News

Hennessey joins Governor Cuomo for the Adirondack Challenge

Aug
12
2013

(Indian Lake, NY) Assemblyman Edward Hennessey participated in the Governor’s 2013 Adirondack Challenge whitewater races as part of the seven-man/woman Assembly Team. The Challenge is designed to highlight the beautiful Adirondack region of the state and promote tourism, along with a healthy dose of friendly competition.

Twenty-four teams took the challenge and competed in the rafting race down the Indian River, including Team Suffolk County.

“It was a wonderful and exciting experience. This part of New York is beautiful, a perfect place to visit and enjoy the great outdoors. I was proud to join the Governor and be part of the effort to promote the Great State of New York as a tourist destination and a great place to live,”...| read more ››

Legislator Schneiderman Introduces Bill to Restrict Pesticide Methoprene in Estuaries

Aug
12
2013

(Montauk, NY) Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) introduced a bill on July 30, 2013, to establish strict guidelines for the use of Methoprene within estuaries in Suffolk County.

Methoprene, an insect growth regulator, is considered a biochemical pesticide that is acutely toxic to estuarine invertebrates, including valuable food and commercial species like crabs and lobsters. Environmental Protection Agency studies have found that Methoprene can be lethal to non-target organisms such as lobsters and crabs.

The lobster population in the Long Island Sound has decreased dramatically over the last decade, corresponding with the introduction of new pesticides such as Methoprene, into waters along the Long Island Sound.

“The county should be doing everything it can to limit the unnecessary introduction...| read more ››

Bill Introduced in NY to Restrict Pesticide Methoprene in Estuaries

Aug
12
2013

Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) introduced a bill on July 30, 2013, to establish strict guidelines for the use of Methoprene within estuaries in Suffolk County.

Methoprene, an insect growth regulator, is considered a biochemical pesticide that is acutely toxic to estuarine invertebrates, including valuable food and commercial species like crabs and lobsters. Environmental Protection Agency studies have found that Methoprene can be lethal to non-target organisms such as lobsters and crabs.

The lobster population in the Long Island Sound has decreased dramatically over the last decade, corresponding with the introduction of new pesticides such as Methoprene, into waters along the Long Island Sound.| read more ››

"Mr. Malloy Take Down This Sign" Smithtown Democratic Chairman Ed Maher

Malloy Sign
Aug
9
2013

Update on Friday August 30, 2013 by Ed Maher

This sign has been removed.

Smithtown Democratic Chairman Ed Maher is not happy with this billboard located on a residential property on Pulaski Rd. in Kings Park. The problem, according to Maher, is that Malloy is not on the Independence line. “The sign, in addition to being wrong, is misleading. Malloy and his supporters should take the reference to Independence off the sign or take it down”, said Maher. (Councilman Malloy was not available to comment)

Update on Sunday, August 11, 2013 at 11:19PM by

“I’m glad that Mr. Malloy saw fit to cover the “Independence” on his sign that is displayed on Pulaski Road. It is now at least...| read more ››

Town Board Supports Footbridge Over Peconic

Aug
8
2013

The Riverhead Town Board is discussing Southampton Town’s proposal for a footbridge across the Peconic River into downtown Riverhead at its work session Thursday.

Vince Taldone, president of the Flanders, Riverside and Northampton Community Association, is speaking before the board on the proposal, which his organization and Legislator Jay Schneiderman has pushed as part of an overall effort to jump-start business development in the beleaguered Riverside hamlet.

In addition, the board is discussing the Knightland application for excavating permit, which would be used to build a commercial development at the corner of Sound Avenue and Route 25A in Wading River.

That application has withstood legal challenges, and the attorney for the applicant — developer and EastWind Caterers owner Kenn Barra...| read more ››

Schneiderman Pushes Pesticide Control Over Wetland, Again

Aug
6
2013

Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman has introduced a bill calling for Suffolk County to restrict where and when it uses pesticides to control mosquito populations around tidal marshes.

The bill would limit the use of a chemical pesticide known as methoprene over or near tidal waters, where it has been blamed by fishermen and environmentalists for killing or deforming some aquatic animals like crabs and lobsters. If adopted, the legislation would allow methoprene to be used in tidal marshes and estuaries only if a specific disease, like West Nile virus or eastern equine encephalitis, has been positively identified by county health officials in samples of mosquitoes from the region.

The bill also provides that the county’s Department of Health commissioner...| read more ››

Tom Dolan Begins His Campaign for Suffolk County Legislator

Aug
5
2013

Long time Lindenhurst resident Tom Dolan officially kicked off his campaign for county legislator at Venetian Shores on Monday afternoon.

“As a professional financial planner, it is my responsibility to help and keep businesses and families make smart decisions to secure their futures,” said Dolan, a board member of the Lindenhurst Bulldogs Football & Cheerleading League and professional financial planner. “I find it so fitting to be standing here today, a kid from Lindenhurst, where from this spot I announce I am running for county legislator.”

Dolan spoke surrounded by friends, family and children dressed in their football uniforms and cheerleading outfits on the football field at Venetian Shores on Monday afternoon under a bright, sunny sky.

Dolan has no...| read more ››

Suffolk County Physician Calls for Federal Control of Energy Drink Marketing Before U.S. Senate Committee

Aug
1
2013

July 31, 2013 - Washington, DC - Suffolk County Legislator William Spencer, MD testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today and called for stricter controls on “energy drink” marketing practices. Earlier this year, Spencer sponsored legislation that was the first in the nation to restrict the marketing and sale of energy drinks.

A trained pediatric otolaryngologist and Vice President of the Suffolk County Medical Society, Dr. Spencer was the original drafter of the American Medical Association (AMA) resolution calling for control of the way energy drinks are being marketed to youth. The resolution had been discussed and passed by the Medical Society of the State of New York before being submitted to the AMA....| read more ››

Doctor warns of dangers of energy drinks for children

Jul
31
2013

They go by names like "Rockstar", "Monster" and "Full Throttle." They promise to make you "feel good". Some of their commercials have even featured cute little cartoon characters.

Given all that, why would anyone would accuse energy drink companies of marketing to kids?

The Senate Commerce Committee called executives from Rockstar, Red Bull and Monster to Capitol Hill Wednesday for a hearing on whether their companies are intentionally targeting young people.

Health industry experts were also called in to testify about the potential side effects of too much caffeine on anyone under the age of 18.

Dr. William Spencer, a legislator from Suffolk County, New York, successfully stopped energy drinks from sending free samples to kids in his county. Spencer...| read more ››

Push to ban energy drink marketing

Jul
30
2013

Dr. William Spencer, Chairman of the Suffolk County Health Committee, is headed to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to testify about the dangers of energy drinks and to press for a ban on marketing the drinks to minors.

A law passed in Suffolk County restricts the sale of energy drinks in parks and prevents companies from couponing and marketing towards teenagers.

"(In doctors' offices) we've seen an increase of 10-fold over ten years with children with issues (related to the consumption of energy drinks.) If it is too much caffeine they come in anxious, heart racing and for children with heart issues this is life threatening, said Dr. Spencer.

Spencer adds that the $9B energy drink industry is advertising these drinks...| read more ››