News

ITDC Designates Candidates for Town Board

Apr
22
2013

Islip, NY - Islip Democratic Leader, Gerry Pallotta, is delighted to announce the Candidate Screening Committee has unanimously designates Dafny Irizarry of East Islip, and Ken Mangan of Sayville, as candidates for the Town Board in this November’s election. Ms Irizarry and Mr Mangan will be presented for confirmation by the Islip Democratic Committee during its convention next month.

“Dafny and Ken are two family and community oriented professionals, with impressive credentials and accomplishments, and a history of service to people, especially those in need. With their backgrounds and life’s experiences, not only do they complement each other as a team, but Dafny and Ken can also relate well to the typical Islip resident who works hard every day...| read more ››

Bellone signs bills to curb energy drinks

Apr
19
2013

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone Friday signed two bills to limit the availability of energy drinks to minors, making the county among the first in the nation to regulate the popular caffeinated products.

The measures, approved by the county legislature last month, ban the sale or distribution of energy drinks to people younger than 18 at county parks and beaches and prohibit the mailing of free samples and coupons to minors.

Beverage industry lobbyists had pressured Bellone to veto the measures, arguing that they unfairly targeted safe products that have less caffeine than similar-sized coffees. But health advocates, including the measures' sponsor, Legis. William Spencer (D-Centerport), said research shows that drinking more than recommended amounts of the drinks can lead...| read more ››

Legislator Calarco Delivers Remarks at 2013 Long Island Complete Streets Summit

Apr
15
2013

Farmingdale, LI— Thursday, April 11: Four months ago, the Suffolk County Legislature unanimously adopted Suffolk County’s first ever Complete Streets bill, authored by Legislator Rob Calarco. Legislator Rob Calarco was invited to make introductory remarks at the Long Island Complete Streets Summit on April 11th. The Summit was hosted by Vision Long Island and the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.

Legislator Rob Calarco’s bill (IR 2025), directed the Department of Public Works to consider all modes of travel when designing a road project. The bill also required the DPW to evaluate the feasibility of using a host of features to accommodate not only motorists, but also pedestrians, bicyclists, bus riders, senior citizens, people with disabilities etc. The Complete Streets program encourages and...| read more ››

Legislator Calarco Celebrates Opening of “Chaos and Containment” at Patchogue-Medford Library

Apr
2
2013

Patchogue, LI— Wednesday, April 2: Legislator Rob Calarco joined with Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE), Village of Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri, and the Patchogue-Medford Library today to kick-off the opening of the “Chaos and Containment” exhibition, which is comprised entirely of art created by individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

The artists are enrolled in the art therapy program at FREE, a not-for-profit agency founded in 1977, headquartered in Old Bethpage, which supports more than 3,500 individuals with different abilities on Long Island. According to FREE’s Director of Art Therapy and the curator of “Chaos and Containment,” Ed Regensburg, the pieces in the exhibition were “originally introduced as two separate artistic expressions of the feelings of chaotic...| read more ››

Legislature Names County Road 39 for Buzz Schwenk

Mar
25
2013

By a unanimous vote Tuesday, the Suffolk County Legislature named County Road 39 in Southampton after the late Edwin "Buzz" Schwenk, a businessman, political leader and preservationist.

Legislator Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) introduced the legislation in November to rename the highway.

"I wanted to show my sincere respect and admiration for Edwin 'Buzz' Schwenk and his dedication, efforts and commitment to the residents of the county by naming County Road 39 in his memory," Schneiderman was quoted as saying in a press release Nov. 9.

Schwenk, a Southampton native, died on Dec. 17, 2009 at the age of 86. He had run Schwenk's Dairy and had convenience stores throughout the county. He also served on the board of directors of the...| read more ››

New Legislation Prohibits Suffolk Kids From Purchasing Energy Drinks

Mar
21
2013

Despite fierce resistance by the beverage industry, Suffolk lawmakers Tuesday night approved three bills, sponsored by Legis. William Spencer (D-Centerport) that will prohibit the sale of energy drinks to kids under 18 at county parks and beaches.

The legislation, that Spencer is calling the “nation's first comprehensive energy/stimulant education and protection plan,” would also limit direct marketing efforts of these products to minors.

The ban on the sale of energy drinks at county parks and beaches passed 11-4, with several abstentions; the ban on marketing the drinks to minors through coupons and free-samples passed 16-0; and a measure that encourages local students to submit videos about the alleged health dangers of the drinks was approved 14-1.

“Far too many people...| read more ››

Suffolk Limits Energy Drinks for Kids

Mar
20
2013

Suffolk lawmakers are trying their hardest to keep energy drinks like Red Bull out of the hands of minors.

Red Bull may give you wings, but the energy drink companies’ attempts to reach minors may soon be grounded on the eastern half of Long Island.

Suffolk County lawmakers approved three controversial bills Tuesday aimed at keeping energy drinks out of the hands of minors, citing health concerns, over objections of beverage industry lobbyists who called it unfair. County Executive Steve Bellone has not signaled whether he will sign the bills into law.

The proposals include legislation prohibiting the sale and distribution of energy drinks to minors at county parks, prohibiting energy drink companies from mailing energy drink coupons and free...| read more ››

Suffolk passes bills targeting energy drinks

Mar
20
2013

Suffolk lawmakers Tuesday night approved county oversight of energy drinks that supporters touted as the first of its kind in the nation.

The three bills, sponsored by Legis. William Spencer (D-Centerport), passed despite fierce beverage industry resistance.

A ban on the sale of energy drinks at county parks and beaches passed 11-4, with several abstentions; a ban on marketing of the drinks to minors via coupons and free-sample mailings passed 16-0; and a measure that encourages local students to submit videos about the alleged health dangers of the drinks was approved 14-1.

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"There's an unlevel playing field with aggressive marketing of the drinks," Spencer said in explaining his reasoning.

Health advocates...| read more ››

Schneiderman Looks to Keep County Seat

Mar
18
2013

Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman, I-Montauk, announced Monday that he will seek reelection in November, instead of running for the East Hampton Town supervisor position.

Should he win reelection, it will be his sixth and final term due to term limits on the Suffolk County Legislature. The legislator, who keeps an office in Sag Harbor, said he has not ruled out the possibility of a run for supervisor — a post he held before being elected to the Legislature — down the road.
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“I am grateful for the overwhelming support and encouragement I have received as I have weighed how best to serve our community. After great thought and deliberation, I have chosen to seek reelection to...| read more ››