of the country but are also a threat to North American trees. The beetle is thought to have been accidentally introduced into the United States through the shipping of wood packing materials in the 1980s as this type of beetle can only fly for short distances.

They pose a large threat to trees and other landscapes as they are known for feeding off trees and other plant life as they are herbivores. Other infestations were known to occur in Queens and in Central Park in Manhattan.

Tonight the summer long concert series and on-line competition inspired by pop culture culminates with Grand Finale Concert. The famous international band, Far East Movement will take the Tanger Outlets at the Arches stage in Deer Park for the free show. The show will be opened by 2011 Rock Your Style winner,  I.O.U., (Inside Our Universe), hailing from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Last Saturday, final votes were cast live on The Arches Red Carpet by a judging panel of fashion tastemakers and media including from Rocco Leo Gaglioti from Fashion News Live, Rob Shuter from Naughty But Nice and Nyasha Zimucha, online fashion and entertainment correspondent. The hip hop band, I.O.U., came out on top and won the chance to open for the famous band, Far East Movement. I.O.U. has two members, Isaiah ‘Izee’ McMeill, Andrew ‘Buck’ Buckner, accompanied by d.j. Turntablest Ted with a cameo appearance by Evangelia and was selected from over 500 entries through a Facebook voting initiative that attracted over 27,000 voters from across the country.

The chance to open for Far East Movement came with an additional prize of $5,000 cash to further their music career and $1,000 to rock their personal style at Tanger Outlets at The Arches.

To add to the fun tonight, judge, Rocco Leo Gaglioti will select one lucky winner from the front rows of New York Fashion Week to be whisked away to The Arches for the Ultimate Fall Shopping Spree at Tanger Outlets to find her look inspired by the runways.  Her selections and winning look will be posted on Fashion News Live, www.fashionnewslive.com.

On September 17, 1911, Calbraith Perry Rodgers, also known as Cal Rodgers, took off in the plane named Vin Fiz from Sheepshead Bay Speedway in Sheepshead, New York in an attempt to travel across county.

Rodgers, who was originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, became the first American pilot to make a transcontinental flight in the United States. The 32-year-old was considered to be an inexperienced pilot but was the first person to cross the entire United States from by airplane.

His trip reportedly took 49 days, making over seventy stops and sixteen crashes throughout the country before finally completing his mission on November 5. Rodgers was died shortly after during another plane trip to California after crossing over into the ocean as passing over Long Beach. His death became the 127 fatal plane crash in the country.

Today on Long Island in 1999, Hurricane Floyd touched down!

On September 16^th, 1999, Hurricane Floyd hit Long Island. The total rainfall from Hurricane Floyd was up to about 13 inches and winds as fast as up to 60 mph. This hurricane caused a lot of damage including severe flood damage and the death of two people.

The people died because they were swept out by the massive flooding. There were at least $14.6 million worth in repairs counted for, but there was a lot more money spent on repairs. The hurricane was really bad on Long Island, but it had the most impact on eastern North Carolina and caused many more problems.

The rain and massive flooding caused mudslides, which caused many problems and needed to be fixed. Luckily there were not that many fatalities and no reported injuries due to the storm.

(Information from ncsu.edu and earthobservatory.nasa.gov)

On September 15^th, 1776, the Landing at Kip’s Bay occurred!

The Landing at Kip’s bay was a battle fought during the American Revolutionary War. The British started with about 4,000 soldiers while the Americans started with around only 900 men. The British easily won the Landing at Kip’s Bay. Under the British Forces commanded by General William Howe, 60 Americans were killed or wounded and 300 were captured. The American forces under Colonel William Douglas and George Washington were unable to triumph over the British.

The British suffered only 12 casualties. The Landing at Kip’s Bay was very unsuccessful partly because it gave the British full control over New York City. The already high Loyalist population in that area grew because more Loyalists fled to New York City for extra protection. Although we lost this historic battle we clearly made up for it by later winning numerous battles and then the war entirely and broke free from the English.

(Some information from www.USHistory.com and Americanwars101.com.)

Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union recently announced the launch of “Operation: Helping Heroes.” It comes as a long-term initiative to provide support and awareness on issues facing 9/11 first responders.

During the attacks, the Nassau County community banking institution lost five members, and in their honor, will pledge $2,500 to the FealGood Foundation, a non-profit organization established for 9/11 first responders that provides financial assistance to those who volunteered or worked at Ground Zero in the aftermath of 9/11 as well as offering educational support and grassroots activism.

FealGood is led by its Founder and President, John Feal, who served in the cleanup and recovery mission at Ground Zero following the attacks. Only five days into his assignment, steel crushed John’s left foot causing Feal to have half of the injured foot amputated. Ultimately, Feal has become a leader among 9/11 first responders and in 2010, he lobbied Congress to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

“Ground Zero first responders will always be remembered for their heroism and dedication to America following the tragic events of 9/11,” said Sperry FCU President/CEO James Duffett in a statement. “Operation: Helping Heroes is about recognizing the many contributions first responders have made to our society, and in turn, showing them how much we appreciate it. We hope to roll-out this initiative with the support of people and businesses in our community; working together, we will do great things for these heroes.”

Through this program, Sperry hopes to bring to light the conditions 9/11 responders were left with. Some conditions were highlighted in a September 2011 study by The Lancet, a prestigious medical journal, that revealed Ground Zero first responders have a collective nine-year cumulative incidence of Sinusitis, Spirometric (lung function) abnormalities, Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and Asthma. Excluding police officers, the study’s findings also revealed Ground Zero firefighters, construction workers and municipal workers have a considerable nine-year cumulative incidence of mental health disorders including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression and Panic Disorder.

A decade after 9/11, Sperry recognizes that many Ground Zero first responders lack sufficient access to healthcare. For example, first responders with cancer may not receive benefits. A review released by the U.S. Government’s World Trade Center Health Program in July 2011 claims that “insufficient evidence exists at this time to propose a rule to add cancer, or a certain type of cancer, to the list of WTC-related health conditions.”

Additionally, the operation aims to alleviate financial hardships for all first responders in need with long-term drives including fundraising, volunteerism, grassroots advocacy, community events, public awareness projects and partnerships with local non-profit and not-for-profit organizations to further the mission. Additionally, Sperry will appeal to local businesses, educational institutions and government agencies to join this effort.

Today on Long Island, on September 14, 1901, Theodore Roosevelt began the construction of Sagamore Hill!

Sagamore Hill his house on this day that still stands on Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay. The home was originally built for Theodore’s first wife, Alice Lee, but she never lived to see it completed. Roosevelt originally purchased the land in 1880, after spending a large majority of his childhood in Oyster Bay.

The 155 acres reportedly cost him just $30,000 to purchase. The 22 room home was finally completed in 1886 was Roosevelt officially moved in 1887. Since its original construction, their has been one extra room added to the home. The house was original planned to be named “Leholm” after Roosevelt’s wife Alice, but after her death the name was changed to Sagamore Hill. Roosevelt passed away in the home of a heart attack in his sleep in 1919.

This home was best known as the 26 Presidents his “summer White House” during his seven years of Presidency. The house became an official national historic site by Congress in 1962 and is located on Cove Neck Road in Cover Neck. The home is also now the site of the Theodore Roosevelt Museum. Guided tours of the home are available.

Did you know Deer Park was once on the United states Environmental Protection Agencies superfund national priorities list? Well it was!

Lucky for Long Islanders in the area, on September 13, 2009, the town of Deer Park was officially removed from the United States Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) superfund national priorities list. Contaminated sections of Deer Park were labeled by the EPA as being one of the nation’s most hazardous sites.

The site was located in an area that was described as being part residential and part commercial. The contamination was said to have been spread throughout the areas water and and soil. After the cleanup, which took three different stages to complete, the area was no longer considered to be an environmental threat and was removed off the superfund priorities list.

According to the EPA, wastewater from military aircrafts clean ups going into an on site pool and a leaking underground fuel tank were large contributors to making the site hazardous.

Today on Long Island in 1971, Jerry Seinfeld’s wife was born in Oyster Bay!

On September 12, 1971, Jerry Seinfeld’s wife Jessica Seinfeld, was born in Oyster Bay on this day.

Originally born with the name, Nina Danielle Skylar, his wife is now well known for her two best-selling cookbooks, Deceptively Delicious, Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food and Double Delicious! Good, Simple Food for Busy, Complicated Live which both promote healthy eating. Jessica was sued for copyright and trademark infringement in 2008 after fellow author, Missy Chase Lapine claimed she plagiarized her recipes in her first cookbook.

In 2010 the claims were thrown out by a federal judge. She is also became the founder of the non-profit organization, Baby Buggy in 2001 to provides to needy families with children throughout New York City. Jessica also served as a producer for Jerry Seinfeld’s show “The Marriage Ref” for one season in 2010. Seinfeld is Jessica’s second marriage. She was first married to Broadway producer, Eric Nederlander in 1998 before divorcing and marrying Seinfeld on Christmas Day in 1999. The couple have three children together; Sascha, Julian and Shepherd.

On September 11^th, 1960 Hurricane Donna made its final land strike on Long Island.

Reported as a strong Category 1 hurricane, with winds reaching speeds around 95 mph, Long Island was devastated by the aftermath and destruction left by Hurricane Donna.

The winds and rain from Hurricane Donna can actually be seen taking place during a fistfight scene in the 1961 hit movie, Blast of Silence. Before knowing about Hurricane Donna, the makers of the film had scheduled to film on September 11^th.

After knowing of the storm the makers of the film still decided that Hurricane Donna would be fine for filming outside, even though they were in to witness a deadly hurricane.

(Some information from www.nhc.noaa.gov and www.tcm.com)

Tanger Outlets at the Arches competition, Rock Your Style is down to the final three!

This Saturday, the final three contestants will battle for first place and the chance to open for Far East Movement. On hand will be Rob Shuter, magazine editor, author, host of HDNet’s Naughty but Nice Rob show and popular columnist; Chip Quigley, President, Kingdom Entertainment, creator of the Jones Beach Concert series and manager of Sugar Ray and Mark McGrath;  DJ Syke, DJ on Long Island’s popular radio station, BLI; Rocco Leo Giglioti, founder, producer and talk show host of FashionNewslive.com; and Nyasha Zimucha, recording artist, fashion blogger and Ms. Africa USA.

Rock Your Style will culminate on September 17 where the winner will open for Far East Movement, receive $5,000 cash and a $1,000 shopping spree.

On September 10^th, 1949, William James O’Reilly, Jr., or as he is better known as, Bill O’Reilly, was born on Long Island.

Originally from Levittown, Bill O’Reilly now hosts his own show on the Fox News Channel, The O’Reilly Factor. O’Reilly is also an author, columnist, and political commentator. During his career, he has been a reporter/anchor in: Boston, Miami, Scranton, Dallas, Denver, Portland, Hartford, New York City, and Los Angeles. In the past he covered wars in the Falkland Islands, El Salvador, Northern Ireland, and Israel as well.

O’Reilly was also a high school teacher in Florida for three years. In September of 2009 his show, The O’Reilly Factor was the rated as the #1 cable news show for 106 consecutive months. This Long Island native has achieved great success in his life in many areas.

O’Reilly received many degrees from multiple colleges; his B.A. from Marist College, M.A. from Boston University, and M.P.A. from Harvard University. Bill O’Reilly has achieved so much in his life, and he started out as the boy from Levittown, Long Island.

(Information from IMDB)

Today on Long Island in 2010, Hurricane Earl whirled our way!

On September 9^th, 2010, the tropical hurricane, Hurricane Earl, emerging from the tropics and was expected to be devastating when it hit Long Island. The meteorologists predicted 40 mph- 50 mph winds and there was an evacuation plan set up.

The storm was not very big and there was little to no damage, leaving the “horrible hurricane” to a a simple hype. Long Islanders felt like fools for believing that trees were going to fall on their homes and cars, massive flooding, power outages, and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth in repairs. People spent a lot of money on food and insurance in fear of the damage that the meteorologists predicted.

(Some Information from NY Daily News.)

Today on Long Island in 1910, the LIRR opened for the first time!

On September 8, 1910, the Long Island Railroad became officially open for business after connecting the Pennsylvania Railroad by a tunnel created under the east river. This was a long awaited change that allowed residents of Long Island to be able to travel to Manhattan by railroad.

The Long Island Rail Road connection to the Pennsylvania Railroad helped make it possible for residents of the island to travel quickly to Manhattan. Before Pennsylvania Station and its tunnels were ready to use, passengers were only able to travel as far as Queens before having to continue their transportation using ferries and subway lines.

On the first day of its opening, over 35,000 people used the railroad to travel. At the time of its creation, Penn Station was the most expensive private structure created and was torn down in 1963. Before the connection, commuters were forced to take a ferry and elevated subway lines. Last year Penn Station celebrated its 100 year anniversary.

As people from around the globe watch Quiksilver Pro New York from their laptops, rooting for their favorite surfers as they perform on the waves of Long Beach, many don’t realize it wouldn’t be possible without a Long Island web hosting company.

Long Island’s Webair is acting as the official networking and connectivity provider of the Quiksilver Pro New York surf contest taking place in Long Beach this week. The competition draws in the best surfers from around the world.

“Working on the Quiksilver event has been incredible!” said Michael C. Orza, President of Webair, in a statement.

According to Webair, the Garden City based web hosting company is connecting the Quicksilver Pro Event with the rest of the world by providing dark fiber, networking, connectivity and Wi-Fi solutions.  Webair is also providing audio visual, satellite connectivity and internet kiosks in order for the public to stay connected while attending the competition.

Webair will even be live streaming the event through The Surf Cam. The Surf Cam will show 24/7 live video of wave conditions and surfers’ performances.

Additionally, Webair is sponsoring big wave surfer and Long Beach native, Will Skudin.

“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,” said Orza in a statement.

“I’m stoked and honored to have the opportunity to surf professionally for Webair, one of the biggest hosting companies out there,” said Skudin in a statement. “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!”

On September 7, 1940, Saul Feldstein, drummer and member of the PAS Hall of Fame, was born.

Feldstein grew up on Long Island and attended Freeport High School.  He showed an early interest in the drums, and began to study mallets with Glenn Brown at the age of 12.  When he was a sophomore in high school, he started to study under Henry Adler, who provided him with a rigorous education in everything related to percussion.

After high school, he studied at the Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam.  Here, he says, is where he learned how to play musically rather than solely focusing on technique.  During his summers, he continued to study with Henry Adler, and began to teach in his studio as well.  He also began to write books for mallet players, teaching them how to read bass clef and explaining different mallet techniques.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from Potsdam, he went to New York to earn his Master of Arts in Music Education degree from Columbia University.  Feldstein was offered a teaching job at SUNY-Potsdam and accepted it, working on his doctorate at Columbia during the summer breaks.

Feldstein continues to work as a composer, a percussionist, and a teacher.  His teaching books are highly respected and used by many today, and his presence in the music community will be felt long after he is gone.

(Source of information: http://www.pas.org/experience/halloffame/FeldsteinSandy.aspx)

Today on Long Isladn in 1800, a famous women’s activist was born!

On September 6, 1800, education and woman activist, Katherine Beecher was born in East Hampton, New York.

A majority of Beecher’s life work was educating the lifes of the young. She opened and taught at the private all girls school Hartford Female Seminary in Connecticut for nine years.

Beecher also wrote her lesser known non-fiction novel “A Treatise on Domestic Economy for the Use of Young Ladies at Home and at School” which was based on her believes of the importance of educating young females. She was the founder of multiple organizations including The American Woman’s Educational Association, Western Female Institute and The Ladies Society for Promoting Education in the West that worked to promote educational opportunities for women.

Beecher wasn’t the only famous family member. She is also remembered for her sister Harriet Beecher Stowe’s anti-slavery novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”.

On August 23^rd Long Islanders felt a quake as did most of the northeast. The 5.8 magnitude earthquake that began in Virginia rocked the states around it including New York.

According to a Times article, on September 4, 1951 a similar event happened on Long Island– a large earthquake tremor was felt all over New York, New Jersey , and Connecticut.

The recent quake disrupted the daily lives of those in the area that it hit but also hundreds of miles away just like the one in 1951.

The previous earthquake didn’t cause as much damage as the more recent tremors did but it was definitely talked about just as much. The recent quake generated about 5500 tweets per second explains Telegraph. The tremors that occurred on September 4^th also caused quite a stir.

Earthquakes that occur in the central and eastern US are felt in a broader region than any others notes U.S. Geological Survey. The recent quake was felt by 12 million people.

The September 4^th quake was believed to have been caused by an old ice cap that melted 5,000 years prior to the quake.

The ice cap settled near Long Island and pushed down on the earth’s surface. The tremor, which originated in Connecticut, shook the entire northeast.

It began at 4:26 pm and was recorded as being 140 miles long.

(Some information from, Telegraph & USGS)

On September 3, 1922, in Garden City, Long Island, Bessie Coleman performed in her very first air show.

Bessie Coleman was the first female African American licensed pilot.  She was born in Texas, and grew up very poor, facing discrimination from a very young age.  When she was 23, she went to live in Chicago with two of her older brothers.

Coleman’s interest in aviation was sparked by the tales she heard from soldiers returning from World War I.  When she decided to learn how to fly, she was turned away by every flying school because she was both African American and a woman.  Coleman made the decision to learn how to fly in France.  She was awarded an international pilot’s license by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale in June of 1921.

When Coleman returned to the U.S., she became very well known among the public for her daring accomplishment. Over 3,000  people attended her first air show, and were amazed by her jaw dropping stunts.  She used her popularity to encourage other African Americans to fly and refused to perform at venues that would not admit members of her race.

Coleman’s last flight ended tragically, when on April 30, 1926, her plane unexpectedly plummeted to the ground and she was killed on impact.

( Source of information : www.flightsim.com)

On September 2, 1992, in Huntington, Long Island, the American geneticist Barbara McClintock, passed away.

McClintock was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on June 16, 1902. McClintock earned her bachelor’s degree at Cornell University in 1923.  At this time, the field of genetics was still very new, but interest in the research of genetics was beginning.

She began to become fascinated with the structure of chromosomes, and with mitosis and meiosis as she worked on her master’s degree.  In 1927, she completed her Ph.D. and stayed at Cornell to study the chromosomes of maize.  She worked as an assistant professor of botany at the University of Missouri for a brief time, leaving after only five years to pursue research.  She moved to Cold Springs Harbor, New York in 1942, where she researched for long hours, every day, until her death.

McClintock is responsible for the discovery of “jumping genes” and hypothesized these genes were responsible for mutations. Although this research was conducted in 1944, it was not recognized until the 1960s.  She received many awards for her work, including the National Medal of Science in 1070 and the Nobel Prize in 1983.

(Source of information: http://www.bookrags.com/research/barbara-mcclintock-scit-0712/)

After making landfall on Long Island on August 31, 1954, Hurricane Carol finally dissipated on September 1.

After forming on August 25 in the Bahamas, Carol made slow progress northward before rapidly accelerating on August 30. Carol first made landfall near Saybrook, Connecticut, on the morning of August 31, and moved onto eastern Long Island and southeastern Connecticut 12 hours later.

Sustained winds of 80-100 mph struck the eastern half of Connecticut, all of Rhode Island, most of eastern Massachusetts, and parts of eastern Long Island. The lowest recorded pressure of the storm was at Suffolk County Airport on the south shore of Long Island with a reading of 28.36.

4,000 homes, along with 3,500 automobiles and over 3,000 boats were destroyed in the storm, along with nearly 40 percent of apple, corn, peach, and tomato crops. Carol left at least 65 dead in her wake.

Hurricane Carol was the most destructive hurricane to strike Southern New England since the Great New England Hurricane of 1938.

(Photo: Storm Surge from Hurricane Carol / Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will sponsor the 36th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show in Bridgehampton this month!

The Hampton Classic Horse Show will take place from Sunday, August 28 to Sunday, September 4, and include a ton of awesome events involving the ASPCA.

The ASPCA will be hosting its very own Adoption Day at the Classic on Monday, August 29.

On this day, four local animal shelters and five local horse rescue groups will have animals on site. Celebrity hosts will be on hand and include ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors and top international riders Georgina Bloomberg and Brianne Goutal, “Today” correspondent and best-selling author Jill Rappaport, and actress and ASPCA supporter Aida Turturro. Also available for questions, will be Dr. Pamela Corey, director of equine veterinary services for the ASPCA and Jacque Schultz, ASPCA equine grants officer.

Throughout the week-long event, the ASPCA will make their presence known with the presentation of the coveted ASPCA Maclay Award with ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Assistant Director Joseph Pentangelo on Friday, September 2 and celebrity appearances throughout the week at the “ASPCA Patio.”

Here’s a complete schedule of ASPCA Events/Expert Appearances at the 36th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show:

Sunday, August 28:

• 11-1:00 p.m. (ASPCA Patio) – Book signing and meet & greet with Elizabeth Letts, author of The Eighty Dollar Champion: A Horse, A Man, and the Dream That Inspired A Nation, and legendary rider and trainer Harry de Leyer. The Eighty Dollar Champion is the true story of a horse rescued from slaughter that became a legend.

• 2:30-3:30 p.m. (ASPCA Patio) – Meet ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors Georgina Bloomberg and Brianne Goutal, who will be on hand to sign autographs and talk about their equestrian careers and how they team up with the ASPCA to help horses.

Monday, August 29:

• 9 a.m.-5 p.m. – The ASPCA Patio will be open.

• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. – The second ASPCA Adoption Day at the Hampton Classic will feature local dog, cat and horse rescue groups with animals up for adoption. The event will feature VIP hosts Jill Rappaport from “Today,” actress Aida Turturro, and Ms. Bloomberg and Ms. Goutal.

o Participating dog and cat rescue groups include: Suffolk County SPCA, ARF of Southampton, The Little Shelter, and Southampton Animal Shelter.

o Participating horse rescue groups include: Kaeli Kramer Foundation, Project Sage Horse Rescue, Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard and Horse Rescue, Rerun, Inc. Thoroughbred Rescue, and Seraphim 12 Foundation. Rescued and rehabilitated horses also will be on hand for demonstrations.

o Training demonstrations also will take place. Adoptable dogs and cats will be available in the Kids/Exhibition area across from the ASPCA Patio, while adoptable horses will be available in Hunter Ring 1 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Tuesday, August 30 and Wednesday, August 30:

• Please visit the ASPCA Patio for schedule information.

Thursday, September 1:

• 1:30-3:30 p.m. (Grand Prix Ringside Chalet) – The ASPCA will hold a ‘Champagne for Horses’ party and Equine Welfare Experts Discussion brought to you by Seraphim 12 Foundation, NYCLASS (New Yorkers for Clean, Liveable and Safe Streets), and Louis Roederer Champagne. This event is by invitation only and space is limited. For information on how to obtain an invitation, please contact the ASPCA’s Valerie Angeli via email at valeriea@aspca.org.

Friday, September 2:

• 11 a.m. (Hunter Ring) – ASPCA Maclay Award Presentation with ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement assistant director Joseph Pentangelo.

• 12-3 p.m. (ASPCA Patio) – Learn more about Team ASPCA, the ASPCA’s new endurance and fundraising program. Those interested can sign up and take part in a training session led by a professional trainer and Ms. Bloomberg, who will give the first 50 people to come by a free Team ASPCA T-shirt.

Saturday, September 3:

• 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (ASPCA Patio) – Get the new ASPCA Benefit Set from Breyer with a rescued horse, dog and cat, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the ASPCA. Georgina Bloomberg will be on hand to autograph the Breyer Horses.

Sunday, September 4:

• 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (ASPCA Patio) – Meet & greet with Officer Joseph Pentangelo, assistant director of ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement, who will be on hand to answer questions about animal welfare and how to report animal cruelty and neglect.

Throughout the week:

• ‘ASPCA VIP Rider’ lapel pins and ‘Horses on Sticks’ will be available at the ASPCA Patio for a donation, with proceeds benefitting the ASPCA Equine Fund.

• The ‘Jump for the ASPCA’ fundraiser, sponsored by FTI, will trigger a donation to the ASPCA each time a rider clears the ASPCA fence on the show grounds.

Kelly Bensimon, AlexMcCord, Jill Zarin, Cindy Barshop and LuAnn deLesseps attend the 2011 Bravo Upfront in March.

”Real Housewives of New York” star, Cindy Barshop will be at Tanger Outlets at the Arches in Deer Park this Saturday to debut her new beauty line.

Long Island native, Barshop currently stars on Bravo reality show ”Real Housewives of New York ” and is the Founder of Completely Bare Spas.

On Saturday, August 20, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., shoppers can meet the reality star and enjoy an exclusive spa experience as Tanger Outlets at the Arches hosts a pop-up Completely Bare Spa. Here, Cindy will be debuting her new Completely Bare Spa line.

Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy an array of spa treatments and receive 35% off along with a special gift.

Tanger Outlets at the Arches is located at 152 The Arches Circle in Deer Park, NY. For information call 212.366.6060.

(Associated Press photo by Robert F. Bukaty Credit: ROBERT F. BUKATY)

The 8th Annual Fall Harvest and Seafood Festival will take place on Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18 at Captree State Park in Babylon.

Captree State Park is home of New York State’s largest fishing fleet, which is comprised of 30 open and charter fishing boats—so what better place to host the Annual Fall Harvest and Seafood Festival!

This festival will kick off at 11 a.m. and offers fun for the entire family through 5 p.m. Adults can enjoy the sale of fresh Long Island produce and seafood specialties, live music, and various other vendors. Activities for children include our famous crab races, boat rides, interactive pirate shows, pony rides, and much more! All activities are free, but there is an $8.00 vehicle use fee in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

This event is sponsored by the Natural Heritage Trust and the Long Island State Park Region. Corporate contributors include 97.5 WALK-FM, S & J Refreshments, Inc. (Captree Cove Restaurant), US4 Sport Fishing, Inc. (Captree Bait, Tackle and Fuel), and David Lerner Associates.

Captree State Park is located on Ocean Drive, Exit 40 off the Robert Moses Causeway. It can be reached via the Southern State Parkway, Ocean Parkway, Sunrise Highway or Montauk Highway. For additional information, please call the Long Island State Park Recreation Department at (631) 321-3510, weekdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Weekends and/or day of event, please call Captree State Park directly at (631) 669-0449.

Long Island’s favorite NHL team and favorite tattoo parlor have joined forces to produce a limited-edition t-shirt line.

Sure the professional hockey team already has mainstream licensed apparel, but it’s nothing like this line. The funky new line of Islander shirts were given a “tattoo feel” and were designed by the experts: Lou Rubino, Tattoo Lou’s Owner, Irish Jay, the senior tattoo artist and Mark Parez, the marketing director.

“The main goal here is to get more of an audience and move more shirts,” Rubino said in a statement. “I think that teaming up with the Islanders is really going to help explode the clothing line that we’re working on.”

The shirts come in black, white and grey. Each t-shirt has a different artistic design incorporated with the Islander’s logo.

A clothing line seems like the perfect thing for Isles fans who aren’t set on getting Isles inked on them just yet. The idea for the new line came to Rubino after hosting a booth at the 2011 Draft Party at Nassau Coliseum on June 24. After meeting swarms of Isles fans, he spent time designing Islander-themed tattoos. Rubino’s idea of designing a special clothing with the Islander’s logo seemed like a successful one and the Islanders agreed.

The shirts were first released on July 19 and are now available at the Islanders Team Store at Sunrise Mall in Massapequa.

After over 350 applications were submitted for a chance to compete for the coveted titles of Miss Long Island and Miss Long Island Teen, 19 took the stage at Patchogue Theatre on Sunday but only two were crowned.

Jessica Pinckney of Manhasset is the new Miss Long Island 2012, and Sabrina Mastrangelo of Bellmore took home the Miss Long Island Teen 2012 titles.

Pinckney, 24, is employed by Ralph Lauren and seeks to use her new-found fame to promote volunteerism among Long Island’s youth. Mastrangelo, 15, is a high school student determined to put an end to teen cyberbullying by speaking in school across Long Island.

Both queens kicked off their reigns less than 24-hours after being crowned with a live appearance on News 12 Long Island, and are set to embark on amazing journeys for the next year, including representing all of Long Island at Donald Trump’s Miss New York USA pageant in January.

OFFICIAL 2012 LONG ISLAND PAGEANT RESULTS

Miss Long Island 2012 – Jessica Pinckney, Manhasset

1st Runner-up- Adele Scala, Hauppauge

2nd Runner-up- Danielle Cinone, Smithtown

3th Runner-up- Elaina Estrada, Glen Cove

4th Runner-up- Katelyn Repetto, North Babylon

Miss Long Island Teen 2012 – Sabrina Mastrangelo, Bellmore

1st Runner-up- Catherine Manett, Patchogue

2nd Runner-up- Nikki Orlando, Nesconset

3rd Runner-up- Lauren Doherty, Northport

Miss Photogenic 2012- Jacqueline Brooks, Bay Shore

Miss Photogenic Runner-up- Lauren Kalabacas, Williston Park

Miss Teen Photogenic 2012- Nikki Orlando, Nesconset

Miss Teen Photogenic Runner-up- Lauren Doherty, Northport

Miss Congeniality 2012- Adele Scala, Hauppauge

Miss Teen Congeniality 2012 – Ashley Rivera, Massapequa Park

Miss Community Queen 2012 (tie) – Andrea Lebedinski, Setauket; Victoria Allen, Babylon

Miss Teen Community Queen 2012-Sabrina Mastrangelo, Bellmore

Directors Award Miss-Katy Campbell, Wading River

Directors Award Teen-Sabrina Mastrangelo, Bellmore

Sponsorship Award Winners–Katy Campbell, Wading River; Lauren Kalabacas, WillistonPark; Andrea Lebedinski, Setauket

Pageantry Spirit Award Winner- Jacqueline Brooks, Bay Shore

Spirit 1st Runner-up (tie) – Katy Campbell, Wading River; Gabriella Penaherrera, Central Islip

Spirit 2nd Runner-up-Danielle Cinone, Smithtown

Spirit 3rd Runner-up (tie)-Jessica Ricco, Westbury; Elaina Estrada, Glen Cove

Spirit 4th Runner-up-Catherine Manett, Patchogue

Spirit 5th Runner-up-Jessica Pinckney, Manhasset

Pageant Family Award Miss- Adele Scala, Hauppauge; Katelyn Repetto, North Babylon; Heather Miura, Mastic.

Pageant Family Award Teen- Ashley Rivera, Massapequa Park; Jennifer Biancaniello, Patchogue; Nikki Orlando, Nesconset.

Visit www.LIpageants.com for more information about the reigning and former Long Island queens, and to enter for a chance to compete next summer!

Beach tennis is serving Long Island this summer!

Sure, beach volleyball is a fun sport that’s been around for decades– Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer sizzled while playing a match in the hit movie Top Gun– but go buy a paddle Maverick, because there’s a new hot sport hitting the beaches of the U.S. and it’s called beach tennis.

“I personally find it more fun. It’s good on your body because it’s sand it’s not hard on your body like a court. It’s Fun to jump and dive into sand,” said Dave Sickmen of Long Island Tennis Magazine. “The sport is growing each year so more and more people are getting involved. I don’t know anyone who has tried it out and not continued to play. It’s kind of addicting. Once u get out there, you fall in love.”

Sickmen said the biggest difference between classic tennis and beach tennis is that the “ball can’t bounce,  players use a paddle instead of racket and the game uses a decompressed ball, so it hangs in the air longer. Outside that, scores are just like a regular tennis match.”

This year Long Island will get to experience beach tennis at its finest. Beach Tennis USA (BTSA) International Championships will be hosted at Long Island’s own, Long Beach later this month.

“This tournament is equivalent to the U.S. Open in the beach tennis world,” said Sickmen.

The tournament is the third major tournament of the BTUSA segment of the International Federation of Beach Tennis’ world tour and will take place August 18 through August 21 outside of the Allegria Hotel. Amateurs and professionals will compete in either singles or doubles competitions throughout the tournament hoping to win back the money they spent on registration.

The Allegria Hotel is no stranger to beach tennis events as it has hosted three Long Island Tennis Magazine Challenge tournaments and hosted one just this past weekend.

Beach tennis first came from Europe and South America and hit the United States in 2005. The sandy sport combines tennis and beach volleyball to create an exciting sport where players can get the thrill of tennis with the added perk of catching some rays by the sea. As described on www.beachtennisusa.net , the most crucial rule of beach tennis is that the ball can not hit the sand. The game is played on a regulation beach volleyball court (26 and one quarter feet wide, 52 and a half feet long) and the net is five feet and 6.75 inches high. The paddles are solid, rather than netted like regular tennis rackets and must range in size between 18.5 inches and 20 inches long, designed to hit a slightly depressurized version of a tennis ball. Each match is comprised of a Pro-set which is seven games but must be won with a lead of two games.

Recognizing the sports increase in popularity, Beach Tennis USA designed new equipment lines and family-friendly starter kits, which are sold online and sports specialty shops around the country. Beach Tennis can now be played in any season and any surface.

Sickmen says the sport is growing across the nation and especially on Long Island,  he said,” After all, the guys who brought beach tennis the the U.S. are Long Islanders. Now, at the Crest Hollow Country Club there’s a five court sand pit so people on the North Shore can play easier rather than heading down to Long Beach.”

The BTUSA International Championships is the third major tournament of the BTUSA segment of their World Tour. The tournament will include Men’s and Women’s Pro, Amateur, Junior matches as well as a Nation’s Cup tournament that will feature international teams from Italy, France, Reunion, Aruba, Brazil, the United States among others.

Sertinos Cafe will open the first Sertinos in New York  this month.

“We’re excited to be opening a store in New York so that people in the Northeast can enjoy the Sertinos Cafe experience,” said C.R. Duffie, Jr., Sertinos president in a statement. “We know that people will appreciate the quality and freshness of the food, the excellent service and the inviting atmosphere.”

On Saturday, August 13, Sertinos will open it’s doors to New Yorkers at its newest location, 133 W Main Street in Smithtown.

“I chose to open a Sertinos in Smithtown because I think the community needs a family-oriented restaurant that can also be a gathering place,” said Craig Lowenthal, long-time Long Island resident and Sertinos owner/operator in a statement. “I really admire the company’s dedication to customer service as well as the breadth and depth of their menu. It’s a warm, coffee house environment that’s appealing to people of all ages.”

To celebrate, the Smithtown Sertinos will be giving away over 500 gift cards worth $20 each during the two-day Grand Opening Event on Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14.

Loyal Sertinos customers will have the opportunity to join a member rewards program which offers ten percent cash back on every purchase as well as an additional three percent of sales which the company will donate to local non-profit organizations. The Smithtown Sertinos will employ several full-time employees as well as over 30 part-time employees.

As far as the menu, Lowenthal said in a statement, “The Sertinos menu has something to offer customers at any time of day. The blend of items includes coffees, teas and pastries, Paninis, hot toasted and deli-style sandwiches, soups and salads, juice smoothies and blended coffee drinks, premium ice cream, non-fat frozen yogurt and high-end desserts. We are looking forward to serving everyone as part of the Smithtown community.”

For the menu visit www.sertinoslongisland.com.

Southampton Youth Services and AHRC Suffolk hosted their second annual 5K Run/Walk in Southampton on Saturday, July 30.  About 200 runners participated in the event which took place on Pond Lane in Southampton.

The first male to finish was Ben Tuttle of Eastport with a time of 16:46, and the first female to finish was Heather Wright of Westhampton with a time of 19:01.  Southampton Mayor Mark Epley, who also participated in the 5K, was on hand to give out medals and raffle prizes.  SYS and AHRC Suffolk are looking forward to next year’s 5K Run/Walk.

AHRC Suffolk is a not-for-profit organization which serves children and adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.  Currently more than 2,500 people receive educational, vocational, residential and respite services through AHRC’s thirty-five facilities.  For further information, please contact The Foundation Office at 631-585-0100.

An exterior shot of the Chelsea mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located on the northern end of the Muttontown Preserve.

Muttontown is Nassau County’s largest nature preserve and by far one on Long Island’s most beautiful places with over 550 acres of fields, woodlands, ponds and estate grounds.

The preserve includes miles of marked nature trails with local wildflowers, trees, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

In winter, residents can enjoy the cross-country skiing trails that are available when weather allows. Muttontown also has several structures, including the Chelsea estate, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and Nassau Hall.

The Muttontown Preserve is cobbled together from three separate estates. The Nature Center and Chelsea are located on a 100-acre parcel donated by Alexandra Moore McKay. An additional 400 acres were purchased from the Lansdell Christie estate, including the original Winthrop mansion. A 20-acre parcel donated by Mrs. Paul Hammond contains evidence of the pre-Revolutionary Duryea Farm. The ruins of the mansion once owned by King Zog of Albania can still be viewed in the wooded area just north of Muttontown Road.

The story of King Zog attracts many visitors to the mansion’s remains. King Zog, the last monarch in Albania, remains one of the preserve’s curiosities. Zog, who fled Albania after the Italian invasion of 1939 and lived in England, Egypt and France in the years after, acquired the 150-acre Knollwood estate at Muttontown in 1951. The estate included a magnificent 60-room granite mansion originally built for Wall Street investor Charles Hudson in the early 20th century. But Zog never moved to the U.S. and sold the estate in 1955 to Lansdell Christie (Zog died in France in 1961). As the mansion lay abandoned, rumors began to spread about riches King Zog had hidden in the mansion’s walls, with the natural result that vandals soon descended on the property. The Christie family had the mansion demolished in 1959.

Check it out for yourself. The Muttontown Preserve is located in East Norwich, 25A west of Jericho-Oyster Bay Road, on Muttontown Lane (south side of 25A)- 516-571-8500.

(Information from Nassau County Departments of Parks, Recreation & Museums.)

Along with the American Camp Association’s “Making a Difference” Week of community service, Nassau County Summer Camp fundraised through the collection of spare change!

Campers and staff at Rolling River Day Camp in East Rockaway emptied their pockets last week to raise money for the camp’s 2^nd annual Coin Harvest Fundraiser.  From July 19 – July 22, blue piggy banks were placed around the campus and served as drop-off stations for campers to donate their spare change.  The campers and staff raised hundreds of dollars which will be matched by Rolling River to support two charitable causes.

Funds raised through the Coin Harvest will be divided between The Campmates Program, Rolling River’s camp scholarship fund, and The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island.

“Both programs are meaningful to Rolling River families since they assist Long Island children,” says Mark Goodman, Owner/Director of Rolling River Day Camp. “Teaching our campers how even a small gesture of kindness can help other kids is one of the best lessons they can learn at camp.”

The Campmates Program was launched last year and awards tuition-free camp scholarships to children associated with Peninsula Counseling Center in Valley Stream.  The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island is located in New Hyde Park and serves as a “home-away-from-home” for the parents and siblings of sick children admitted to local hospitals.  On August 15, Rolling River’s 9^th and 10^th grade campers will personally deliver the funds to RMH-LI as well as volunteer their time to bake desserts for residents of the house.  “Rolling River’s gift will help to reduce one more burden for these overwhelmed families,” says Matthew Campo, Executive Director of RMH-LI.

Five Towns College is hosting its Free Guitar Clinic August 10 at 7:00 p.m.

“Join us with Professor, recording artist, and author Steve Briody, host of the free guitar lesson website “Learn In Two” for a free guitar clinic,” said Five Towns College in a statement.”Hear Steve discuss and demonstrate the techniques of some of the greatest guitarists in rock and blues history.”

Many of Steve’s compositions can be heard on the radio, he has a lesson column in the June 2011 issue of Guitar Player magazine, and his new jazz book is now available in stores.

“Having a firm background in blues and classic rock is essential for the guitarist at every level,” said Briody. He’ll discuss the importance of emulating the all-time great rock and blues guitarists during the clinic.

Audience participation has been a big part of our previous clinics — high school and middle school students as well as adults have been on hand — asking for advice on practicing, developing one’s ear, and advice on chords and lead guitar — so have your questions ready!

You can preview Steve’s lessons at www.learnintwo.com.  To become a member simply click on the “More Info” link at the bottom of the page and you will be notified of a new lesson every two weeks — no strings attached!  The clinic will be held in the UpBeat Café at Five Towns College at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday August 10.  Seating is limited so please contact Kim Persche, Clinic Coordinator at 631-656-3115.

The 2nd Annual Paws 2 Love Pet Adoption Festival & Benefit will take place on September 25 at Manetto Hill Animal Hospital in Plainview.

Live music, vendors, pet demonstrations, food, children’s games and activities as well as a great raffle and silent auction will all be part of this year’s Paws 2 Love event.

“Last year was a huge success and we hope to continue to grow this very worthy charity event.  We have joined together with Rescue groups and shelters to create a festival of celebration to bring awareness of these pets and have the community participate in this family fun day as well,” stated Manetto Hill Animal Hospital in a statement.

Pharmaceutical companies, the Town of Oyster Bay Animal Shelter and the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter are all helping to sponsor this year’s event.

It’s evident that everyone is taking part in this great festival and benefit including local business, who have donated products and services for the raffle and silent auction. All proceeds will benefit the rescue organizations that are in attendance.

By far the most exciting aspect at the pet adoption event, will be the many town shelters along with Little Shelter and Last Hope Animal Rescue that will be present and bring with them lovable animals available for adoption.

Pictured in the photo are, left to right, are Hannah Bohlsen with her uncle and Prime co-owner Michael Bohlsen, North Shore Animal League America spokesperson Beth Stern with puppy, and Hannah’s father, Kurt Bohlsen holding the newest member of the Bohlsen family, Maya.

This weekend welcomed the second annual Gold Coast Affair and first public pet adoption to Prime Restaurant in Huntington.

Guest of honor Beth Stern was present as the group raised $14,000 in donations and found homes for seven puppies– One puppy, a female Shepherd mix, was adopted by the youngest of the Bohlsen family who own Prime.

The evening was co-hosted by Hamptons Magazine, who showcased luxury car dealer Ferrari Maserati of Long Island, luxury boat retailer Surfside 3/Marine Max of Huntington, Long Island’s Raphael Vineyard, Grand Gate Capital, Ancona Associates, The Girls Room  and Emaury Talent Agency.

North Shore Animal League America, headquartered in Port Washington, is the world’s largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization and has saved almost 1,000,000 lives. The staff and volunteers work to find animals permanent homes and ultimately end euthanasia.

Prime in Huntington, a family-owned restaurant by the Bohlsen Restaurant Group, is honored with an International Star Diamond Award from The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, and has received favorable reviews over the past years.  The restaurant offers many options as far as dining including the formal dining room or private Vine Rooms, at the bar, in the Lodge or outside on the Porch, the Fantail Deck, dockside, at the Cabana Bar or on one’s boat with Prime Picnic Basket service.

In a report released this week, HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings organization, awarded two prestigious honors to Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola.

Winthrop has been awarded the 2011 HealthGrades Maternity Care Excellence Award and the Gynecologic Surgery Excellence Award, making it the only hospital in Nassau County to be ranked in the top 10 percent in the nation for both maternity care and gynecological surgery.  These newest awards come only a few months after HealthGrades recognized Winthrop with the 2011 Women’s Health Excellence Award.  In addition, Winthrop ranked among the top 5 percent in the nation for Women’s Health for the second year.

According to HealthGrades, Winthrop is the only hospital in New York State to simultaneously receive these three 2011 awards and has also named Winthrop as the only hospital in Nassau County to be ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation for both maternity care and gynecological surgery, and one of four in New York State.

“The gynecologic surgeons at Winthrop possess expertise in all aspects of medical and surgical gynecologic care,” said Eva Chalas, MD, Director of Clinical Cancer Services, Vice-Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Winthrop.

Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of the Residency Program at Winthrop, Anthony Vintzileos MD adds, “ Winthrop University Hospital has been providing superior maternity care to young mothers for over a century. Today we combine the same level of care with the most advanced maternal fetal capabilities such as high-risk pregnancy management, adverse pregnancy outcome evaluation service and laser fetal surgery.”

Winthrop-University Hospital offers a wide range of women’s health services, from screening programs and diagnostics to a variety of treatment programs. The hospital boasts the Women’s Cardiovascular Wellness and Prevention Center, Osteoporosis Diagnostic, Research and Treatment Center, an Obstetrics & Gynecology Program, state-of-the-art Breast Imaging & Diagnostic Center and Breast Health Center.

The New York Islanders announced today that Tim Wallace has agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way AHL/NHL contract.

Wallace, 26, has played for the Pittsburgh Penguins Organization for the last five seasons. He’s scored 37 points in over 60 regular season games last season to finish fifth in scoring on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. He also saw NHL action for the third consecutive season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, playing in seven games.

In 24 career NHL games, all with Pittsburgh, Wallace recorded two assists and 12 penalty minutes. The forward also totaled 75 goals and 62 assists in 304 career regular season games, along with four goals and 13 assists in 55 Calder Cup Playoff games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The Anchorage, AK, native was a member of the United States Junior National Team of the United States Hockey League in 2001-02 and played for the United States National Under-18 Team of the North American Hockey League in 2000-01.

Looking for something fun to do with the family while also helping out a good cause?

DDI, Developmental Disabilities Institute, will be holding their annual walk on Sunday, July 24, 2011 at Holtsville Ecology Park. The institution has  been holding walks since 1995 in an effort to raise money for research for people with developmental disabilities.

Registration for the day starts at 9:00 a.m. and the day begins with a 5K walk at 10:30 a.m. Walkers will receive a complimentary lunch and free t-shirt with a $30 minimum donation. Additional t-shirts may be purchased for $10 each if desired.

Children of all ages are more than welcomed to come as there will be a magician, petting zoo, DJ, swimming and more.

In case you cannot make it to the walk but would still like to make a donation, you can visit http://ddiwalk.org in order to contribute.

Come down to Holtsville Ecology Park for a day in which everyone is gladly accepted!

Address:

249 Buckley Road

Holtsville, NY 11742

(631) 758-9664

Directions:

From the Long Island Expressway – Go South at Exit 63 (County Road 83 or North Ocean Ave) 4 traffic lights (approx. 2 miles). Turn right on Rte 99, Woodside Avenue. Go to the second road, Buckley Road, turn right, entrance to Park is on the right, approx. 1/10 mile.

From Sunrise Highway – Get off at Exit 52 (County Road 19 or Patchogue-Holbrook Rd) and head north. At the second light after Sunrise Highway, turn right onto Buckley Road. Entrance to Park is approx. 1-2/10th mile on right.

From Nichols Road – Get off at Patchogue-Holbrook Road exit heading south, and go to second light. Turn left onto Rte 99, Woodside Avenue. Turn left onto Buckley Road, entrance to the  Park is on the right, approx. 1/10th mile.

By Maria Vultaggio

Singer Tony Orlando Attends Annual Polo Match To Benefit Saddle Rock Ranch and Squadron A Foundation.

Singer Tony Orlando, one of America’s most endearing and enduring stars, will be appearing to receive an award for his work with veterans and will perform one of his signature hits at the Annual Polo Match to benefit children and adults with disabilities which is happening on Saturday, August 6, 2011 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Meadowbrook Polo Club in Old Westbury. This event, which is hosted by the National Foundation for Human Potential and is sponsored by Mojave, will raise funds to pay for therapeutic riding sessions for children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities as well as for local disabled veterans.

“We are very excited about being involved with the polo match that will help raise funds for Saddle Rock Ranch one of our most innovative services that fosters independence for those with different abilities,” said Robert S. Budd, Chief Executive Officer, Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc., (FREE), one of the not-for-profit agencies that will benefit from the event.

Tickets are $75 per person, and will include an Argentinean style BBQ, wine, a tango demonstration and of course, the international spectator sport of polo. Special group packages are also available at $125 for couples, $150 for families and $600 for corporations. For more information about the event, please contact the National Foundation for Human Potential, Office of Development, (516) 870-1661.

Saddle Rock Ranch is a beautiful 14-acre property in Middle Island that opened in 2004 with the vision to bring hope and happiness while facilitating integration into the community for children and adults with different abilities by implementing special programs that develop human potential. A variety of innovative treatment options are offered at Saddle Rock Ranch tailored to each person’s needs and likes from agricultural pursuits, equine-assisted activities to pet therapy or prevocational opportunities. Saddle Rock Ranch is open to the community for riding lessons also. Individuals without disabilities ride their horses, interact and have personal experiences with people who have disabilities on a daily basis.

Five Towns College Announces Enrollment Week July 25-29.

Attention College Students: Five Towns College in Dix Hills Long Island invites you to apply for the Fall semester during Enrollment Week July 25-29 between 9 am and 6 pm.  We welcome new and transfer students to bring in your transcripts for an on the spot evaluation.  No appointment is necessary and your application fee will be waived!

Five Towns College offers you the most exciting degree programs for today’s hottest careers such as Music, Music Business, Filmmaking, Audio Recording Technology, Childhood & Music Teacher Education and more.

We provide our students hands-on-training in our state-of-the-art facilities and the specialized classes you’ll need to get the job you want upon graduation.  Scholarships and Financial Aid are still available so contact an Admissions Representative today at 631-656-2110.  It’s Not Too Late To Apply, classes start August 25^th!

Jeremy Colliton Agrees To Terms On One-Year Deal With The Islanders!

The New York Islanders announced today that the Sound Tigers all-time leading scorer, forward Jeremy Colliton, will return. Colliton has agreed to terms on a one year, two-way (NHL/AHL) contract.

Last year, Colliton, 25, scored two goals and one assist in 15 games with the Islanders during his sixth professional season. He also posted 45 points (18 goals, 27 assists) in 53 American Hockey League games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers to become the club’s all-time leading scorer with 176 points (66 goals, 110 assists) in 285 games. He’s scored six points (three goals, three assists) in 57 career NHL games, all with the Islanders.

The Blackie, AB, native was first drafted by The Islanders in the second round, 58th overall, of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft but left in ’09. During the 2009-10 season, Colliton played in the Swedish Elite League, for Rogle Angelholm, before returning to the Islanders organization in 2010-11.

File Photo / AP Photo / Robert Mecea

Hawaii, California, Australia are the places that typically come to mind when one thinks of surfing. But surfers don’t have to live in those famed surf locations to enjoy the sport they love. Despite colder air temperatures, Long Island beaches entertain hundreds of surfers every year.

All along the Long Island shoreline are popular surf spots- from the edges of Manhattan to the eastern most beaches of Montauk. Though many of Long Island’s coasts are filled with regular beach goers just there to tan, swim, or make sand castles, certain beaches are designated for those who come to ride the waves.

Long Island beaches carry both risks and perks in particular surf areas. For example, Lido Beach, located in the town of Hempstead,  has ledges in the sand that are unseen from the surface that can cause surprise wipe-outs. To surfers, these ledges provide great waves, making it a surfing hot spot.

Fire Island, located across the bay from the town of Babylon, a surfer’s biggest risk is missing the last ferry off the island that is only accessible by boat. But the lack of a big crowd on Fire Island beaches, makes it in turn, a great spot to surf.

Montauk beaches have killer waves, with thousands of surfers traveling there each year to ride the waves. It also holds one of the most infamous of all threats to surfers- sharks. While Jaws doesn’t lie in the waters waiting to attack any surfer that comes close, his friends do. Montauk is known as the Great White fishing coast of the Eastern shore, but that doesn’t stop surfers from traveling from near and far to surf Montauk’s waters.

One of the most sought after surf locations on Long Island is Gilgo Beach in Copaigue.  The beach is great for both an avid surfer and a newbie. Erin Donovan explained that when she went to Gilgo beach to attempt to surf for the first time, she found it much less crowded and more surf- friendly than neighboring beaches. “There were much less little kids and parents and there were a bunch of surfers,” said Donovan.

Charlie Bunger of Bunger’s surf shop, recommends Gilgo beach to potential surfers. Though plenty of expert surfers utilize the waters of Gilgo, it’s a great place for beginners (and younger children) as well. “The water breaks off the beach on a sandbar… so it’s more of a slow rolling wave,” explained Bunger. Experienced surfer Laura Viviana travels from Manhattan to catch waves at Gilgo because, “no matter how small the surf is, the swells are usually pretty great.”

Viviana also pointed out that the best time to surf on Long Island is September- October. The conditions are best then and by that point, normal beach goers would have put away their bathing suits and towels. But surfers needn’t wait till then to avoid crowds. Charlie Bunger mentioned that surfers can avoid crowds by choosing the right time of day. “Crowds are tough anywhere because there’s so many people that surf,” he said. Bunger advised that mornings and late evenings, especially on weekdays, are best for an ideal crowd situation.

Whether you’re an expert or someone just starting to explore the sport, it may be different in some ways than the life of a surfer in sunny California, exotic Hawaii or Australia, but Long Island has plenty of beaches where you can experience the thrills and spills of surfing.

Check out www.thesurfingsite.com or www.surfline.com for a list of surf locations on the Island.

Two college buddies are truly making their “RÊVÉ” a reality.

College is about students finding out their interests, learning how to achieve what they want and upon graduation, pursuing their dreams. It’s hard to believe that any student would have time pursue anything other than a diploma while still in school. Turns out that Dominic Shaugnessy and Thomas Matzner couldn’t wait another class to make their dream a reality.

In 2010, while still in college, the two became the creators of RÊVÉ Vodka, meaning “Dream” in French.

“No matter what it is that you do big or small, we are firm believers that anyone can make their dreams come true. Hard work, dedication and passion for what you do is a great recipe for success,” said Matzner, 23. “We want our brand of vodka to reflect a certain type of person that is hard working, who has goals, yet knows how to party and have a good time.”

So, what makes RÊVÉ Vodka so special and unique? Matzner says, “What most people don’t know is that the water is used in the distillation process is extremely important.” RÊVÉ Vodka uses water from the Colorado Rocky Mountains, paired with a midwestern corn grain. RÊVÉ Vodka is also one of the few vodkas in the world that is five times distilled while using a glass finishing still. To make the vodka extra smooth, RÊVÉ uses carbon filtration.

The two were featured in a recent issue of Boro Magazine

Contemporary and conventional, the bottle is a unique shape that makes it easier to pour the vodka. It’s packaged in Italian glass, imported from Italy and sports a blue label for RÊVÉ, which is very strategic–It’s placed in a way, on the clear bottle that allows the brand to be read from many different angles.

Today, many local bars and restaurants carry RÊVÉ including, The Beach House in Long Beach, Nikki’s On the Bay in Babylon, Watersedge Restaurant in Center Moriches, and Tiki Bar in Patchogue.

“Being able to run our own company, travel, host or co-sponsor events and parties through the year, make a positive change in communities and build a global brand from the ground up, are all things that we wanted out of our careers,” Matzner said. ”It’s a great feeling to truly enjoy what you do for a living.” He added, “Now, I’m just living the RÊVÉ life!”

Tanger Outlets At The Arches

Emerging stars, now is your chance to gain exposure, wardrobe, and some sweet cash to rocket you into super-stardom!

Starting this week, Tanger Outlets at the Arches is hosting the ‘Rock Your Style’ talent search. The talent search is a multi media contest that includes video submissions, Facebook voting, and a showcase concert as part of its popular Sounds of Summer Concert Series.

The engaging competition further reinforces The Arches commitment to promoting arts and entertainment for the entire family and offers all an opportunity to enter and share the spotlight both virtually through facebook and live at The Arches.

It is the vision of David Blumenfeld, a Partner of Tanger Outlets at the Arches and VP of Blumenfeld Development Group that is renowned for transforming and improving communities through the development of remarkable properties.

“We enrich the shopping experience at the Arches through social networking, interactive experiences, and of course, entertainment.  Our customers come to us for added style and value, and we want to give back to them.  We are thrilled to be able to show the community our appreciation with these special events and free concerts,”said Blumenfeld. ”We selected unique talent to headline our Sounds of Summer series, including Javier Colon, Shontelle, Hey Monday and Far East Movement. In that same spirit, we are pleased to offer our customers an opportunity to share their talent and style on stage with the community and beyond through this multimedia initiative.”

The winner of ‘Rock Your Style’ will receive a dream wardrobe for musical performances, and a cash prize to pursue their musical career. The winner will also open for the summer’s hottest touring group in front of thousands of fans.

To audition simply submit a video of yourself or your band performing between July 11- August 11. Between August 12 and August 31, the videos will be voted on by online users.

The three finalists will then “Rock Off” in a live battle performance on September 10. The winner will perform for a billboard-topping band on September 17 as well as receiving the lovely $1,000 dream wardrobe and $5,000 to be spent on pursuing their musical career.

Sounds of Summer Concert Series taking place every Saturday, 6-8 pm, at the Arches Fountain all summer long.

July 9th, Javier Colon, the season’s hottest contestant on the new hit show NBC’s The Voice, wowed the crowd with his incredible and melodic voice. 92.3’s Lil Cee will be on hand as the evening’s MC.

On July 16th R&B songstress Shontelle will help cool down the summer heat with her soulful spirit and siren style.

On August 13th teen pop sensation Hey Monday will perform at Tanger Outlets at the Arches before they embark on their world tour.

September 10th: Could you be one of the coveted three spots?Visit Tanger Outlets at the Arches starting July 9th to show em’ what you got!

On September 17th, a surprise act will take the stage and close out the summer with the beat that will have everyone wishing the summer would never end. The first 100 shoppers will have the opportunity to get VIP treatment and preferred seating at this exciting finale with the purchase of $150.00 at participating stores.

For more information, contest rules and qualifications on your chance to be the next talked about talent visit Tanger Outlets Facebook Page.

Tanger Outlets

Tanger Outlets hosts the LI Moose Classic Car Club Show to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project this Sunday July 17.

This Sunday, visitors of Tanger Outlets in Riverhead will find the Classic Car Show. The show will display everything from cars to trucks to motorcycles.

Guests can enjoy food & refreshments, live entertainment, raffles and awards for cars that will be presented by the LI Moose.

A special guest speaker will be on hand as well. Jeff Sinchak, a wounded warrior will share his unique inspirational story of courage and integrity and will talk about how the Wounded Warrior Project aids in the recovery and transition back to civilian life for our armed services personnel.

Donations for admission is $15.00 for show vehicles and $5.00 for spectators, children 12 and under are free of charge.

Photo by: Pamela Bednarik

Summer is in full swing and it seems like the perfect time to take a relaxing trip to get back on the road to sanity. Lucky for you, Long Island hosts hundreds of locations to aid in rejuvenating any busy body.

Even if you don’t have time to plan a weeklong trip, there are a ton of places on Long Island that offer a day’s worth of fun in the sun like Jones Beach. The place not only offers beach access but also offers concerts at their theater every week, all summer long.

Fire Island also has plenty of tempting events including concerts, carnivals, and other outdoor activities like hiking, surfing, kayaking, and tennis on its 32 mile stretch. Journey out to Montauk Point, which can offer you a pleasant museum tour and chance to visit and climb the famous lighthouse.

Another summertime must, Long Island’s many family friendly amusement parks such as Splish Splash, Adventureland, and Tiki Action Park.

Check out a winery. LI Wines notes that if quiet, mature entertainment is desired, then a visit to one of Long Island’s over 40 wineries and vineyards. Suit your tastes with tours and samplings of the finest wine Long Island has to offer.

Some educational fun won’t hurt either. The Old Bethpage Village is perfect for that and presents visitors with some educational fun in the form of their reminiscant 19^th century Long Island village and performances by their civil war reenactors.

For someone looking for a longer, lavish vacation can find what they’re looking for in the Hamptons. They’re plenty of things to do including spending the day on the beach (some of which have been considered the most beautiful in the world), playing golf or tennis or perhaps doing some shopping in one of the many Hampton towns where you might even catch a glimpse of a famous celebrity. There’s always something special to do in the Hamptons including art fairs, live music, antique and craft shows, and benefits. Of course, they’re also known for awesome nightlife- Check out South Pointe, Southampton Social Club and The Elm!

It’s clear that Long Island offers a plethora of wonderful summer options whether you need a day or a week.

6th Annual Long Island Comedy Festival Arrives at The Sands Atlantic Beach!

Long Island comedian Paul Anthony announces the arrival of the 6th Annual Long Island Comedy Festival at the beautiful Sands Atlantic Beach.

“We’re excited about bringing the Comedy Festival to Nassau County this summer!  Having the opportunity to bring the Long Island Comedy Festival to a venue like the Sands Atlantic Beach in the Long Beach area is especially exciting.  We’re giving Long Islanders an affordable entertainment alternative” said Paul Anthony, comic host and Executive Producer.  He added, “There’s a lot of comedy history at the Sands Atlantic Beach. Back in the day famous comedians from the Catskills would perform there!  So we’re looking forward to bringing back that tradition.”

The The Long Island Comedy Festival, which is the largest comedy festival ever presented on Long Island, will take place Saturday, July 23rd, at The Sands Atlantic Beach, located at 1395 Beech Street in Atlantic Beach.  Tickets cost $25 for General Admission and $35 VIP.

Paul Anthony, the executive producer and comic host of the annual Long Island Comedy Festival regularly performs his stand-up comedy in NYC and on Long Island. The Massapequa native’s mission is to promote the art of live stand-up comedy.

The festival features Mike Fine: Featured act across the U.S., Stan Keshner: Direct from the Catskills, Robin Fox: Direct from the NYC comedy scene, Randy Levin:  Atlantic City & Vegas, Rob Falcone: Comedy Central.

SMITHTOWN BAY YACHT CLUB HOSTS 3RD ANNUAL “SOLDIERS ON THE SOUND” FLUKE FISHING TOURNAMENT

Smithtown Bay Yacht Club will be hosting the 3rd Annual “Soldiers on the Sound” Fluke Fishing Tournament this Saturday, July 9th, 2011.

Members of the club host this annual event to show their support and “give back” to members of the military.  About 25 boats will depart from the marina at about 9 a.m. for a friendly fishing competition.

Prizes will be awarded for the biggest fish and many local businesses have generously donated raffle prizes for this worthy event.

After the winning fish has been weighed-in, the soldiers and members of the club will enjoy live music, a clam bake and barbeque.
Viewers can travel down to the Smithtown Bay Yacht Club, East Long Beach Road, nestled between Smithtown’s Long Beach Park and Otto Schubert Beach Saturday, July 9th at 9 a.m. to see the boating fleet depart, and 1 p.m. for the fleet arrival, lunch and awards.

Javier Colon (AP Photo/NBC, Lewis Jacobs)

On Saturday, July 9^th, Javier Colon, America’s breakout star on NBC’s new hit show “The Voice,” will be heating up Deer Park.

Colon will be taking part in The Sounds of Summer free concert series on at 6 p.m. at the Arches Fountain in Deer Park, NY.

During the concert, he will perform his new hit single and renditions of his favorite tunes to a packed audience of avid fans.

The now-famous musician began writing his own music at the age of 13; the devoted husband and father of two won over the hearts of Americans with his soulful style, smooth voice, and family appeal on “The Voice,” a show that challenges different singers that are paired up with famous musicians including Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton.

Colon came out victorious on “The Voice,” beating out very talented contestants and received $100,000 and a recording contract with Universal Republic Records.

Tanger Outlets At The Arches The Sounds of Summer Concert Series showcases national and local talent across genres and styles throughout the season.  This summer’s highlights include:

· July 16^th R&B songstress Shontelle, fresh off her world tour with Jason Derulo, will electrify the crowd with her siren style and soulful spirit.

· August 13^th the teen sensation, Hey Monday, will pump up the Tanger crowd before taking off on their much anticipated world tour.

Every Saturday head to Tanger Outlets at the Arches in Deer Park, Long Island for free concerts, hot fashion finds, and cool savings.

Tanger shoppers will have the special opportunity to get VIP seating to these headliner acts.  Starting July 1^st be the first 100 people to spend $100 or more at participating Tanger Arches’ retailers and get your All-Access VIP Pass to the concert of your choice!  (VIP seating is limited and offered on a first-come first-serve basis, limit one per person.  Seating available while supplies last.)

Five Towns College: 305 N. Service Road, Dix Hills, NY 11746

Five Towns College Enrollment Week This Week July 11-15!

Attention College Students, Five Towns College in Dix Hills invites you to apply for the Fall semester during Enrollment Week from July 11th to 15th between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Five Towns College welcomes new and transfer students to bring in your transcripts for an on the spot evaluation. No appointment is necessary and application fees will be waived.

Five Towns College offers you the most exciting degree programs for today’s hottest careers such as Music, Music Business, Filmmaking, Audio Recording Technology, Childhood & Music Teacher Education and more.

“We provide our students hands-on-training in our state-of-the-art facilities and the specialized classes you’ll need to get the job you want after graduation.”

Scholarships and Financial Aid are still available so contact an Admissions Representative today at 631-656-2110.

It’s Not Too Late To Apply, classes start August 25^th. Visit www.facebook.com/fivetownscollege, www.ftc.edu or call 631-656-2110. You can always email admissions@ftc.edu.

Associated Press

It’s that time of year again, the sparking colors and loud pops in the sky will soon surround the Long Island community. Escape the scorching heat and barbecue fumes with a roman candle, waterfall, or dahlia in the sky.

According to LongIsland.com, this year Long Island is offering a plethora of free bedazzling shows including a show at the outdoor festival, “Live Music at the Fishery” on Main Street in East Rockaway which will feature the band “Like You Mean It” on July 2^nd.

Grucci Fireworks is hosting six shows on Long Island this weekend including two on July 2^nd in Eisenhower Park and the North Patchogue.

The firework company will perform at the Chuck-E-Cheese again on July 3^rd. They will also perform that night at Fire Island in Great South Bay and Point O’Woods as well as the Freedom Fest Concerts at Bethpage Ballpark in Central Islip.

Bayshore Fireworks will also host five shows including one on July 3^rd at the North Sea Fire Department Carnival and four on July 2^nd.

They will perform in East Hampton sponsored by the Fire Department and at the Riverhead Raceway on July 2^nd. They will also offer shows at two festivals including the Durrazzano Society Festival in Westbury and the St. Anthony’s Carnival in East Northport.

Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale will reportedly be hosting their own fair and firework show on July 3^rd .

Finally, on July 4^th, will be a firework-packed day with shows from Grucci at the Brookhaven Amphitheater in Bald Hill and Umbrella Beach in Mantauk, a show at the Wading River Family Festival, Suffolk County Sports Park in Central Islip, Village of Valley Stream Annual Show on Fireman’s Memorial Field, Morgan Memorial Park show, and the Peconic Bay Waterfront show.

Ginny Salerno (left), Executive Director and Founder of LI2DAY and James Gallagher (right), Vice President, Members Financial Services – Suffolk Federal Credit Union. Mr. Gallagher is the organizer of the fundraising efforts at Suffolk FCU.

Suffolk Federal Credit Union has just announced a new and creative fundraising campaign to support the LI2DAY Walk to Fight Breast Cancer.

Suffolk Federal Credit Union introduced the LI2DAY Free Checking Account where the credit union donates 5 cents for each signature based debit card purchase, up to $350 per year, to the LI2DAY organization. The credit union will also donate net proceeds of each checkbook purchased. “It’s a great way for our credit union and members to support a local non-profit that raises funds and awareness for our neighbors fighting breast cancer. Account holders won’t have to do anything different. As they make their everyday purchases using the LI2DAY debit card, they automatically raise funds for the organization.” says William O’Brien president and CEO of Suffolk Federal Credit Union.

“I want to thank our friends at Suffolk Federal Credit Union for developing this program. What a great way to support LI2DAY all year long and show some LI2DAY pride! The pink check book covers and debit card with the LI2DAY logo are fantastic! The checks are also going to have the LI2DAY logo watermarked on them. Suffolk Federal has really come through for LI2DAY. Please join me in supporting this great way to show off your LI2DAY spirit and continue supporting us every day. Stop by one of the branches and get your LI2DAY ‘gear’ today!” says Ginny Salerno, Executive Director and Founder of LI2DAY. Ginny Salerno is also a Fortune 52 honoree.

This current campaign is only one way in which Suffolk Federal Credit Union demonstrates it continued commitment to the community and important causes. Some examples of its other good works are its adoption of the Holy Angels Regional School in Patchogue through the Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation, as well as its participation in and support of the Arthritis Walk, March of Dimes and Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk, among other nonprofits.

Suffolk Federal Credit Union is a leading Long Island federal credit union with branches in Medford, Riverhead, Islandia, Commack, West Babylon and Miller Place. The credit union has over 55,000 members and recorded assets of $877 million as of 5/31/11. The LI2DAY Walk to Fight Breast Cancer group raises funds for local grassroots organizations that assist women, men and their families who are fighting breast cancer.

After serving four years at the Long Island Postal Customer Council (LIPCC), Adam Avrick was named the new industry co-chair at the council’s monthly meeting on June 15.

Avrick has served at the Executive Officers for LIPCC for the past two years and second vice chairman two years prior. He is also currently the President of Design Distributors Inc. (DDI), a family-owned Long Island printing and mailing company. Avrick serves on the board of the Printing Industries Alliance of Long Island.

The LIPCC is responsible for surveying local and national mailing issues with the U.S. Postal Service and ensuring communication between customers and the postal service.

The mission of the PCC program is to foster and maintain a close working relationship between mailers and the United States Postal Service, share information about new and existing Postal Service products, programs, regulations, and procedures, facilitate the interchange of ideas among mailers and Postal Service officials and help members and their organizations grow and develop professionally through focused educational programs.

For more information about the LIPCC visit, longislandpcc.com.

Nilka (From Retro's website)

Celebrity chef Nilka Hendricks is introducing foodies to her new Retro Lounge and Grill in Freeport.

Retro Lounge and Grill comes as the newest addition to Freeport. The former Al B. Whites, located at 10 Brooklyn Ave and first opened in 1939, is now under the management and promotional skills of Neil Curtis, a lifelong Freeport resident and restauranteur, who gives a much needed renovation to Freeport’s once star-filled, popular restaurant.

“Our goal with Retro Lounge was to bring a NYC restaurant feel to Long Island. We renovated thoughtfully and with a purpose inside, and stayed true to the old world look outside – melding the two worlds seemlessly for a one-of-a-kind dining and entertainment experience” said Curtis, the owner of Retro Lounge.

Nilka Hendricks, a chef from our Long Island backyard who became a household name after a six-week stint on the popular FOX show “Hells Kitchen” reality show last year, is the executive chef and also assists with the many bands, acoustic acts, comedians and other performers who continue to grace the stage as the evenings turn into nights.

Retro stays true to the original Al B. Whites history, but with a modern feel in both the decor and the menu. Nilka has designed a diverse and delicious menu featuring a blend of international fusion cuisine including their most popular dishes: a grilled jerk ribeye steak and coconut crusted king crab legs – and their entertainment schedule is just as diverse.

Retro Lounge is carving out a new future for Freeport dining and nightlife!

In honor of the new restaurant, Nilka Hendricks provides us with a few fun recipes:

“When I was a child on Sunday afternoon I could always count on the sweet aroma of my Mother’s sweet cooking….. Rice & peas, Stew chicken, sweet plantains, and her famous potato salad.  Here are some of my family recipes…”

Rice & Peas:

1 can of coconut

1 can of pigeon, or kidney beans

1red onion small diced

1 red pepper small diced

4 garlic cloves minced

Fresh herbs cilantro, parsley, thyme,

salt & pepper to taste

Olive oil

white wine 2oz

Use a  medium size pot once pot is hot add  2 cap full of olive oil then add garlic, onions, red pepper and sweat for 2-3 min then add white wine,  beans  coconut milk, salt, pepper, &  fresh herbs, 3cap full of olive oils then stir. Simmer for 2-3 min. Add 2 cups of rice and 3 cups of water. Cook on medium heat bring to a light boil reduce heat to a light simmer. Place lid on pot and cook for 25mins. Please do not stir the rice let it cook once you see holes in the rice it is near done then stir…

Stew Chicken:

4 quarter Leg & Thigh cleaned and cut into sections (season chicken w/ curry, paprika, season salt, garlic powder, oregano)

1 large onion diced

1 bell pepper

6 cloves of garlic minced

2tsp of tomato paste

2cups of water or chicken broth

1 cup of ketchup

Use a large pot let it get hot add oil then add chicken cook the chicken until its brown on both sides then take out. In the same pan add the onion, garlic, & pepper, sauté for 2-3 min

Then add the tomato paste, water, ketchup & bring to boil. Then add the chicken in the pot & simmer for 45 min

Sweet plantains

4 rip plantains (the darker and softer the sweeter) peeled and sliced on a bases. Cook plantains in a hot pan with oil let cook 1min on each side until golden brown

Like yoga? Like helping out a good cause? Then this is the perfect event for you!

Get involved with your local community and get a little sweaty at the first annual Smithtown Hot Yoga Sweat-A-Thon, happening  Thursday July 14th at 8 a.m. at Smithtown Hot Yoga (70 East Main Street, Smithtown, NY 11787-2804). The event will benefit local students.

Smithtown Hot Yoga will be running three classes in a row, which amounts to 4.5 hours of Hot Yoga. All entrants who finish at least 2 classes will receive one week free of Hot Yoga. “Last People Standing” after all 3 classes are complete will win ONE MONTH FREE OF HOT YOGA!!

Entrants are encouraged to call upon their friends and family to sponsor them with a $10 minimum donation per entrant. All donations go to support the Family & Friends of Drew Odnoha Scholarship Fund (a memorial scholarship for St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay). Drew was a Smithtown raised student who died tragically several years ago.

“This scholarship is given to a member of the Future Business Leaders of America who has a dream and takes all the necessary steps to achieve his dream – just as Drew did” said Richard Garrett, Dean of Students at St. Dominic High School.

For more information about Smithtown Hot Yoga, please visit the website or call (631) 265-YOGA!

Polo is officially back in Nassau County! Polo at The Park brings back USPA Polo Cup matches to Bethpage.

The Country Farms Polo Club will present “Polo at the Park” every Sunday from June 5th through Oct 15th at the Bethpage State Park in Bethpage.

Polo has been a Long Island sport since 1934, but the last time the United States Polo Association held their cup on Long Island was 1994. Polo at the Park is set to change all of that. Now you can watch professional polo matches with exciting action including techniques performed by some of the best players in the world!

The polo games will take place from June to October (except Sunday August 28th) and will feature some pretty awesome special events. The opening day event kicked off with L.I.’s Pulse Magazine earlier this month and July offers equally exciting special events. Both Sunday July 3rd and Sunday July 10th’s special events include the exciting Rallye High Goal and an equally exciting event, the La Martina Fashion event, is set to take place on August 7th.

What could be better than weekends at the Bethpage Polo fields? Great food! Did we forget to mention that Steve Carl from Carlyle On The Green is catering all events?

Each weekend, the gates open at 1 p.m. for food concession and seating, with polo beginning at 3 p.m. and a 5 p.m. trophy presentation. $8 parking and $5 admission to the field. $22 round trip to/from Penn Station is also available through a partnership with the MTA LIRR. Check out the website for more information on admission and parking information.

Taylor Hicks performing at Tanger Outlets at the Arches in Deer Park

Saturday June 18th, “American Idol” winner, Taylor Hicks made a special stop at the Tanger Outlets at the Arches in Deer Park to help kick off the free Sounds Of Summer concert series.

On 6 p.m. Saturday, after Kim and Jim of Fresh 102.7 hyped up the crowd, Hicks, the winner of the fifth season (2006) of “American Idol,” took the stage.

Over 700 fans gathered around the Fountain in the heart of Tanger Outlets at the Arches to watch as the “Idol” winner performed live. Hicks along with The Taylor Hicks band, graced the crowd with signature Bluesy melodies including Hicks’ hit single “What’s Right Is Right” and also surprised the crowd with Billy Joel classics like “New York State of Mind.”

Crowds watch as Taylor Hicks performs live

The concert also brought exciting opportunities to Tanger Outlets at The Arches shoppers. Some lucky fans received a free Taylor Hicks concert tee. But by far the best deal at Tanger this day was that select fans won the chance to go backstage to meet the singer. The next two concerts will have VIP treatment for the first 100 shoppers to spend $100 and will get VIP seats.

The Sounds Of Summer concert series will be held every Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the rest of the summer. In July, two guests have already been confirmed to take part in the concert series. Javier Colon, a rising talent from the hit NBC show “The Voice,” will be performing on July 9th and Shontelle, who is coming off her tour with Beyonce, will be performing July 16^th.

For the Sounds of Summer concert schedule and other special events and deals at Tanger at the Outlets visit http://www.facebook.com/shopthearchesoutlets.

East Hampton has a new hotspot. The Boathouse, a restaurant and lounge on the three mile harbor is now open and ready for business just in time for the summer season. Owned by famous restauranteur Michael Gluckman, who has also been associated with Bamboo Restaurants and The Lodge in East Hampton, has already served celebrity clientel such as Kelly Ripa, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Jeremy Piven and Audrina Patridge and is now under the direction of managers Roy J. Boothby, Amanda Rogan and Lila Beudert.

Whether you’re looking to relax indoors or enjoy the outdoors, The Boathouse offers both an indoor and outdoor bar as well as outdoor deck for dining. Private rooms and a fireplace also make for an intimate indoor atmosphere accentuated with wood detailing and nautical-inspired decorations.  After dinner, the lounge transforms from a dining area into a stage where DJs and live bands take to the stage to perform live. For those with yachts, take-out services are also available.

The Boathouse’s executive chef, John Denco, prepares guests with seafood ranging from rock shrimp tempura with a creamy spicy mayonnaise, sushi grade soy ginger, sesame crusted tuna and seared sea scallops. The restaurant’s signature drink, their fresh watermelon martini, made with top-shelf vodka, watermelon, lime juice and sugar is also available to order.

The Boathouse is open seven days a week for lunch, dinner and even Sunday brunch which includes an unlimited mimosas and bloody mary’s from 11-3 p.m. for $25 per adult and half-priced for children. Each day, a pre-set sunset menu is served from 5- 6:30 p.m. for $27 per person. Other specials are offered during the week $4 beers on Monday and Friday nights from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday and Friday happy hour is also accompanied with free food at the bar.

The Boathouse is also available to serve and host private parities.

Jean-Marie, Rosanna and Tanger Manager, Vanessa Mitton

June 8, the Tanger Factory Outlet Center of Deer Park awarded the second $30K IN 30 DAYS prize winner, Rosanna Bub, of Deer Park, with her grand prize of a $10,000 shopping spree at the outlets. Bub was selected via random national drawing on May 20.

The sweepstakes honored Tanger’s 30th Anniversary, and was kicked off with Steven B. Tanger, President and CEO of Tanger Outlet Centers, ringing the closing bell on the Trading Floor of the New York Stock Exchange with the announcement of the first winner.

The promotion offered new customers and loyal shoppers a chance to win a total of $30,000 worth of shopping sprees over 30 Days in May

That same day, Tanger broke a Guinness World Record of biggest dessert party ever by hosting a dessert party at over 34 Tanger Outlets nationwide.

Jean-Marie and Rosanna picking out Father's Day Gifts at Neiman Marcus.

The first winner was announced and collected her prize from North Carolina before Bub was named the second Tanger winner. Bub was presented with her larger-than-life $10,000 gift card today at 11 a.m. at Tanger Outlets at the Arches in Deer Park, New York alongside her daughter Jean-Marie.

Bub credits her 11-year-old daughter Jean Marie for making this shopping dream come true. Jean-Marie urged her mom to enter the contest while shopping at the outlet center on Mother’s Day. Bub says she has her eyes set on an IPad from Verizon Wireless, furniture from Neiman Marcus Last Call, and a grill at The Christmas Tree Shops for a Father’s Day gift!

Bub demonstrated her close relationship with her daughter when she described where one of her stops would be.

“Zales, we plan to get matching necklaces or some sort of jewelry to commemorate both our relationship and this moment.”

“I thought it was a prank. I had completely forgotten we even entered the contest and I truly thought the phone call was a joke at first,” Bub recollected receiving the call from Tanger. “This prize is amazing, a first for us, and we are sure to spend many more weekends at The Arches, one of our favorite destinations.”

Jean-Marie and Rosanna presenting their Tanger gift card to the cashier.

As Bub shared her love for the Deer Park shopping destination and her excitement, it was clear that Tanger’s employees felt the same. “We are so thrilled that one of our own Deer Park residents was one of the recipients of the $10,000 shopping spree. It’s really exciting!” said Vanessa Mitton of Tanger Outlets.

As mother and daughter took off with their giant-sized gift card in hand it was evident it was going to be a fabulous shopping experience for the lucky winners.

Visit Tanger Outlets of Deer Park yourself and enjoy the beautiful outdoor shopping experience accompanied by several great eateries and an outdoor sitting area/ fountain.

Distinctive Resorts & Residences, an exclusive Full-Service Luxury offering in the Hamptons, has just launched the 2011 season into full force, selling multiple luxury residences at their flagship property The Panoramic View in Montauk, New York.

As banks have recently started financing second homes again, smart buyers who have been waiting for the right time to pounce on a new property now have a golden window of opportunity, and the Panoramic View is a perfect oceanfront getaway to take advantage of.

The Panoramic View Residences are a true East End getaway for the busy New Yorker looking for a relaxing getaway. Not only are the oceanfront villas reasonably priced, they also include a broad list of lavish amenities for their patrons.

Amenities include an outdoor heated pool, poolside cabanas, a concierge service, porters, beach and pool attendants, on-site daily housekeeping, fitness-center with personal fitness trainers, and on-call massage therapists. Each villa is equipped with plush king-sized-beds that are the perfect ending to a fabulous day of sun and surf.

The residences range in both size and price offering one-to-five bedroom units, from 1,200-square-feet to 4,800-square-feet, ranging in price from $2 million to $7 million.

During its off season this year, Distinctive Resorts & Residences achieved its best winter ever, pre-booking over 70% of its summer-season resort rooms.

The breath-taking views of the waterfront are visible from each oceanfront villa through both the gigantic picture windows, as well as the private balconies. The Panoramic View Residences are a sure shot at a fantastic summer getaway for the busiest New Yorkers looking for a summer of rest and relaxation.

The Long Island Game Farm is hosting its annual Girl Scout Day for the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County on June 11th. Girl Scout Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Girl Scouts of Suffolk County is proud to partner with the Long Island Game Farm for Girl Scout Day,” says Yvonne Grant, President and CEO of Girl Scouts of Suffolk County.

Tables will take up stand for visitors to learn more about the Girl Scouts and sponsorship options and opportunities for Operation Cookie (Operation Cookie sends Girl Scout cookies to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to those recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center and the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland).

Those in attendance can also join Girl Scouts in making arts and crafts. During the day, the Girl Scouts will also explore the Game Farm as they visit different exotic animals, enjoy the variety of shows and go on the fun, exciting rides.

“The Girl Scouts will have a great time at the Game Farm between seeing the animals and going on the rides,” said Melinda Novak, Vice President and Co-Owner, Long Island Game Farm. “There is so much for them to do here at the Game Farm. It will be a day they will never forget.”

Girl Scouts is no stranger to the Long Island Game Farm, whose owner Diane was a Girl Scout Troop Leader and her daughter, Melinda, was in the Girl Scouts as a teenager.

“We are happy to have the Girl Scouts at the Game Farm,” said Diane Novak, President and Co-Owner, Long Island Game Farm. “I know they will enjoy visiting the Game Farm and learning about the exotic animals that we have here. It will be a fun and educational experience for them.”

Advance tickets are on sale for Girl Scouts, their families and the general public for only $10. Tickets must be purchased in advance before June 9th. Those who purchase tickets the day of the event will be charged the regular admission price. To place an order, call Kelly at (631) 543-6622 ext. 221, or e-mail: kdrechsler@gssc.us. Tickets may also be purchased at the Girl Scouts Web site at www.gssc.us, either by paying online or by downloading and printing the flier. Those who wish to pay by check must make checks payable to GSSC.

For more information about the Long Island Game Farm, call (631) 878-6670, or visit www.longislandgamefarm.com.

Five Towns College is having an open house this Saturday, June 11. At this event you will be able to meet with faculty and staff, as well as students involved in the many programs offered at Five Towns College. Guests will also be able to witness the mixing of a song in one of their audio recording studios featuring the SL9000J, a 72 channel sound board.

Guests will have a chance to speak with faculty regarding the field of business or music business featuring audio recording and music business.  Those interested in music will hear presentations from the music faculty on various programs in music education, performance, song/writing with concentrations in audio recording technology or music business.  Those interested in theatre will be fascinated by the excellent theatre productions performed by the students over a semester, ranging from musicals, dramas, comedies and even children’s theatre. The film/video production program is outstanding, featuring the most up-to-date film/video equipment on the east coast, and has faculty that offer students hands-on experience from the first semester to the last.

Five Towns College Career Services Department will be on hand to explain the wide-range of internships available to students, as well as job placement and career opportunities. Representatives from Financial Aid and Admissions will be there to answer questions too. Dormitories available on the campus, offer double occupancy rooms with cable, an individual air conditioner/heating unit and a private bathroom.

The Open House starts promptly at 1:00 p.m. For more information or to speak with an Admissions Representative, call 631-656-2110 today! For more information click here.

Dream of vacationing in Italy? Well, that could become a reality thanks to Mineola’s Carlino’s southern Italian family restaurant. By entering Carlino’s Restaurant Romantic Vacation Getaway Drawing Promotion between June 1st and September 30th, 2011, you could win an 8 day romantic vacation to Italy for 2 including airfare, hotel room, and tours of Rome, the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica.

“I’ve chosen the old country as a grand prize because I want to share my love of our family’s ancestral home of Italy with the people of Long Island” said Carlo Corteo, co-owner of Carlino’s.

To enter you have to be 18-years-old and there’s no purchase necessary. There are two ways to enter the promotion. Customers of Carlino’s Restaurant will be automatically entered to win the promotion by submitting the supplied entry form.  Non-purchasers can enter by going to Carlino’s Restaurant website. Complete the online entry, and drop it off or mail in the entry form to Carlino’s Restaurant (Carlino’s Restaurant is open 10 – 9 p.m. Monday – Thursday, and 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Friday – Sunday).

“My fondest thoughts invoke memories of mom in the kitchen preparing the family dinner with love and devotion. Thoughts of home, gathered round the dinner table with family and friends, the air infused with the aroma of classic Italian cooking, and visions of old world southern Italy.  Stepping back in time, to a place where everything is simple and made fresh every day,” said Corteo.”Whether you’re at our restaurant enjoying an intimate dinner, hosting an important celebration in Carlino’s party room, or winning the romantic trip to Italy, these are the memories that I want to share.”

Tanger To Welcome Farmer’s Market Back!

This month kicked off Tanger Outlets at the Arches (New York’s premiere family outlets center) summer season and what better way to celebrate the great weather than a good old farmer’s market!

The outlet center has welcomed back the popular Farmer’s Market. The Farmer’s Market features over 40 vendors from some of Long Island’s own farms, wineries, and bakers such as Blue Duck Bakery, Ed’s Chili, Samio’s, Farmer Yen, Hampton NY Farm, Schneider Farm, Taso Manis Cupcakes, Holly Baked Goods, Island End Farms, Nancy Kegman Knitting, Teddy Farmer Trees, and more.

The Farmer’s Market opened to the public on June 4th and will be open every Saturday and Sunday through December 18^,th 2011. The market will run from 11 – 3:00 p.m both days.

Tanger Outlets at the Arches are located at  152 The Arches Circle in Deer Park. You can find the farmer’s market next to Kate Spade near Neiman Marcus Last Call. Park in Parking Lot 1B.

For more information call (631) 667-0600.

In the mood for a little arts and crafts? Well head on down to Huntington’s Heckscher Park!

Art in the Park Fine Art & Craft Fair at Huntington’s Heckscher Park will take place June 4th & 5th. It will feature live art demonstrations, food vendors, live music, and raffles.

The Art League of Long Island’s Art in the Park Fine Art & Craft Fair will be at the scenic Hecksher Park in Huntington on Saturday June 4 and Sunday June 5.  Art in the Park is an Art League tradition that has attracted thousands of discerning art lovers each year for more than 40 years.

This rain or shine event will be open to the public 10 am and close at 5pm both days.   Admission is free for the entire family.  About 70 artists and craftspeople will show and sell original works of art and handmade crafts such as paintings, photographs, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, woodwork, glasswork, wearable art, and more.  Prizes will be awarded to artists and craftspeople for superior artistry and craftsmanship.

The Art League of Long Island’s art school and gallery are located at 107 East Deer Park Road in Dix Hills.  For more information about this event call (631) 462-5400 or visit www.artleagueli.org.

Stylish Event Planning Boutique Takes Up Shop In Syosset!

Anthony Scotto, the owner of popular party destinations, Blackstone and Rare650 Steakhouses has just announced the opening of a whole new venture, PWP Event Planning Design & Boutique.

The chic new showroom– reminiscent of a lavish Fifth Avenue boutique–  features two levels of meeting spaces and is decorated to perfection with handmade built-in mirrored retail displays, crystal chandeliers, flat screen TVs and one of a kind accessories for purchase (Let us suggest the unique Aruna Seth shoes featured in the Royal Wedding). The PWP team and their clients will now have a lavish space of their own to discuss all planning needs while viewing samples of all kinds and get vintage pieces to try on and take home!

New boutique, not so new team– the PWP team has over a decade of experience in event planning, having planned a number of weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, junior events, corporate events, meetings and charities. Speaking of charity, PWP has also taken an active role in the community by donating services to local charities like The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island and Toys-for-Tots.

“PWP offers unsurpassed creativity and execution in event production, floral design, statement jewelry and accessories. It’s a destination for anyone looking to plan an extraordinary event, as well as the fashionable woman, who desires a designer outfit or accessory for a night out,” said Monica Scotto-Bruton, president of PWP.

Barbara’s Heart Foundation is all about teaching the young ones about giving back. This past month, foundation gave kids a sponge and a bucket of soap and let them get to work on a charity car wash, all in hopes to teach them a little something about fundraising.

“We wanted to stage an event with a dual purpose,” said Communications Director Robert Iadanza, Jr.  “First, we wanted to raise funds that can be put to use as per our mission.  And second, we wanted to teach our children the importance of community and what it really means to help others.”

On Sunday, May 29th, the Barbara’s Heart Foundation held the first event in the charity’s history. It was a car wash in the parking lot of Mastic’s Sign Design.

By, 7:45 a.m. the first car had just pulled up as the 12 children (and 16 adults) ranging from 4-years-old to ten-years-old squeezed their sponges and got to work. “It was so cool to help!” said Joseph Liotta, 5. The washing continued for the next five hours- and would include a Suffolk County Police cruiser- when the last car would roll through; a 40-foot motor home.

If you missed this event, the next car wash is scheduled for Labor Day weekend (again at Sign Design).  In September, a golf outing/dinner/fundraiser will take place at Calverton Links. For more information visit www.barbarasheart.org.

www.hamptonclassic.com

The Hampton Classic Horse Show returns to Long Island this year for i