5:37

The #1 Judaica source in Rockland27 Orchard St. 845-352-7792

Long time Rockland County Execu-tive C. Scott Vanderhoef announced last October he won't seek re-election for a sixth term. He is famously New York State's longest serving county executive. Vandrhoef in his tenure has managed to improve the lives of Rock-landers with his county’s open space program, affordable housing efforts, and youth and social services programs. He has told those in county government posts that the achievements were due to his administration's hard work. Wednesday night he delivered his final State of the County Address: The text of the speech is here in full:Good evening, Chairwoman Cornell and ladies and gentlemen of the Rock-

land County Legislature. Congratu-lations, Legislator Cornell on being selected to serve as Chairwoman for a ninth consecutive year. I look for-ward to continuing to work with you on a number of important projects in the coming year. Good evening also to our distinguished officials, guests and residents who are watching this from home. This is the 20th year – and the final year – that I come before you to pres-ent my annual Message to the Legisla-ture. I have had the pleasure of work-ing with many Chairs of the Rockland County Legislature – Chairman Charles Holbrook, Chairman George Darden, Chairman Tom Morahan, Chairman

Vol. 28 No. 10 • Rockland’s Independent Jewish Community Newspaper Since 1985 • 2 Nissan 5773 • March 8 2013 free weekly

A. Moeller

Community Medical and Dental Care, Inc. attended Nyack College's an-nual Health Fair Wednesday, March 6. Over 300 students stopped by for information pretaining to their health-care needs and educated students on the importance of heart health. Patient education is the primary goal of the CMADC outreach staff. The students were reminded of the importance of preventative medicine includ-ing dental hygiene. In addition to education, the staff geared up to bring the Dental Van to the Village of Nyack. The Moble unit is staffed with a dentist and a hygienist . The van will be back in April before the se-mester ends, to ser-vice the college. Stu-dents were given the opportunity to set up appointments. Stu-dents and residents alike that would like to visit the mobile dental unit are encouraged to schedule an appointment by calling 845-352-6800

for more health news see page 6

On a cold Monday morning as legislators and county of-ficials were making their way to the Allison-Parris building in New City, County Exec candidate David Fried had a message to stop them in their icy tracks. He pledged that on his first day in office he will take steps to reduce the Rockland County Legislature from 17 members to 11. Fried analyzed other county legisla-tive bodies in New York State prompting his decision to see Rockland’s legislature re-duced in size.

David Fried Announces He Wants aLeaner County Legislature

FEMA deadline extended to March 29ויקהל

cont. Page 11

cont. Page 19

MoNSey FaMIly MedICal CeNteR vISItS NyaCk College

eyebrow shaping

Monsey FaMily Medical center highlights

7:09

speech Marks end oF an era For countyScott Vanderhoef's exit from politics will leave behind a bipartisan legacy

Residents of thirteen declared counties may apply for

FEMA disaster assistance through March 29, 2013

For more info turn to the RCDC Housing page 15

phot

o: A

aron

Moe

ller

Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef seen with former longtime Rockland County sheriff James Kralik at the 2011 9-11 memorial ceremony.

photo: Aaron Moeller

PRE PESACH HOURSBeginning Monday March 11 the Dental Dept at

Monsey Family Medical Center

will be open from

8:00am to 9:30pmappointments call:

845-352-6800

Monsey 845-444-2453

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג 2

New York State Assembly Votes To Block Fracking Until 2015The New York State Assembly passed legisla-tion on Wednesday that extends the morato-rium on high-volume hydraulic fracturing in the state until May 2015 and requires further studies on the environmental impact of the practice known as fracking.

A moratorium on fracking has been in place in the Empire State since 2008 because of concerns that the practice, which involves pumping chemical-laced water and sand deep below the surface to extract natural gas from shale, can contaminate water supplies.

The current legislation applies to the Utica and Marcellus shale gas deposits, some of the most significant in the country. It requires a full review process, including a new study to look at the potential public health impact of fracking.

“We will not sit idly by and endanger the health and safety of our communities by rushing necessary health and safety re-views,” Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said in a statement before the vote.

Rockland Community Development Center Inc.22 Main Street • Monsey, NY 10952

Tel (845) 770-1950 Fax (845) 746-2203e-mail: Editor@AdvocateNews.org

*******Mendel Hoffman | President & Publisher

Aaron Moeller *Editor-In ChiefMichael Anderson *News Room Jason Klien *ProductionMindy Rubin *ContributorAbe Karpen *Distribution Stanley Cohen *Advertising Manager

**********•THE VOICE OF THIS PAPER DOES NOT REPRESENT ANY GROUP. •THE ADVOCATE IS AN INDEPENDENT ENGLISH NEWSPAPER.•THE ADVOCATE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KASHRUS OF ANY PRODUCT IN THE NEWSPAPER.

• COPYRIGHT 2013 ISSN 1055-9132• All material in this paper is the exclusive property of THE ADVOCATE and cannot be reproduced without the consent of the pub-lisher. The views and opinions expressed by our columnists do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s.• Any article submitted to the newspaper can be edited at the discretion of the publisher.• The newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in an advertisement beyond the cost of space occupied by the error. The ad-vertiser assumes the responsibility for errors in telephone orders.• In-house design: All advertisements de-signed and prepared by The Advocate are the property of the newspaper and cannot be reproduced without consent of the pub-lisher.• The health information articles contained in this publication are for information only and not intended as medical advice. For health care advice and information contact your health care provider.• Editorials related to political endorsements or support are written by an independent committee. They do not represent the views of The Advocate staff. It should not be considered as endorsements or support by this paper.

as we go to press Publisher's DeskA Weekly Editorial By:

WRITE TO USThe Advocate welcomes Letters to the Editor & the Action Desk about relevant topics and issues. Letters must include the writer’s name, address and phone number, although the name may be withheld from publication at the writer’s request. The Advocate reserves the right to edit for clarity and good taste. To voice your opinion, call: 845-770-1950, Fax: 845-770-1983, or e-mail editor@advocateNews.org

Mendel Hoffman

letters to the editor

פדיון שבוייןhelp

POLLARD & RUBASHKIN. contact the White House between 9am-5pm

phone @ 202-456-1414 or fax @ 202-456-2461every call makes a difference

Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef has had a bipartisan legacy like no other politician. In fact, one never knew if he was Democrat or Republican. He was the County Executive , a towering figure, who everyone respected for years. In fact no other county had a leader as long as we have had ours. As far as the community was concerned, we always had a door open, and knew we could talk to him.

I had the privilege of sitting on the voting committee with him in the Private Industry Council and the Rockland Economic Development Council. We worked together to bring a more vibrant life to the County. There were many projects that he brought to Rockland, and it has grown and become more prosperous ever since.

At the end of the day the lesson that Scott's bipartisan legacy has taught us is that whether Democrat or Republican, we are still people. As citizens, we really all want the same things. Goods schools, safe neighborhoods, high standards of living, and among other things, politi-cians who know how to act in a fashion where no matter what party you belong too, you get treated with respect. Scott will be missed, and we hope that whoever is elected in November can fit his political shoes.

printed on minuimum 45% recycled paper

Hon. Alfred J. Weiner (Ret.)

Attorney At Law/MediatorFormer Supreme Court Justice/Surrogate Court Judge

•Wills •Estate Administration

•Estate Planning•Surrogate Practice

210 Route 303 Valley Cottage 10989Phone: 845 639 7800 Fax: 845 639 7850

E-mail: aweiner@mkbllp.com

Dear Editor,

I was born and raised in Bardonia, NY. I now work with the U.S. Pain Foundation advocating for peo-ple with chronic pain conditions caused by anything from an injury to degenerative disorders to can-cer, and many more. I am also a patient. Pain disorders affect every part of a person. That is why access to health care is so critical for our community.A few years ago New York State moved the Medicaid pharmacy benefit into managed care remov-ing “prescriber prevails”. It allowed managed care insurance compa-nies to override prescription choic-es even when doctors know those medications are best for their pa-tients. Last year, New York State lawmak-ers reinstated “prescriber prevails” for atypical antipsychotic medica-tions so that patients with the most severe mental illness and their doc-

tors have the final authority over medication decisions. Sadly this year, they are trying to repeal this protection for atypical antipsychot-ics leaving all Medicaid patients without the basic right to have their doctors make decisions about their medications.Thankfully, Senator Carlucci is lead-ing an effort to fight to protect pa-tients. He’s standing up for us. He knows that only patients and their medical providers should make medication decisions. I was hon-ored to stand with Senator Carlucci and patient advocates on Thursday calling on New York State to include “prescriber prevails” protections in Medicaid. I want doctors prescrib-ing medications not managed care companies. Laurie Lindell

Dear Editor,I wanted to share the great news – yesterday, we saw a big bipartisan breakthrough on gun safety reform. Because of the great bipartisan prog-ress Kirsten and Senator Mark Kirk have made on their legislation to crack down on gun trafficking and straw purchasers, their bill will be in-corporated into the Senate's consen-sus gun trafficking legislation, which will be marked up in the Senate Judi-ciary Committee this Thursday.This is a huge step forward in the leg-islative process.It has been a long road since Kirsten first introduced this bill in 2009 but thanks to your support and advocacy for this legislation, we've taken one more step toward Senate passage and one more step toward saving lives. It's unacceptable that there is no federal law currently defining gun trafficking as a crime. Thanks to you, I'm hopeful that soon there will be.Stefanie Conahan-Gillibrand for Senate

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013 3דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג

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The Honorable Michael Kohut

40 North Main Street,

Haverstraw NY, 10927

Dear Mayor,

Thank you for hosting the press confer-

ence last month.

We congratulate the stance you took at

January’s press conference in Haver-

straw. You presented a fine argument on the

pressing issue of gun control. It is truly

an honored to have you serve our com-

munity. It is important to everyone that the gov-

ernment has the constitutional right to re-

strict the types of arms citizens can bear,

and it can prohibit the sale and possession

of assault weapons and high-capacity

ammunition magazines as currently pro-

posed. The claim by gun enthusiasts that

their Second Amendment rights are be-

ing infringed on is unsupported by facts.

We at the Advocate Action Desk support

your position to regulate gun ownership,

and believe that these measures you have

spoken out about will save lives. We hope

to work together with your office in the

future, and strive to maintain a safe and

civil county and the overall country.

Advocate Action Desk Editor

The Honorable Ellen Jaffee

LOB 530

Albany, NY 12248

Hon. Assemblywoman Jaffee:

We would like to take this opportunity to

congratulate you on your appointment as

the Chair of the New York State Assembly

Task Force on Food, Farm and Nutrition

Policy,The Action Desk was proud to read about

your appointment in different sources, in-

cluding the Legislative Gazette, the most

widely-read publication covering Albany

politics. We have recently included the story

in our community newspaper as well.

Throughout your career, you have demon-

strated all of the important qualifications of

being a representative for all of New York’s

people, including an emphasis on women

and children, making you superbly qualified

to carry out the responsibilities of being the

Chair of this Task Force.

Advocate Action Desk Editor

The Honorable Jacob Lew

1500 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washing-

ton, DC 20220

Dear Treasury Secretary:

On behalf of the Advocate Action Desk

in Monsey NY, we would like to send

you our heartfelt congratulations on

your appointment to be our United

States Treasury Secretary. It is an enor-

mous achievement, and a pinnacle in

your public service career.

As we reflect on the challenges and

successes of your career enmeshed

in community service, we are struck

by the qualities you’ve demonstrated

already. Whether it being the biparti-

sanship you have shown in your public

service, or with the White House staff,

these are qualities that are indicative of

a true public servant, and are necessary

to achieve success in the position you

have now been appointed to.

Congratulations Again,

Advocate Action Desk Editor

Washington

THE ADVOCATE ACTION DESK

don't forget to move your clocks one hour ahead this weekend!

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג 4

NatIoNal &INteRNatIoNal NewS updateS

albaNy &waShINgtoN NewS bRIeFS

Hugo CHavez DeaD: venezuela's PResiDent Dies at 58President Hugo Chavez, the fiery populist who declared a socialist revolution in Venezuela, crusaded against U.S. influence and cham-pioned a leftist revival across Latin America, died Tuesday at age 58 after a nearly two-year bout with cancer.Vice President Nicolas Maduro, surrounded by other government officials, announced the death in a national television broadcast. He said Chavez died at 4:25 p.m. local time.During more than 14 years in of-fice, Chavez routinely challenged the status quo at home and inter-nationally. He polarized Venezu-elans with his confrontational and domineering style, yet was also a masterful communicator and strategist who tapped into Ven-ezuelan nationalism to win broad support, particularly among the poor.Chavez repeatedly proved him-self a political survivor. As an army paratroop commander, he led a failed coup in 1992, then was par-doned and elected president in 1998. He survived a coup against his own presidency in 2002 and won re-election two more times.

Venezuela Interim President Nico-las Maduro Will Rule Until New Elections, Foreign Minister SaysSome in anguish, some in fear, Venezuelans raced for home and stocked up on food and water Tuesday after the government an-nounced the death of President Hugo Chavez, the larger-than-life firebrand socialist who led the na-tion for 14 years.Vice President Nicolas Maduro's voice broke and tears ran down his face as he appeared on national tele-vision to announce that Chavez died "after battling hard against an illness over nearly two years."He did not say what exactly killed Chavez, although the government had announced the previous night that a severe new respiratory infec-tion had severely weakened him.A few hours later, Foreign Minister Elias Jaua affirmed one of Chavez's final wishes: Maduro would be in-terim president and then be the ruling party's candidate to carry on Chavez's populist "revolution" in elections to be called within 30 days.It was a day fraught with mixed signals, some foreboding and some violent. Just a few hours be-

fore announcing Chavez's death, Maduro made a virulent speech against enemies he claimed were trying to undermine Venezuelan democracy.And he said two U.S. military at-taches had been expelled for try-ing to destabilize the nation.In announcing the death of the former army paratrooper who wielded Venezuela's oil wealth to benefit the poor and win friends regionally, Maduro shifted tone.He called on Venezuelans to be "dignified heirs of the giant man" Chavez was."Let there be no weakness, no vio-lence. Let there be no hate. In our hearts there should only be one sentiment: Love. Love, peace and discipline."The government declared 7 days of mourning and closed all schools and universities until next Mon-day.arrest in Brooklyn Crash that Killed expectant ParentsA man suspected of fleeing the scene of a grisly crash in New York City that killed a pregnant woman and her husband was arrested at a

convenience store in northeastern Pennsylvania on Wednesday after a friend arranged his surrender with New York authorities.Julio Acevedo, 44, walked to offi-cers waiting in cars in the parking lot in Bethlehem, Pa., and was ar-rested on charges of leaving the scene of an accident, said Paul Browne, chief spokesman for the New York Police Department. Ace-vedo, wearing a hooded sweat-shirt, said nothing to officers who took him into custody, Browne said.The surrender, which occurred shortly after 5 p.m., was brokered by a friend who had been in touch with police earlier in the day. The friend met officers at New York’s Grand Central Station, then led them to Acevedo in Bethlehem, about 80 miles away, police said. Acevedo was being held by Penn-sylvania State Police and was awaiting extradition to New York. Browne said it wasn’t clear when he would be returned.White House appoints new us Coordinator For Middle eastThe White House on Saturday ap-pointed Phillip Gordon as the new coordinator for the Middle East,

North Africa and the Gulf region.National Security Advisor Tom Do-nilon announced that Gordon will begin his new role on March 11.“Phil [Gordon] has been a key member of [US] President [Barack] Obama’s foreign policy team for

the past four years and his work with our European Allies and partners has been indispensable in helping us to formulate policy and address issues around the globe, including Libya, Syria and Iran,” said Donilon. “His work on international security, interna-tional economics and European and Middle Eastern Affairs make him the perfect person to coordi-nate our policy in this time of great challenge and opportunity in the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf.”

no MoRe WHite House touRsThe pain of $85 billion in spending cuts is being felt everywhere—including the White House. NBC4 reports that tours of the White House will be suspended after Friday, due to sequestration:“Due to staffing reductions resulting from sequestration, we regret to inform you that White House tours will be canceled effective Saturday March 9, 2013, until further notice,” a recording on the White House visitors phone line says. “Unfortu-nately, we will not be able to reschedule affected tours. We very much regret hav-ing to take this action particularly during the popular spring touring season."Due to the spending cuts that went into effect last week, uniformed Secret Service officers that led the tours will be assigned to different posts. Sequestration is hitting the Secret Service to the tune of $84 mil-lion. According to Politico, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani thinks stop-ping the tours is "absurd."MiniMuM Wage HiKe liKelyAssembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Man-hattan, and Assemblyman Keith Wright, D-Harlem, joined with Labor Commit-tee Chair Carl E. Heastie, D-Bronx, and members of the Assembly Democrats an-nounced plans Tuesday to pass legislation (A.38a) that would raise the minimum

wage to $9 per hours and index it to the rate of inflation."On behalf of the members of the Assem-bly Majority I'm pleased to report that this afternoon we intent to take up and to pass our minimum wage legislation on the floor of the house," Silver said.Silver said that if enacted, the Assembly's proposal would directly benefit more than 925,000 working New Yorkers, while stimulating local economies as families who receive an increase in wages will spend their additional income in neigh-borhood businesses."It will benefit families trapped between the desire for financial independence and the constant erosion of their wages," said the speaker surrounded by fellow Demo-crats. "By passing the legislation, we will be rewarding hard work with a wage fam-ilies can live on."

u.s. senatoRs FiliBusteR BRennan noMination as Cia HeaD

Republicans took to the floor of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday and kept talking for hours in an attempt to block the con-firmation of President Barack Obama’s counterterrorism advisor, John Brennan, as director of the CIA.Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, began shortly before noon, and

talked for more than three hours in an old-fashioned filibuster – in which a senator speaks until he can continue no longer – to prevent a vote on Brennan.“I will speak until I can no longer speak. I will speak as long as it takes, until the alarm is sounded from coast to coast that our Constitution is important, that your rights to trial by jury are precious, that no American should be killed by a drone on American soil without first being charged with a crime, without first being found to be guilty by a court,” Paul said.

HolDeR unDeR PRessuRe to nulliFy ColoRaDo CannaBis aMenDMent Attorney General Eric Holder is coming under national and international pressure to nullify efforts in Colorado and Washing-ton to authorize adult recreational mari-juana use.Nine former Drug Enforcement Adminis-tration chiefs and four ex-drug czars have urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to quiz Holder when he appears before the committee Wednesday for an oversight hearing. In a letter dated Monday, the ex-drug officials asked senators to encour-age Holder “to adhere to a long-standing federal law and policy in this regard, and to vigorously enforce the Controlled Sub-stances Act.”

“Our nation urgently needs action from Attorney General Holder to ensure that federal marijuana laws are enforced, fed-eral preemption is asserted, and our obli-gations under international drug treaties are honored,” said the letter to Senate Ju-diciary Committee members.goveRnoR CuoMo announCes $12.2 Million to HelP FaRMs PRoteCt WateR Quality aCRoss tHe state27 Counties Receive Funding to Help Farms Implement Conservation in Pri-ority Watersheds Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $12.2 million that will help 209 farms in 27 counties protect New York’s lakes, streams and rivers from potential agricultural runoff. This assistance is awarded through the New York State Department of Agricul-ture and Markets and funded through the state Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). “Well-managed farms are an integral part of New York’s economy and landscape,” Governor Cuomo said. “Through this program, we are sup-porting farms across the state to put in place best practices when it comes to protecting water quality in their areas while ensuring the continued produc-tion of fresh, local food supply. Not only will these projects improve the environ-ment, they will also help stimulate eco-nomic activity in the communities.”

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013 5דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג

CARLUCCI NOT DIGGING The shALe jUsT yeT

Sen. David Carlucci, D-Clarkstown, unveiled legis-lation Tuesday that would suspend hydrofracking in New York for a period of 24 months to accom-modate three ongoing and major public health studies on the controversial gas drilling method.The proposal would re-quire the Commissioner of Health to take these outside studies into con-sideration when finaliz-ing drilling regulations. All scientific data compiled would have to be reviewed before the Department of Environmental Conservation finalizes and proposes any recommendations in regards to permitting hydrofracking in the state.High-volume horizontal hy-draulic fracturing is a meth-od of extracting natural gas from underground forma-tions of shale rock.The purpose of Carlucci's bill is to assure New York-ers that all potential public health impacts posed by the extraction of natural gas through hydrofracking are being considered prior to the finalization of the revised draft supplemental generic draft environmental impact statement (SGEIS)."A quick buck is not worth the long-term debt that out children will have to live with if we get this decision wrong. Rushing to judgment without all of the facts is a recipe for a disaster, particu-larly involving a hydrofrack-ing process that lacks trans-parency and accountability, and has appeared to pose significant harmful health effects towards populations surrounding the Marcellus Shale," said Carlucci. "I can-not in good conscience sup-port any measure that does not first fully evaluate all related scientific data, and that is precisely what we are advocating for here today. Let's get the facts at our dis-posal before we launch into uncharted territory."One of the three studies be-ing conducted is an Environ-mental Protection Agency

study titled, "Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydrau-

lic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources," which as-sesses the potential impacts of hydrofracking on drinking water. A final draft report is expected to be released for public comment and peer re-view in 2014.The studies also include a Geisinger Health System study reviewing detailed health histories of patients who live near wells and other facilities producing natural gas in the Marcellus shale formation and a uni-versity-based research study of fracking-related health impacts recently announced by researchers from the Uni-versity of Pennsylvania in collaboration with scientists from Columbia, Johns Hop-kins and the University of North Carolina.Carlucci's legislation states the commissioner of the DEC shall not proceed to finalize and publish the re-vised SGEIS before the EPA study and the Geisinger Mar-cellus Shale Initiative have been completed."Before making a decision, we need to ensure that state agencies have the best and most up to date information available," said Majority Coalition Leader and IDC member Sen. Jeff Klein, D-Bronx. "As I've said before, I have serious concerns about the process. These studies will provide the Department of Health with a much clear-er sense of whether or not hydrofracking can ever be conducted safely."

senator gillibrand says her anti-gun traFFicking proposal should easily pass the senate with bipartisan support.Legislation to add new criminal penalties for gun trafficking could pass the Senate with strong bipartisan support within the next month, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said Tuesday.

Current federal law require people who purchase a gun from a federal firearms licensee to be truthful about whether they are the actual purchaser. Law enforcement officials can use such paperwork violations to prosecute straw purchasers who buy guns for someone planning a crime.

The legislation would add a new criminal penalty — up to 25 years in prison — for straw purchasers who had reason to believe the gun they bought would be used to commit a violent crime. Shipping two or more guns across state lines to people who cannot legally buy a gun also would become a federal crime.

Shipping guns outside the U.S. to destinations such as Mexico for use in violent crimes also would become illegal. Current law only covers guns illegally shipped into the U.S.

Other local officials got together last month to weigh in on gun Violence. Nita Lowey said during her press conference; “It’s said that time heals all wounds, but time will never heal the pain felt by the families of Newtown. And we cannot let time heal the pain of our nation’s consciousness until we have taken responsibility and enacted legislation to prevent such acts of gun violence in the future.” said Lowey on Thursday. “For too long, we have viewed these tragic acts of violence as inevitable or normal. They are neither.” "Last month's tragic school shooting must serve as a catalyst to demand common sense federal action that will stop the gun violence plaguing our communities. It's sad that such a horrific act will finally force our nation's leaders to make sensible changes to our gun laws and regulations. We owe it to the 26 Newtown victims - and, to the eight children and teens who die each day from guns in our nation," said District Attorney Zugibe.

David Fried who is running for County Executive said, "As a Judge, I had witnessed families torn apart by gun violence and watched career criminals and first time offenders attempt to abuse a system full of holes and antiquated priorities. We need a real investment in mental health, providing help and hope to those in need of both, from all levels of government willing and able to make that monetary investment," Fried concluded.

arMand Miele long tiMe rockland

political player passes away at 84

Longtime Rockland County Times publisher (recently publisher emeritus), businessman and real estate developer, and influential voice in Rockland p o l i t i c s Armand Miele has passed away today at the age of 84.

A r m a n d Miele, 1928-2013Miele was p r i n c i p a l owner of the R o c k l a n d County Times since 1998, moving the offices to downtown Nanuet, New York, where his real estate office was located. During his tenure the newspaper became the only county-wide weekly newspaper with a paid circulation and one well-known for breaking inside stories on Rockland politics.

As a public voice he led a movement to remove the illegal Ramapo toll from the NYS Thruway, headed a project with then-Legislator Frank Fornario to speed up and cut costs on the long delayed county courthouse construction, long fought against MTA taxes and the authority’s needless jurisdiction over Rockland County, and helped to form the Village of Montebello, among many other accomplishments.

In the 1990s Miele ran for state assembly and town supervisor and was the 1997 Right to Life candidate for county executive.

In 2011 he was named Italian-American of the Year by the Rockland County Columbus Association and released a memoir “Born Minus: From Shoeshine Boy to News Publisher, an Italian-American Journey,” which included his life story and dozens of his popular Miele’s Musings editorials from the Rockland County Times.

During his career as a developer Miele built up much of Main St. in Nanuet and many notable projects in the Bronx, where he was born and came of age.

Miele had been suffering from various ailments and spent his final days with family at his home in Montebello.

congresswoMan nita lowey to host annual

Financial aid ForuM For rockland-area

high school students

Annual event to be held at Nyack High School; provides information, expert advice for high students and their families on financial aid for college On Monday, March 11th, Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY-17) will host her annual Financial Aid Forum to provide local students and families information on opportunities for college financial aid. The event, which begins at 7:00 pm and will be held at Nyack High School, will also feature representatives from the U.S. Department of Education, New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, the College Board, the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and Rockland Community College.”

stateMent FroM goVernor andrew M. cuoMo on standard & poor's announceMent

“Today's (Wednesday) Standard & Poor's announcement validates the many reforms my administration has put in place since 2011 that resulted in on-time budgets, lower taxes for the middle class, and a more efficient and effective State government. This continued momentum and the creation of over 115,000 private sector jobs last year alone, with new jobs being added everyday, has put New York on the path to fiscal stability and economic prosperity.”

RoCklaNd & RegIoNal

ADULT MEDICINEdr. James Israeldr. arthur landaudr. debra grohmandr. delatre lolodr. Manoj pulicottilelana klein, PAerick araujo, PAbrian blitz, PA

FAMILY MEDICINEDr. Jamie Giraldo

OB/GYNdr. Joel w. allendr. debra kirschnerMelissa a. Carco, PAayelet honig, Np

DENTALdr. genady benyaminovdr. Sarah hannadr. david horowitzdr. Ramin kashanidr. Stacey lubetskydr. Jacklyn tadros

SPECIALTYdr. harry baldinger - Podiatrydr. Michael ginsburg- Podiatrydr. david Schwalb - Urologydr. Renata witkowska - Allergydr. Samuel wong - Ophthalmologydr. Soren white - Dermatologydr. philip Fried - Dermatologyhanna Raice MS, Rd, Cde- Nutrition Counselingaaron Muller, Speech TherapyMelech karp, Speech Therapy

ext 3836.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, some 26 million Americans suffer from kidney disease, and one out of every three Americans is at risk for kidney disease because of high blood pres-sure, diabetes and family history

According to Dr. Jamie Geraldo of Monsey Family Medical Cen-ter, you are more ‘at risk’ of chronic kidney disease if you have one of the following.

• Have diabetes• Have high blood pressure• Are obese• Are over 60 years of age• Have a family history of the disease• Smoke• Have heart problems

High blood pressure can damage kidneys

Dr. Geraldo added, "High blood pressure (hypertension) is increased pressure inside the arteries that carry blood from your heart to all parts of your body." Untreated he says, the high blood pressure can damage your kidneys. All high blood pressure strains the heart and damages arteries."

If blood pressure is uncontrolled and remains high, it can damage the vessels that supply blood to your internal organs. The very small vessels are often the first to be affected. If left untreated, this can lead to kidney disease, heart attack, strokes and loss of vision.

There are a number of different causes of high blood pressure, but most high blood pressure has no known cause. You are more at risk of high blood pressure if you are older or have a family history of the condition.

High blood pressure can also develop as a result of kidney disease or renal artery stenosis (narrowing of the main artery to one or both kidneys). Your kidneys control the amount of fluid in your blood ves-sels and produce a hormone called renin that helps to control blood pressure.

If detected early enough, the progress of kidney disease can be slowed and sometimes even prevented. In the early stages, changes to diet and medication can help to increase the life of your kidneys.

Diagnosis of kidney diseaseEarly detection of kidney disease can be life saving. Medication and changes to lifestyle, along with an early referral to a kidney special-ist (nephrologist), can prevent or delay kidney failure.

If you are ‘at higher risk’ of chronic kidney disease, talk to your doctor about having a regular kidney health check. This includes:Blood pressure testBlood test for kidney function

Family HealtH talk

ם לי חו פא רו

MONSEY FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER

Ben Gilman Spring Valley Family Medical Center175 Route 59, Spring Valley NY 10977

Monsey Family Medical Center40 Robert Pitt Dr.

Monsey, NY 10952

march is NatioNal KidNey moNth

schedule your appointment

today:

Monsey Family Medical Center

40 Robert Pitt Dr. Monsey, NY 10952

(845) 352-6800

page 6 health talk

PEDIATRIC MEDICINEdr. esther bekritskydr. gerson gluck

Precise new cataract surgeryAn experimental surgery to replace eye cataracts is performed with a laser, which cuts more precisely than a surgeonÕs hand can.

Current technique

Light beams can guide and make cuts

Source: Stanford University Department of Ophthalmology,

Science magazineGraphic: Helen Lee McComas

© 2010 MCT

Science Matters

1 Surgeon makes curved freehand cut in front of lens capsule with tiny instruments

1 Suction holds curved lens system to front of eyeball

2 Light beam scans front of eye and internal surfaces of lens to guide cut

3 Flashes of laser light lasting half a trillionth of a second make precisely controlled cut

Crucial Step 1 depends on surgeonÕs skill, experience 2 Breaks up lens with

ultrasound, suctions out fragments

3 Implants plastic lens

Cataract: EyeÕs lens becomes cloudy as its proteins break

down; vision deterioratesLens

Lens

Scanning beam

Laser beam

Lens system

Suction skirt

Suction

1

1

2

2

3

3

Ask the Doctordr. Samuel wong - dept of Ophthalmology

Q: what is a cataract?

a: "A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cata-racts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other."

Family HealtH talk

PROJECT OHRDepartment of

Behavioral Health

psYCHIatrYSeymour kushnir, MdADULT PSYCHIATRYZvi weisstuch, MdADULT and CHILD

PSYCHIATRY

soCIaL worKIndividual, Couple

Child & Family Therapy

Malka harris Susswein LCSW, Clinical Director Project Ohr, Indi-vidual and Family Therapist

gelly asovski LCSW, Play Therapist

Sharon kronenberg LCSW, Individual Therapist Adults

Chana Simmonds LCSW, Family and Individual Thera-pist- Adults gila Zelinger LCSW, Family and Individual Therapist, Teens and Adults

Rabbi aryeh Frankel LMSW, Individual & Couples Therapist, Teens & Adults

Naomi Franklin LMSW, Child Therapist

yael kahan LMSW, Family and Individual Therapist, Teens and Adults esther Rothbaum LMSW, Child Therapist

toby Spitzer LMSW, Individual and Family Therapist

tziporah Spira LMSWFamily and Individual Thera-pist, Teens and Adults

aviva Cohen LMSW, Therapist Pre-Teens, and Teens

Rabbi Moshe abramczyk LMSW, therapist, males, ages 12 and above

gitty kleinman, MSWIntern

Family HealtH talk

ם לי חו פא רו

MONSEY FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER

Ben Gilman Spring Valley Family Medical Center175 Route 59, Spring Valley NY 10977

Monsey Family Medical Center40 Robert Pitt Dr.

Monsey, NY 10952

page 7 health talk

By Mrs. Gitty Kleinman

If you have read some of the previously printed articles, you know that stress really takes its toll on one’s emotional, physical and mental well – being. Just reading about the effects of stress, can raise stress levels. You will be happy to know that stress can be managed and controlled. Learning stress management skills and techniques can be especially useful in these hectic (and sometimes stressful) weeks before Pesach.

When one is stressed, both the body and mind are affected. Therefore, the goal of many stress management techniques is to reduce the stress on both body and mind. Every person possesses a natural and innate ability to protect against ‘overstressing’. Just as the body is programmed to enter ‘fight or flight’ mode when it senses danger or stress, the body is able to de-stress naturally too. This is done by the body decreasing the heart rate, lowering the metabolism, and slowing the breathing. When the body works to re- balance, it is called the ‘relaxation response’, and you may notice feeling this way at the end of an especially difficult day.You might ask though, if the body has the natural ability to de – stress, why do I need to make use of stress management skills? The answer is that the body creates the ‘relaxation response’ only after the stress level has been raised so high that the person goes into the ‘fight or flight’ mode. The trick is to be able to manage stress in a way, by utilizing the body’s natural ability to de- stress, before stress levels get too high.

Generally, when people are stressed, they have very little time to de-stress, because the very reason they are stressed in the first place is because they have no time! A trip to Florida, or a spa vacation, may be just the thing you need to manage your stress levels, but you very likely have the time or money needed. However, there are some simple techniques that don’t require much effort or time, but go a long way in reducing stress.

Simple and Quick Stress Busters: Deep Breathing - you may have heard the concept be-fore, but if done right, deep breathing allows for the ‘relaxation response’ to happen almost immediately in your body, allowing for your mind to clear to be better able to deal with the stress-ful situation. There are many deep breathing techniques, some more sophisticated than others, but even a basic one as this one helps your body and mind deal better with stress.o Practical Deep Breathing Technique: It is best if you take time to sit or lie down while doing this exercise, but if you can’t do so, deep breathing is helpful in any position. Begin by inhal-ing through your nose, let your stomach expand while it fills with air, hold the breath for 1-2 seconds and then exhale slowly letting your stomach empty while the air leaves. Repeat for at least three – to five minutes. Let your body relax and try to let your mind focus solely on the breathing. It may feel weird in the beginning, but do it consistently and you will notice that it really works. o Relaxation techniques/ Music – there are many relax-ation tapes or CD’s that provide both relaxation guidance and music to help de –stress. Many times, these CD’s use deep breathing to help one gain control over their body, mind and stress. Try to find some relaxing music, or quick relaxation rou-tine that you could do in twenty minutes or less. The results will be well worth the effort. Take a break- if it is possible; try to take time where you are away from the stressful situation. If it is not possible to take a physical break, there are ways to take a mental break, which will lower stress levels. Also, by making minor positive changes to your environment both mentally and physically, you help yourself be better able to handle the stress.

o Take a walk outside or open the window - the fresh air, and exercise will stimulate the ‘feeling good’ hormones in your body. This will also eventually relax your mind and make you feel better and more capable of dealing with at stresso Call a friend- is there someone who might be able to provide a listening ear or practical advice- make the call. Be-sides for the distraction, you might gain on the deal.o Go on a Mini Mental vacation – if you find stress to be high, you can take a mental break. This is often called ‘guided

imagery’. Your mind is extremely powerful and can make you feel like you are on a spa vacation, while physically you are in your home, dealing with kids, pesach, supper, etc.Go on your ‘mini mental vacation’ by thinking of a time and or place where you feel completely at ease and relaxed. Try to bring that picture up in your mind while your eyes are shut and you remember the sights, smells, sounds and feel of the place. Allow yourself to really feel like you are there. Notice the differ-ence when coming back from this ‘vacation’ and how much bet-ter able you will be to manage the stressful situation.The above tips are only quick techniques, which help in stressful situation. However, the key to managing stress properly throughout your life is to maintain a lifestyle structured to handle stress. Some important long term stress relief techniques to always keep in mind:- Eat well, nutritious and filling meals. A strong and healthy body is better able to deal with stress.- Exercise often aside for the health benefits, the emo-tional and mental benefits of exercising often, cannot be em-phasized enough- Find the humor in life – life can be very serious, yet it is vital to be able to find the humor in situations and be able to laugh. Look for the simple joys and pleasures in daily situa-tions. A sense of humor goes a long way in helping in managing stress.- Acceptance – some stressful situations cannot or will not change. Learning to deal with the different challenges of the situation, and working to accept it as a reality can help minimize the stress of constantly fighting or trying to change it.- Integrate Relaxation/ deep breathing – Make relaxation a regular part of your life, set aside time in your schedule to re-lax and de- stress, before the stress builds up. If you take care of yourself, you will be better able to care for your loved ones.- If possible, get away – it doesn’t have to be a week long extravagant vacation. A simple two day getaway not too far from home, when things get very stressful, provides more than the benefit of change of scenery. It allows one to stop and think and re- assess which automatically leads to – de –stress.Many times, stressful situations call for more professional help. Seek out one of the many competent and knowledgeable staff at Project Ohr, who will help you cope with and manage stressful situations. Call 845-352-6800 x 5.

Distressed? De – Stress! part 2

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג 8

study: Medicaid is tough to get for some without families

Poor adults who live in states that don't go along with the fed-eral health overhaul's expansion of Medicaid expansion face a double whammy.They can't take advantage of the law's widened eligibility standards allowing individuals with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level ($15,856 in 2013) to sign up for Medicaid. But they're also not likely to qualify for sub-sidized coverage on the new state-based health insurance exchanges set to open in January because, ironically, they're too poor.Premium tax credits will be limit-ed to individuals with incomes be-tween 100 and 400 percent of the poverty level ($11,490 to $45,960 in 2013).Without financial help, coverage is likely to be unaffordable for many people living below the poverty level, says Edwin Park, vice presi-dent for health policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.More than 11 million uninsured adults could fall into this neither/nor category, according to an esti-mate published by the Urban Insti-tute last year.

To date, about half the governors have announced that they want to move ahead with Medicaid expan-sion.Many people assume that state Medicaid programs typically cov-er people up to the poverty level, says Park. Although that's true for children, he says, for their parents and other adults that isn't the case.Medicaid eligibility levels vary widely by state, but typically only very poor adults qualify for cov-erage. Last year, for example, the median eligibility threshold for working parents was 63 percent of the federal poverty level and 37 percent of poverty for jobless parents, according research by the Kaiser Family Foundation. (KHN is an editorially independent pro-gram of the foundation.)Under current Medicaid rules, childless adults are in the toughest spot."In a large majority of states, an adult without children who's not disabled isn't eligible at all for Medicaid," says Park.

+ County of Rockland Department of Health NEWS RELEASE

C. Scott Vanderhoef Kathleen M. Henry, R.N., M.A. COUNTY EXECUTIVE ACTING COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH

date: March 6, 2013

FoR IMMedIate ReleaSe Contact: Kathleen M. Henry, R.N., M.A. 845-364-2512

halt the Salt In your diet!Pomona, NY – During World Salt Awareness Week, March 11th - 17th, County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef and the Rockland County Department of Health encourage you to choose foods wisely to reduce your salt intake. Most of the salt we eat is already in the packaged, processed, store-bought foods we buy from the grocery store or in the food we order when dining out. Only a small part of the salt we eat is what we add to our foods from the saltshaker when cooking or during a meal. “Though we all need some salt to keep our bodies working properly, too much salt in our diet can drive up our blood pressure, increasing our risk of heart disease and stroke,” said Kathleen M. Henry, R.N., M.A., Acting Commissioner of Health.

The amount of salt in a food is listed as “sodium” on the Nutrition Facts label. Adults, in general, should consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. If you are in the following groups, consume no more than 1,500 mg of sodium per day: 51 years of age or older; African American; have high blood pressure; have diabetes; or have chronic kidney disease.

There are many things you can do to lower your salt intake, including: When eating out, ask for no added salt when preparing your meal. Start your food shopping in the produce section and buy plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Read food labels and check the amount of sodium per serving. Foods that seem healthy may have

high levels of sodium. Different brands of the same foods may have different sodium levels. Keep in mind - more than 40% of sodium comes from the following ten types of foods:

1. Breads and rolls 2. Cold cuts and cured meats such as deli or packaged turkey 3. Pizza 4. Fresh and processed poultry 5. Soups 6. Sandwiches such as fatty burgers 7. Cheese 8. Pasta dishes 9. Meat mixed dishes such as meat loaf with tomato sauce 10. Snacks such as chips, pretzels, and popcorn

If your favorite canned vegetables don’t come in no-salt-added varieties, make sure to rinse them before cooking. Frozen vegetables, even those without sauce, may contain salt.

Use fresh poultry, fish, and lean meat, rather than canned or processed meats. (Check to see if saline or salt solution has been added - if so, choose another brand).

Buy low-sodium, lower-sodium, reduced-sodium or no-salt-added versions of products. Limit sauces, mixes, and “instant” products, including flavored rice and ready-made pasta. Add spice to your meals - flavor food with pepper and other herbs and spices instead of salt.

For more information about salt and your health, visit www.cdc.gov/salt.###

Senate Staffer Fired due to Shiva Call

A veteran political consultant was fired recently by New York State Sena-tor Daniel Squadron while she was mourning the loss of her father.The DAILY NEWS is reporting that the consultant, Cynthia Darrison, said that the inappropriateness of the termina-tion phone call from Squadron during Shiva left her “numb” and “reeling.”“It was one of the most shocking con-versations I’ve ever had,” Darrison said on Monday.When Darrison first took the call, she said she explained to Squadron that as an observant Jew, she could not talk business while she was in mourn-ing. She told him that she could dis-cuss the issue with him in two days when the period of shiva would end.But Squadron refused to wait, and Darrison returned to find that Squad-ron had recruited two of her staffers to set up a new fundraising operation—-one floor below her Manhattan office.

Stock futures point higher after record close

The Dow's new all-time high and bet-ter economic data from the United States propelled world stock markets higher Wednesday.And stock index futures are pointing to a higher open on Wall Street. The Standard and Poor's 500 stock index is less than 26 points away from a new high.Markets continued to shrug off a bud-get impasse in Washington.European shares added to gains reaped a day earlier, when the Dow posted a new record. Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.2% to 6,446.43. Germa-ny's DAX advanced 0.4% to 7,903.70. France's CAC-40 added 0.3% to 3,798.04. Japan's benchmark index reached a multi-year closing high, capping a day of positive trade in Asia. The Nikkei 225 jumped 2.1% to close at 11,932.27, the highest finish since September 2008. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 1% to 22,777.84. South Korea's Kospi rose 0.2% to 2,020.74. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.8% to 5,116.80. Benchmarks in Sin-gapore, Taiwan, Indonesia and main-land China rose.

סטס טי דענ ן ע י ו פר ן ו א ער מענ

DENTAL PRE PESACH HOURS

Beginning Monday March 11 the Dental Dept at Monsey Family Medical Center

will be open from

8:00am to 9:30pmappointments call:

845-352-6800

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013 9דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג

subaru recalls cars with remote starters

Subaru of America is recalling more than 47,000 cars and SUVs with remote starters because the engines can start on their own.

The recall affects some Legacy and Outback cars from the 2010 to 2013 model years. Also covered are the Impreza from 2012 and 2013 and the XV Crosstrek from 2013.

Subaru says that if the key is dropped, it can malfunction and start the engine. The motor will run for up to 15 minutes, but could continue to start and stop until the car runs out of gas or the fob battery dies. If the cars are parked in a garage, there’s a risk of carbon monoxide buildup.

The cars all have automatic or continuously variable transmissions. Subaru dealers will replace the fobs free of charge.

There was no mention of injuries related to the recall. Calls to Subaru early Thursday were not immediately returned.

study shows Bamba may Prevent Peanut allergies in childrenNew York - Surprising new results on the prevalence of food allergies in children suggest that introducing highly allergenic foods to babies at a young age may play a role in preventing allergies in children as they get older.According to reports in the Wall Street Journal, a January article in a clinical journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends introducing highly allergenic foods including peanuts, and eggs to babies as young as four to six months of age after the typical “first foods” such as rice cereal, fruits and vegetables have been eaten and tolerated, in stark contrast to earlier recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics suggesting that these foods be introduced at a much later date.A Journal of Allergy Clinical Immunology article reported that the rate of children with peanut allergies in the United Kingdom was ten times greater than that of Israeli children. The 2008 study, which compared 5,000 children in the United Kingdom with an equal number of their Israeli counterparts, led to a follow up study of approximately one hundred infants in each country and found that while Israeli babies typically ate Bamba peanut snacks before the age of six months, babies in the United Kingdom had no exposure to peanut products until after their first birthday. “The body has to be trained in the first

year of life. We think there’s a critical window probably around four to six months, when the child first starts to eat solids,” explained Katie Allen, a professor and allergist at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute at Royal Children’s Hospital in Australia.Exposing babies to certain foods in their first months may help prevent their immune systems from treating them as foreign substances and reacting

adversely when they are introduced at a later age.“There’s been more studies that find that if you introduce them early you may actually prevent food allergy,” said Denver pediatric allergist David Fleisicher. “We need to get the message out now to pediatricians, primary care physicians and specialists that these allergenic foods can be introduced early.”

Other experts were critical of the findings and suggested that further research is needed.“The evidence that has come up is of great interest but it’s all either anecdotal or epidemiological,” said Dr. Robert Wood, director of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who suggested that parents not feel the need to introduce the foods in question

A different lemon

What’s in a name

Meyer lemons, which lack the bitter white pith of regular lemons, are slightly sweet and can be eaten whole, peel and all.

• Named for Frank Meyer, a USDA plant explorer who discovered them in China, where they originate

What’s in a fruit• Cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange, with smooth, yellow-orange skin

• Use them when you want lemony flavor without the bite; good for souffles, cakes, lemonades

• Like regular lemons, they are rich in vitamin C

Source: The Splendid Table, NPR, MCT Photo ServiceGraphic: Pat Carr © 2009 MCT

Healthy Living

• Traditional Chinese medicine uses cinnamon to treat colds, gas, nausea, diarrhea and painful menstruation • Ayurvedic (Indian) medicine uses also uses it as a remedy for colds and indigestion, as well as to treat diabetes • Modern studies suggest that cinnamon may lower blood sugar and be useful for diabetics• People taking diabetes medication or any medicine that affects blood sugar or insulin levels should ask their doctor before adding therapeutic doses; pregnant women should avoid high doses Source: About.com, MCT Photo Service © 2012 MCT

Barking up the right treeMade from the bark of the cinnamon tree, cinnamon is one of the oldest known spices and has long been thought to have health benefits.

Healthy Living

More than sweets

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, MCT Photo Service

© 2012 MCT

The right stuff

To shed pounds,eat saladStarting a meal with a healthy salad provides you with some good nutrients and can help cut the total number of calories in the meal, provided you choose ingredients carefully.

Healthy Living

• Avoid high-fat foods, such as cheese, bacon and croutons

• Combine various greens with other low-fat veggies and fruits, such as peppers, cucumbers, carrots, celery and apples

• Dress the salad with high-quality olive oil and vinegar or other healthy dressing; avoid high-fat creamy ones

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג 10

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013 11דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג

Ken Zebrowski Sr., Chairman Ilan Schoen-berger, Chairman Salvatore Corallo and, since 2005, Chairwoman Harriet Cornell, along with many of you. Looking back over the past two decades, Rocklanders have celebrated great victories and endured heart-breaking tragedies. We have attained remarkable achievements and weathered difficult hardships. There is so much for us to be proud of, and such wonder-ful memories. I remember the pride we all felt in celebrating our Bicentennial and watching the Tall Ships sail up the Hudson River. We watched as new buildings were constructed and our County complex was modernized with a Courthouse expansion and new offices for the District Attorney and County Clerk. We also built a new wing to the Rockland County Jail, a new Technology Building at RCC, a new Archives Building, a new facility for Planning and Public Transportation, and a new Radio Communications Center. We created more than 2,000 units of afford-able housing, began the School of the 21st Century, initiated an award-winning GIS mapping system, reduced the welfare rolls, brought a VA clinic to Rockland, established a Hazardous Materials Team, installed a Re-verse-911 System, and unveiled a new web-site. Our accomplishments also include pur-chasing more than 1,200 acres of open space and creating 10 new County parks – including the first riverfront County park, the spectac-ular Haverstraw Bay County Park along the Hudson River. At times our spirits soared with accomplish-ments and optimism. At times our spirits have been shattered and torn. On September 11th 2001, we watched in horror as our coun-try came under attack by terrorists. The attack resulted in the death of 80 Rocklanders – tak-en far too early from their family and friends. Rocklanders suffered when Tropical Storm Floyd, Tropical Storm Irene and Superstorm Sandy all left a path of devastation in Rock-land including flooding, downed trees, and destruction of property.

In addition, many residents have struggled fi-nancially after home values plummeted and unemployment rose during our nation’s eco-nomic downturn or what has become known as the “Great Recession.” Through it all, Rocklanders have persevered. We pulled together to support our friends and neighbors through all these hardships and tragedies. What we have learned is that we are resilient and we can come through adver-sity. Through it all, our workers fulfilled the mis-sion of Rockland County government: We shall serve the people of Rockland County well by providing needed services in a high quality, ethical, courteous, timely and cost-ef-fective manner – a mission that is a challenge to regularly fulfill, but drives our daily actions and decisions. Changing the Delivery of ServicesOur work continues. In County government, it is a critical year with important work to be done. We will continue to reinvent and re-shape County government to adapt to chang-ing times. In fiscally challenging times, when we cannot do all that we want, we must reas-sess our core missions to help those most in need and provide for the health and safety of our residents. Financial constraints aside, we must alter our service delivery with compas-sion – not simply shutting down services, but finding new ways to deliver services to our residents that are more cost-effective for our taxpayers. Let me give you some examples:In January, we seamlessly transferred respon-sibility of the Prenatal Clinic in Nyack from our Health Department to Nyack Hospital. There was no interruption in service for pa-tients. The location of the clinic, the doctors and the midwives all remained the same. We’re moving ahead with plans to relocate Mental Health emergency services and psy-chiatric inpatient services from Summit Park Hospital to Nyack Hospital. Once construc-tion at Nyack Hospital is completed, we ex-pect that the services can relocate by early

next year.Our Mental Health Department has also worked this past year to successfully trans-fer the operation of the Methadone Treatment Program to the Lexington Center for Recov-ery. In the case of our Adult Home, which we closed in November, we were able to place all of the 22 residents in other facilities. Cred-it goes to Commissioner Sherwood and her team at DSS for not stopping there. They fol-lowed up to make sure the former residents were doing well in their new homes and or-ganized a successful reunion of the residents around the holidays – so successful that the residents have decided to get together again.Creation of a Local Development Corporation As we adapt to the changing times and contin-ue to re-evaluate the core mission of County government, it’s time for us to finally take ac-tion on Summit Park. Approximately 15 percent of every homeown-er’s average County property tax bill goes to keeping this hospital and nursing home open.Based on the continuing loss of money and the changes in the health care industry, we have recommended that we create a Local De-velopment Corporation and transfer the Sum-mit Park assets to the LDC to sell all or part of the facility. It will improve the financial health of the County. As you are well aware, the bond rating agencies are watching and awaiting your decision. Summit Park has a long, proud history and all of us know someone who has received excel-lent care there, but the healthcare industry is rapidly changing and counties can no longer run nursing homes as efficiently as private in-dustry. According to the New York State Associa-tion of Counties, just over the past year, sev-en New York counties have sold, merged or transferred ownership of their nursing homes. Many more have already gotten out of the business or are considering doing so. From Ulster County to Fulton County, from Essex

County to Suffolk County, New York counties are decid-ing that they can no longer afford to run nursing homes.I first proposed tak-ing action on Sum-mit Park in 2010. Since then, we’ve had meetings in my office, numer-ous Legislative dis-cussions, we com-missioned several reports and had con-sultants come before you several times to answer your ques-tions. I urge you to take decisive action by creating a Local De-velopment Corporation as soon as possible. Road to Financial RecoveryDespite some doubt-ers, the County is on the path to financial recovery and I thank you for working with me to accom-plish this. We’ve endured some dif-ficult times. From 1994 to 2004, the County maintained an average of about a $14 million unap-propriated fund bal-ance. The Mirant certiorari wiped out our fund balance and then the recession hit and hurt our rev-enues from the sales tax and mortgage re-cording tax.During these difficult times, our residents ex-pect and deserve lead-ers who are willing to

Donald Franchino, Chair of Rebuild Hi Tor Animal Shelter at the State of the

County

Republican Can-didate for CE Ed Day at the State of the County Wednesday night.

speech Marks end oF an era For county , CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Scott Vanderhoef's Bipartisan Legacyan op-ed by Ryan Karben

Remember the “Fresh Start for Rockland”?

That was outgoing Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef’s 1993 campaign slogan; the energetic pledge of a school board president who vowed to apply non-political, business savvy to a county government weary from the nasty Demo-cratic primary that forced his incumbent opponent, John T. Grant, from office.As Vanderhoef prepares to deliver his 20th and final “State of the County” message tonight, it’s fair to say the bloom is off the rose. The county’s bond rating is the worst in the state. Its government is ap-proaching dysfunction-- unable to award bus con-tracts, maintain its animal shelter or even agree on a process to dispose of its deficit plagued hospital.The battled to succeed the moderate Republican, who announced last fall he would not seek re-

election, is a race away from his legacy. None of candidates, in either party, speak well of the incum-bent. Two of the candidates, Republican Ed Day and Democrat Ilan Schoenberger, will be among the Legislators in the audience listening to tonight’s address. Probably more eyes will be on them than on Vanderhoef.But despite the county’s notorious fiscal travails, which began long before Vanderhoef’s present term, Rockland voters have kept Vanderhoef at the helm through many political seasons. In his re-elec-tion efforts, he vanquished well regarded state and county legislators and a town supervisor. When he sought a third term in 2001, he had no major party opposition.Wild vagaries in the Republican political brand also never impacted his local reign. Democrats who vigorously opposed Vanderhoef campaigns for Congress, State Senate and Lieutenant Governor supported his re-elections.20 years ago, Vanderhoef energetically promised to run a bi-partisan administration—wise political rhetoric given the huge debate over Democratic Party patronage in that campaign. But it is a prom-ise he kept. Vanderhoef’s administration regularly hired Demo-crats—in his personal office, as his County Attorney and even as his Commissioner of Finance. Sure, it kept political opponents at bay by employing Dem-

ocratic insiders, but it also affirmed Vanderhoef’s commitment to avoiding a highly partisan culture in county government. Republican insiders regularly carped about Democratic hirings, but voters liked the two party approach. Vanderhoef retained a bi-partisan sheen even when the county’s lousy fiscal news dulled his ambitions.That legacy will likely spill over into the admin-istration of his successor, whomever that may be. Meeting the county’s immense fiscal challenges will require bipartisan consensus. Huge departures in county employees over the past few years, and budgetary pressure limiting salaries, will require the next County Executive to search widely, in all parties, for qualified commissioners to help nurse the county back to fiscal health.I first met Vanderhoef at his first State of the County message in 1994. In a chat outside the Legislative Chambers after his speech, he asked me if I was interested in serving on one of the county’s boards and to send in a resume. I responded that he must not know I was a Democrat. “I know exactly who you are and what your party is,” he responded. “I’m not running a partisan gov-ernment.”And he hasn’t.

cont. page 12

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג 12

 

Tuesday, April 9th 8:30pm – 9:45pm

Squeezing Gently: How to Get the Most from Children

Interactive instructional session presented by Eliezer Vilinsky, followed by open questions and discussion

 

the Chinuch Forum is a division of Educational Support Services, Inc.

Eliezer Vilinsky, M.A. Miryam Vilinsky, M.Ed.

Call 426-3673 or visit www.TReaching.com for more information.    

For all parents and/or educators men and women, separate seating

$5.00 participation fee  

Location: Cong. Bais Torah Library

89 Carlton Road W. Suffern, NY

 

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make difficult decisions. My administration has done just that. Through early retirements, not filling vacant jobs and layoffs, we have cut staffing levels to the lowest level in more than 30 years – and we now serve many more residents with more programs and services. Furthermore, over the past year, we have successfully negotiated contracts with three County unions that included salary freezes, deferred payments and increased health con-tributions for new employees. We’ve institut-ed tight spending controls on all departments and have significantly cut the use of o v e r -time. Less than three weeks ago, we closed on the sale of a County-owned building on Main Street in Spring Valley for $4.2 million. We are also in the process of selling the Chase building on New Hempstead Road for $4 million and expect to finalize that sale this spring. Thank you for working with me to once again ask the State to give us permission to borrow money to pay down our deficit. In 2013, we have stabilized the County’s finances. The deficit reduction bond and the creation of an LDC are the final pieces necessary to return our County to fiscal health. Unfunded MandatesUnfortunately, as we improve our finances, the state keeps requiring us to pay bigger bills for programs and services that we have no control over and must provide. New York State requires counties to pay for more than 40 state-mandated programs using local tax dollars. After we worked together last year to success-fully cut spending and increase revenues, we got hit with a whopping $33 million increase in unfunded state-mandated costs for 2013, including $16.7 million in increased pension costs, $5.6 million in increases at the County jail and $2.7 million in Medicaid increases. It’s frustrating and disheartening. My fear is that without comprehensive and substan-tial mandate reform, years from now Coun-ty government will be reduced to not much more than a provider of Medicaid and special education services.Throughout my years in office, I’ve tried to be a strong, consistent voice for state man-date reform. I hope you will continue to work with me to educate our residents, community groups and state lawmakers about the unfair burden of unfunded state mandates and the need for immediate reform. A 2 percent prop-erty tax cap – approximately $1.6 million – is simply unattainable when it comes along with $33 million in extra expenses. We must continue to work with the New York State As-sociation of Counties (NYSAC) and County leaders around the state to advocate for sig-nificant mandate reform.Serving Our ResidentsAs we dealt with financial challenges over the past year, the quiet, yet critical work of our County workers went on. Our workers filled potholes, processed passports, regis-tered people to vote, collected delinquent child support, gave out flu shots, cared for Alzheimer’s patients, prosecuted criminals, guarded prisoners at the jail, made sure home contractors were licensed, inspected restau-rants, maintained our parks, helped veterans apply for services, cleaned up from devastat-ing storms, responded to emergencies, and so much more.And while our County workers handled the day-to-day business of County government, we’ve taken on some bigger projects as well.

The reconstruction of New Hempstead Road is the largest capital project ever undertaken by our County Highway Department. When the project is completed this fall, we will have a wider, safer street from the Palisades Inter-state Parkway to Main Street in New City. The new road will also improve the look of our County seat with new sidewalks and dec-orative streetlights, which are consistent with the New City revitalization. We have also completed construction of a new $8 million Radio Communications Cen-ter at the Fire Training Center. The radio room is being outfitted with the County’s new interoperable radio communications system. The $30 million system has been in develop-ment for about five years and operates with 10 communication towers throughout the County. The new system is up and running and being tested. We expect to be fully op-erational by July. For the first time ever, our fire, police and EMS will be able to easily communicate with one another on a dedicated County channel in an emergency.In addition, we will be revisiting plans for a new Highway garage, which was shelved in 2008. It simply does not make sense to have expensive equipment like snow plows and sanders sitting out in the open, unshielded from the elements. We have offered to let the Hi Tor Animal Care Center build a new animal shelter on County-owned land. It is not the piece of parkland that they requested, but if the Hi Tor Board of Directors is willing to negotiate in good faith, we believe we can find a solution that is agreeable to both the County and Hi Tor. We are also working with the President of Rockland Community College, Dr. Cliff Wood, to explore the possibility of building residence halls on the Suffern campus. State-wide, 17 out of 30 community colleges now have residence halls. Based on changing de-mographics for Rockland, enrollment at RCC is expected to decline in the future, which would inevitably lead to cuts in programs and classes at the college. The County is interest-ed in constructing residence halls because it is believed that dormitories on campus would stabilize enrollment and become an important revenue source for RCC.As we move ahead with modernizing facili-ties, we are also updating and improving bus services. For example, we are installing elec-tronic fare boxes on TOR buses, streamlining fare types and making the transition to swipe cards. A solar-powered bus shelter is now being tested and we plan to upgrade five to 10 shelters each year to provide illuminated information for customers. The TRIPS fleet will soon include smaller, more efficient and accessible vehicles and we are exploring a pi-lot taxi program for seniors who use TRIPS. In addition, we are studying ways to reduce operating costs, including route improve-ments and alternative fuels. The biggest project about to get underway is the $3.9 billion construction of a new Tappan Zee Bridge. This, of course, is a state project, but the County has been very involved. I voted in support of this project as a member of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) only after the Governor responded to concerns that I shared with the County Executives in Westchester and Put-nam about a lack of mass transit on the new bridge.We received assurances from Governor Cuo-mo that there would be dedicated bus lanes on the bridge from the start – an idea I discussed during last year’s Message to the Legislature. Governor Cuomo also agreed to construct a bridge that has the capacity to add Bus Rapid Transit or Commuter Rail Transit in the fu-

ture. In addition, the Governor has set up a Mass Transit Task Force, which I am proud to serve on with Chairwoman Cornell. We were fortunate to have our Commissioner of Planning and Public Transportation, Tom Vanderbeek – an engineer with a lot of ex-perience in the private sector – serve on the Selection Committee, which reviewed and evaluated the construction proposals and rec-ommended that Tappan Zee Constructors be chosen as the contractor to build the bridge.Our team will continue to stay involved. We aim to have a new, safer bridge constructed with mass transit capability, affordable tolls and minimal impact on our residents and the environment. I’ve already met with Tappan Zee Constructors in my office to discuss our priorities. Economic DevelopmentThe construction of a new TZ bridge will be a boon to the local economy and bring lots of new jobs for our residents. Meanwhile the Rockland Economic Devel-opment Corporation (REDC) and the Indus-trial Development Agency (IDA) have been busy at work – both with new leaders this past year. Last March, the IDA announced its new Executive Director Steve Porath and in April the REDC announced its appointment of Mi-chael Di Tullo as President and CEO. Both have had an exciting first year on the job. I signed off on IDA incentives that lured two major companies to Rockland in 2012. Ray-mour and Flanigan moved its distribution cen-ter into the former Dress Barn headquarters in Montebello, bringing 300 jobs to Rockland. I’m proud to announce tonight that Raymour and Flanigan has committed to investing an-other $10 million at the site to create a “Super Regional Distribution Center.”By the holiday shopping season at the end of this year, the Shops at Nanuet should be com-pleted. The development at the former Nan-

uet Mall is described as a “vibrant, open-air, town center with brand new shopping, din-ing and entertainment options.” The Shops at Nanuet will bring about 1,000 new jobs to Rockland. We’re working on other projects as well. The REDC has an action plan, which includes us-ing the newly-formed Real Estate Council to showcase prime business properties in Rock-land. We look forward to continuing to work with the REDC and the IDA in our combined efforts to attract and retain more businesses in Rockland. Outreach to ResidentsWe have had a very busy and productive year in County government. Unfortunately, many residents don’t realize all the programs and services our County government provides for them. That’s why we will be showcasing our services this Sunday at the third annual County Government Day – from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rockland Community College. It’s done in conjunction with Youthfest so our de-partments will have youth-friendly activities for children, while providing information to parents about our many services. In another effort to reach out to our residents, we have formalized our Speaker’s Bureau to make it easier for schools and community groups to have County workers address them on a variety of topics. We’ve always gone out to the community to speak, but now it’s easier than ever for schools and groups to re-quest a speaker. We’ve created one form that is available on the homepage of our website and can be e-mailed to us. Schools and com-munity groups can request a topic and we’ll make the rest of the arrangements for them. We are also very proud of the County’s new website which was unveiled last year. Rock-landgov.com has a brand new look and a much more user-friendly format. Special thanks to

speech Marks end oF an era For countyFROM PAGE 11

cont. page 14

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013 13דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג

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THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג 14

Denis Troy and his team at MIS for designing the new site, getting it up and running, and training staff in our departments to update it themselves. The new website allows residents to quickly and easily access all sorts of information and download forms. It’s a lot more convenient for residents than having to call or stop by a County office.The new website was a lifeline for residents in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. We posted criti-cal emergency information on a special Storm Up-date page and were constantly updating it. While many residents didn’t have electricity in the days that followed, they accessed information on their smart phones, tablets and laptops. The devices were charged at warming centers, at work or at the homes of family and friends.We also used the New York Alert System, Facebook and Twitter to keep our residents informed and to encourage conversations about what grocery stores were open and what gas stations were pumping gas.Department of the YearSuperstorm Sandy was one of the most devastating storms in Rockland’s history. Hurricane force winds brought down numerous trees and wires. Immedi-ately after the storm, 75 percent of our roads were blocked and about 90 percent of homes were with-out electricity. Many homes and businesses still had no power more than one week later. Residents were forced to sit in long lines to purchase gas for their vehicles and generators.Stony Point, Piermont, Nyack and Haverstraw were particularly hard hit by the unprecedented Hudson River tidal surge and numerous homes were de-stroyed. Our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated to coordinate the response to Super-storm Sandy for two weeks – longer than ever before. The Office of Fire and Emergency Services – under the direction of Director Gordon Wren – coordinated the County’s response to Superstorm Sandy. Our re-sponse included setting up an emergency shelter at Rockland Community College, deploying several re-sponse and rescue teams and distributing state assets such as National Guard Units, generators, pumps and barriers. In the aftermath of the storm, the Office of Fire and Emergency Services worked closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to open

a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at Provident Park Baseball Stadium to help Rockland residents apply for di-saster assistance. In recognition of their impressive re-sponse and recovery efforts in the af-termath of Superstorm Sandy, it is my pleasure to announce tonight that the recipient of the 2012 Department of the Year is the Office of Fire and Emergen-cy Services. Congratulations to Gor-don Wren and his team for fulfilling the mission of County government. Superstorm Sandy AftermathWe continue to review the storm re-sponse and I recently spoke to the Mo-reland Commission, as did Gordon Wren. The Moreland Commission was established by Governor Cuomo to in-vestigate New York’s power utilities with respect to Hurricane Sandy and several other major storms. I was espe-cially critical of Orange and Rockland Utilities lack of communication with its customers, who were desperate to find out when their electricity would return. We’ve suggested that the utility im-prove communications, use an incident command system, provide a key deci-sion maker to be stationed at our EOC and have utility crews partnered with municipal highway crews so that roads can be more quickly cleared of trees in the aftermath of a storm. There were so many emergency re-

sponders who responded heroically as the storm lashed out at our County. The Stony Point Fire De-partment and Piermont Fire Department were out in the middle of the night in floodwaters rescuing resi-dents who were trapped in homes and vehicles. Our community pulled together in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Numerous organizations reached out to help the victims of the storm, but there are a few I would particularly like to recognize and thank for their efforts. The Stony Point Conference Cen-ter housed and fed those who were left homeless, without being fully reimbursed. The North Rock-land Business Association aggressively raised funds to help victims of the storm and the Piermont Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary set up a shelter in Pier-mont.Tonight, I also want to recognize: all of the first re-sponders who worked the night of Superstorm Sandy to keep us safe; all of the road crews who cleared our roads of fallen trees in the aftermath of the storm; all of the local officials who checked up on their resi-dents and worked tirelessly as they dealt with un-imaginable loss and destruction; all of the County workers who worked around the clock manning the EOC; and the County workers who kept government services running in the aftermath of Superstorm San-dy. Let’s remember that many of these first respond-ers, officials and County workers were helping others while they were also dealing with damage to their homes, no heat or electricity at home or work, and no childcare with schools unexpectedly closed for one week. But through it all they did their jobs admirably and without complaint, serving the residents or our County. They all make us proud to be Rocklanders.De Flumere Award At the height of Superstorm Sandy, a tree crushed a house on Robin Street in Pearl River, tragically kill-ing 51-year-old Jeffrey Chanin, a loving father and husband, who is greatly missed by his Pearl River community. The rescue of Jeffrey’s wife and teenage daughters was heroic. I am awarding the prestigious Rockland County Medal of Valor to a brave team of first responders who worked in extremely dangerous conditions. They are indicative of the response by so many emer-gency workers during this crisis. When the first re-sponders arrived at the house, wind gusts were in ex-cess of 60 miles an hour, electrical wires were down and arching, and tree branches continued to fall. The rescue operation was very challenging. The tree had crashed through the house, trapping victims on all levels. Structural support for the house was se-verely compromised and the first responders needed to tunnel their way through debris to reach the vic-tims. Jeffrey’s wife, Lise, and two of his daughters were injured and brought to a local hospital. If not for the dedication, knowledge and professionalism each agency provided during this heartbreaking event, the outcome could have been even more tragic. ConclusionAt the beginning of tonight, I was reminiscing about where we have been and the experiences we have shared over the years. What the past has taught us is that we are capable of remarkable accomplishments. When difficulties befall us, we come together to sup-port each other. We are resilient. And so we look to the future. It has been a pleasure to serve the residents of Rock-land for the last 19 years. For the next 10 months, I will be working as hard as ever to complete the im-portant work we have begun. I look not only to the end of this year, but beyond. Rockland County is my home, and no matter what the future holds, I will always want the best for this great County and all of its residents. G-d bless you and good night.

HEALTH NEWS

2

1

3

Source: Virologist Vincent Racaniello, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University; “Principles of Virology” Graphic: Rick Tuma and Adam Zoll, Chicago Tribune © 2010 MCT

Health Matters

Researchers believe that chronic fatigue syndrome and other maladies are linked to a retrovirus called XMRV.

How a retrovirus alters a cell and multiplies

A closer look at retroviruses

Retrovirus’s genetic information (RNA) is duplicated in DNA form and inserted into the cell’s DNA, permanently altering it; new retroviruses are assembled

New retroviruses leave cell

Retrovirus enters a human cell

Chronic fatigue syndrome• A crippling unexplained fatigue that persists for longer than six months• No lab tests exist to diagnose the disorder• Cause is unknown, but XMRV is latest pathogen to be identified as a possible factor

Unlike other viruses, a retrovirus replicates by inserting genetic information into the DNA of cells, which then produce more retroviruses

Nucleuscontaining

DNA

Diseases caused by retroviruses• AIDS• Leukemia • Lymphomas• Other cancers

speech Marks end oF an era For countyFROM PAGE 12

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013 15דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג

Residents of thirteen declared counties may apply for FEMA disaster assistance through March 29, 2013

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo an-nounced last week that the deadline for residents living in one of the thirteen disaster-declared counties to register for FEMA assistance has been extended to March 29, 2013. The previ-ous deadline was February 27, 2013.

Federal disaster assistance for individu-als and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. Residents in the following counties are eligible for assistance: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Richmond, Rockland, Westchester, Suffolk, Queens, Orange, Putnam, Sul-livan and Ulster.

“It is clear that many New Yorkers im-pacted by Hurricane Sandy are still in need and must have access to disaster assistance and resources to help them get back on their feet,” Governor Cuo-mo said. “This extension from FEMA will provide impacted residents with more

time to get help so they can rebuild as soon as possible.”

The state’s request also included a 30-day extension for individuals and busi-nesses to apply to the Small Business Administration for lowered-interest loans.

Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart-phone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

The SBA Disaster Customer Service Center toll-free number is: 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

FEMA and SBA representatives are available to answer questions at each Disaster Recovery Center. To find the nearest disaster recovery center, use the locator at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or, with a tablet or smartphone, go to m.fema.gov.

You may also text “DRC” and your Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA). For example, if you lived in Staten Island, you would text: DRC 10301. Or call 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585).

RCDC Housing DePaRtMentThe following information is provided to the community by the RCDC Housing Department as a public service

FORECLOSURE COUNSELING

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then give us a call to find out if you are eligible for theNew York StateWEATHERIZATION Program

Weatherization is a New York State funded program open to income eligible homeownersand renters. If eligible, you would receive a home energy audit to determine how yourhome’s efficiency could be improved. We replace windows and doors, insulate attics andwalls (all determined at your audit) as well as do overall measures to better airseal yourhome. Weatherization works! Call today for an application.

RCDC Housing, Inc. at 845-352-1400 ext. 3240

Programmable Thermostats for Consumers-Did You Know?The average household spends more than $2,200 a year on energy bills - nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling. Homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings.

A programmable thermostat helps make it easy for you to save by offering four pre-programmed settings to regulate your home's temperature in both summer and winter - when you are home, asleep, or away. The pre-programmed settings that come with programmable thermostats are intended to deliver savings without sacrificing comfort. Depending on your family's schedule, you can see significant savings by sticking with those settings or adjust them as appropriate for your family. The key is to establish a program that automatically reduces heating and cooling in your home when you don't need as much.

Governor Cuomo Announces FEMA Disaster Assistance Deadline Extended

Human activity causes most wildfires. Here are some steps you can take around your home to prevent or retard the advance of a fire. Observe evacuation orders and donÕt endanger yourself by trying to defend your home from fire. Some tips to make your home safer:

Source: Texas Forest Service Graphic: Dale Roe, Don Tate II, Austin American-Statesman © 2012 MCT

How to protect your home from wildfires

Remove branches overhanging the area of your home, especially near windows; maintain space between the crowns of trees

Connect garden hoses to faucets for firefighters to use or to turn on sprinklers as you evacuate

Store safety-approved gasoline containers and other combustibles away from occupied structures; storage unit should be made of noncombustible materials

Keep combustible items, including firewood, wooden picnic tables, boats and stacked lumber, safely away from structures

Obey outdoor burning bans; burning leaves, brush, household trash and other debris during dry or windy conditions is one of the most frequent causes of wildfires

Keep roof and gutters free of leaves and other flammable debris; loose shingles could expose wood to fire, so be sure to maintain roof regularly

Keep propane gas tanks far enough away from structures so that their valves can be shut off in case of fire; keep valves facing away from structures; the area near the tank should be kept clear of flammable vegetation

Keep lawns, shrubs and trees trimmed, pruned and watered; keep a strip of land around your house free of trees, shrubs and other combustibles so embers wonÕt endanger your home

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג 16

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Time to Change Your Clocks and Check Your Emergency

Supply Kit PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE ROCKLAND DEPT. OF HEALTHDaylight savings time begins on Sunday, March 10, and the Rockland County Depart-ment of Health reminds you to change your clocks and take time to check your emer-gency supply kit. Is it missing any items? Is anything out-of-date, leaking or damaged?If you haven’t created an emergency supply kit yet, now is the time to do it! Have at least a three-day supply of food and water stored

in your home, with at least one gallon of water per person per day. Choose foods that don’t need to be refrigerated and are not high in salt. Remember your pets! They need their own food and water. Your emergency supply kit should also contain flashlights, a manual can opener, a radio, batteries and copies of important documents. Depending on your family’s needs, you may also need other sup-plies, such as contact lens solution or diapers.If it costs too much for you to buy every-thing at once, pick up one or two items every time you go to the grocery store. Stock up on canned vegetables or batteries when there is a sale. Bulk “club” stores can also help you save money on your supplies, especially if you split a case with a friend, co-worker or

neighbor, who can serve as your “prepared-ness buddy.” Once you’ve gotten your emer-gency supply kit together, put it where you won’t be tempted to “borrow” from it the next time you run out of batteries or need beans for a recipe. Remember: your emer-gency supply kit is for emergencies!Of course, this information is good year-round: you don't have to wait for the clock change to create or update your emergency supply kit. And as always, don’t forget to change the batteries in your smoke and car-bon monoxide detectors when you change your clocks, and check to make sure the de-vices are in good working order.

C H o C o L AT E C o M PA N Y U S E D N o N E X I S T E N T FA C To RY To AVo I D M I L L I o N S I N TA X E SIndian tax authorities have accused Cad-bury Plc of misleading them about pro-duction from a new factory to avoid about $46 million in taxes, a government official said, adding to the chocolate maker's tax woes in the country.The case comes as India is aggressively pursuing tax claims against multinationals as it seeks to rein in its budget deficit, with Royal Dutch Shell, Vodafone Plc and LG Electronics Inc among numerous firms in-volved in disputes.Cadbury set up a factory in 2005 in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh to take advantage of a 10-year "tax holi-day" scheme for companies that started production by March 31, 2010, said a se-nior official at the tax department.The company, now part of U.S. snacks firm Mondelez International Inc, in 2009 told authorities it had set up another plant next to the existing one that should be also be exempted from tax until 2019, said the of-ficial at the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence.However, the second plant was not opera-tional as of March 31, 2010, when the tax holiday scheme ended, said the official, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media. It begin commercial production a couple of months later.A report on the Wall Street Journal quoted a former Cadbury executive as saying an expansion of the existing factory had been misrepresented as the construction of a second plant for the tax exemption. The tax official did not comment on the Journal's report.

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013 17דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג

מאנסי יצ"ו"תולדות אברהם יצחק"בית המדרש

בהנהלת הגה"צ הרב אב"ד שליט"א -מרן אדמו"ר עט"ר שליט"א בנשיאות כ"ק

בעזהשי"ת יום ב' לסדר "ויעל עליו את העולה" )ויקה"פ( כ"ב אדר תשע"ג לפ"ק

בצער רב וביגון קודר ובלב קרועאנו משתתפים בצערו של האי גברא רבא

מחשובי מתפללי בית מדרשינו

ידידינו הרבני החשוב

שליט"אחנני' יום טוב גלויבער הרה"ח ר'

ונוו"ב האה"ח תחי' וכל משפחתם הרוממה

המתאבלים מרה על פטירת בנם / אחיהם ע"ה רייזלוזו' האה"ח נחמןהרה"ח ר'

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מנחם ציון ובונה ירושלם, הוא ינחמכם ש ,תנחומים נטפי אנו משגריםובזה בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים, ולעולם לא ישמע עוד שוד ושבר בכפליים,

ומעתה ישרה רק שמחה כל ימיכם,ירדפוכם טוב וחסד בגבוליכם, ואך ,ויאמר די למכותיכםעמוד לימינכם, יו והמקום יהי' בעזריכם,במעונכם,

ויקוצו וירננו מהרה שוכני עפר בביאת גואלינו ,המות לנצח ויה"ר שיבלע ומרן מלכינו בראשינו במהרה בימינו

המשתתפים בצערכם, ומשגרים תנחומינו הנאמנים הנהלת הביהמ"ד מתפללי הביהמ"ד

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג 18

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The largest animal on EarthMarine-mammal researchers photographed several blue whales off Washington state Ð only the third documented sighting in our region in 50 years.

© 2011 MCTSource: acsonline.orgGraphic: Mark Nowlin, The Seattle Times

Blue whale Balaenoptera musculus

Gray whaleEschrichtius robustus

Length 32 ft. (10 m)Weight 8-9 tons

Length 45-46 ft. (14 m)Weight 30-40 tons

95 ft. (29 m)

100 ft.(30.5 m)

Length Southern Hemisphere blue whales reach lengths of 90-100 ft. (27-30.5 m) Northern Hemisphere blue whales average 75 to 80 ft. (23-24 m)

Weight About 150 tons

Seattle light-rail carLength 95 ft. (29 m) Weight 52 tons

OrcaOrcinus orca

Out of workThe number filing new jobless benefits fell slightly last week but remained above levels posted earlier this year.

Week ending April 14

3.32 million

Week ending April 21388,000

© 2012 MCTSource: U.S. Department of Labor

NOTE: Report on continuing claims lags initial claims by one week

Õ08 Õ09 Õ10 Õ11

Continuing to claim unemployment insuranceInitial claim

5

6

3

1

4

2

THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013 19דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג

Like Rockland, Westchester County has a 17 member legislature but each Westchester County Legislator repre-sents 37,500 more residents than Rock-land Legislators. Nassau County Legis-lators represent 52,000 more residents than Rockland Legislators and Suffolk County Legislators represent 64,600 more residents than Rockland Legisla-tors.“Rockland County is out of step with other counties and we need a better structured government. This is a neces-sary step to getting Rockland back on the right track,” said David Fried. “On the first day of my campaign, I pledged that I will immediately cut a quarter-million dollars in senior level executive branch salary costs, including my own salary. The County Legislature must be a willing partner in restructuring county government and saving taxpayers’ dol-lars.” Rockland County has the lowest credit rating in the State of New York with an estimated deficit of $100 mil-lion. A smaller legislature is consistent with other New York county govern-ments, is cost-effective, reduces politi-cal impacts on our system, and makes us more efficient. Republican candidate Ed Day support-ed Fried’s idea of a smaller Legislature. Fellow Democratic candidate for Coun-ty Executive, and long lime legislator Ilan Schoenburgwr called the move to shrink the legislature political hype. “I have tried to get rid of the 17, but its not easy. Ramapo, which has about a third of the population, would appear over represented in that type of redistricting scenario and that would create prob-lems for the County.”If elected, upon taking office, Fried will immediately introduce legislation to eliminate six seats in the Rockland County Legislature. If approved by the Legislature, the measure would be a ballot item in the November 2014 elec-

tion. If the Legislature doesn’t approve the measure, Fried said he will person-ally lead an effort as County Executive to gather petitions from Rocklanders to bypass the Legislature and get this item on the ballot so that the people could decide.The Legislature would need to redraw its districts after the public approves his proposal to reduce the Legislature from 17 to 11 members. Fried indicated that upon legislative reapportionment he would closely study the new district lines to identify any partisan efforts to gerrymander the new districts. He said, “I will veto any partisan redistricting plan that is presented to me. This is not about Democrats or Republicans; my goal is to protect residents, families, and taxpayers from inefficiency and unnecessary expenditures.” Fried not-ed that a redistricting plan that would disenfranchise any community, focus on political party strengths and weak-nesses, or disproportionately give legis-lative representation to one municipal-ity at the expense of another would be subject to an executive veto.In December Fried also outlined a lean-er and effective government. His plan included:· Minimum 10% reduction in salary for the County Executive, appointees, and commissioners; “[As a County Legislator] I voted against my own pay raise…and I will continue that approach as County Executive”· “By creating policies and incen-tives to show prospective job creators and business taxpayers that they don’t have to look to New Jersey anymore . . . I will make sure that Rockland is open for business again. My economic de-velopment team and I will partner with our towns and villages to fill store fronts and turn vacant, run-down, commercial buildings into engines of opportunity.”· Working with Albany and Rock-land’s state legislative delegation; “I will personally supervise my commis-sioners so we improve how we admin-ister state mandated services in order to meet our obligations intelligently.”

FRIED from page 1

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THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג 20

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THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013 21דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג

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THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג 22

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THE ADVOCATE March 8, 2013 23דער אדוואקאט ויקהל תשע״ג

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A PROJECT OF OFA OF ROCKLAND COUNTY

If you know you'll be somewhere for a few years—maybe between three and five—you'll want some resilient, quality furniture, but obvi-ously not everything. If you're mov-ing into a house you plan to live in for ten years or more, you should be comfortable buying furniture that you expect to last the long haul, and that hopefully you won't have to replace every year or so. Similar-ly, even if you move frequently but know you'll stay in the same area, make that your multi-year plan and buy some quality pieces you know you'll always use, no matter where you go.

Finally, when we say making a furniture shopping plan, we mean that. Don't just run out and buy all the furniture you'll need at one time. It can be tempting to go to Ikea and load up your car with every-thing you could possibly want, but choose essentials first and bring them home before anything else. Once the essentials, like a bed, couch, desk, and things you know you must have are in your space, then you can decide whether you need anything more. Remember, just because you have room for it doesn't mean you need it.

avoid Showrooms unless there's Something you Must

have

When it comes to big showrooms, the kind where you eventually have to custom order your couch or din-ing room set from a salesperson or make an appointment just to visit, we'd suggest avoiding them alto-gether. There are some exceptions, largely for discount showrooms and wholesalers where you can shop freely and only place an order if you need to or they don't have the specific model you want in-house. However, the furniture showroom experience is usually built from top to bottom to get you to spend as much money as possible on prod-ucts that aren't worth that money. Think "used car lot," just with din-ing room sets and custom-order couches.

Unless there's something very spe-cific you want and have to have, or your budget allows for it, don't bother with them. You can do your research online to find the perfect piece of furniture first, and then head into a showroom if you must. Walking into one blind however, armed only with your budget and your measurements, will inevitably result in you sitting across from a salesperson who wants to sell you on "nanotech stain resistant treat-ments" for the couch that you're al-ready not getting for the sale price.

Instead, if you know you really want a dark wood dining room table that seats six, shop online at those pop-

ular stores' websites and see if you can order there. Compare pricing between wholesalers and show-room stores. See if you can order direct from manufacturers. Your money will go farther, and your wal-let will thank you.

Shop for used bargains, but exercise Caution

Of course, if you're shopping for quality, old, or hardwood pieces but don't have a lot of money to spend,

you can do better than discount furniture stores or expensive show-rooms altogether. Consider buying used, from auctions, estate sales, thrift stores, or even on the web. There are definitely bargains to be had, and especially with estate sales and thrift stores you can fre-quently find beautiful, well cared-for items at decent prices.

When it comes to buying used fur-niture however, make sure that you examine each piece carefully for wear and tear, damage, and any signs of insects or pests. Sadly, bedbugs and other pests can make their homes in the cracks and nooks in even old wooden furniture, and hitch a ride home with you if they're coming from a house or apartment where they used to thrive. Make sure you carefully evaluate the sur-roundings and the seller before you take anything used home with you. For some people, even a great bar-gain isn't worth that risk, so you'll have to make that call.

Ultimately, cheap furniture can be worth buying, as long as you know why you're buying it. If it fits, it's functional and not aesthetic, and you understand you're trading du-rability for cash, then it's a good idea. Finding a used diamond in the rough is a great way to score qual-ity furniture on a budget. The only place we wholeheartedly say used furniture is not worth it is if you're trying to save money on something you use every day. Furniture that's essential to your health or comfort is worth your money.

Armed with a firm budget and a plan for your space, you can't go wrong. Shop around, buy your essentials first, and remember, cheap doesn't mean low-quality. Just keep an eye out for a great deal and you'll be fine. Good luck!

Sincerely,Advocate

FuRNItuRe buyINg tIpS

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