New York State Attorney General’s Guide To Property Owners Trying To Recover & Rebuild From Irene

Includes Tips On How To Prioritize & Also How To Avoid Scams

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today issued a guide to New Yorkers recovering and rebuilding after Hurricane Irene, including tips on how to avoid scams as they restore and rebuild their homes and businesses. The Attorney General’s guide includes tips to protect consumers from scams related to home repair, clean up services and tree removal and he’s urging individuals who believe they have been scammed to contact his office at 800-771-7755.

   “New Yorkers have already suffered tremendous losses and I will fight to make sure they are not victimized again by unscrupulous individuals,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “As hurricane and flood victims work to get their lives and property back in order, it’s important to know how to identify, avoid and report scammers.”

   Recovering from the Storm: Property Cleanup and Repair

 Repairing buildings and driveways, clearing downed trees — you may need to hire professionals to complete these jobs. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

        Check with your insurance company.

 Before making any decisions, be clear about what will be covered and any steps you will need to take.

       Ask for references, check for licenses.

Ask about local work contractors have done. Talk to  the people who hired them; look at the jobs if you can.  Make sure the contractor has any license required by  your local government.

       Estimates are important: get it in writing.

Ask that all estimates for work be in writing and include  a description of the material to be used. Be clear that  you will not pay for work done that is not agreed upon  in writing. Verify that the material used is the same as  described in the estimate. Make sure any changes to the  estimate are in writing.

       Use a contractor with an address you can verify.

If your contractor is “here today and gone tomorrow,”  you may find it difficult to enforce the guarantee.

       Never pay the full price up front.

Establish a payment schedule and adhere to it. Withhold  final payment until the entire project is completed  to your satisfaction and all required inspections and  certificates of occupancy are finalized.

       Always be sure the contractor has valid insurance.

If a worker is injured, or damage is caused on your  property, you could be held liable if your contractor  does not have the required insurance.

       Check with your town or city for required permits.

Don’t let a contractor work without the necessary  permits. Failing to get approvals can delay your project,  or prevent you from occupying a completed building.

Price Gouging

   New York State law forbids those selling essential consumer goods and services — like food, water, gas, generators, batteries and flashlights, and services such as storm clean-up and disposal — from charging excessive prices during an abnormal disruption of the market. If you believe you are a victim of price gouging, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Helpline at 800-771-7755 or find a complaint form online at: www.ag.ny.gov

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will hold the Twenty-Sixth Annual New York State Beach Cleanup in cooperation with the American Littoral Society.

The International Coastal Cleanup is a global effort under the international umbrella of the Ocean Conservancy in which over 100 countries participate. The State Parks System will hold the cleanup at 13 individual park locations.

All parks will have their cleanup Saturday, September 17. Parks where cleanups will take place include Camp Hero, Hither Hills, Montauk Point, Wildwood, Belmont Lake (rain date will be September 24), Caumsett (September 18 rain date) and Heckscher.

Other parks holding a cleanup day will be Hempstead Lake (September 18 rain date), Jones Beach (September 18 rain date), Nissequogue River, Orient Beach (the cleanup also will take place a second day on September 18), Robert Moses and Sunken Meadow.

If you would like to be involved in helping protect the seashore, become a volunteer. Certificates will be provided for each participant. For further details, contact the park you plan to visit directly.

PARKS

 Fall Harvest And Seafood Festival

   The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announces the Eighth Annual Fall Harvest and Seafood Festival. The event will take place Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18 at Captree State Park in Babylon from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

   The festival offers fun for the entire family. Adults can enjoy the sale of fresh Long Island produce and seafood specialties, live music and various other vendors. Activities for children include famous and very popular crab races, boat rides, interactive pirate shows, pony rides and so much more. All activities are free although there will be an $8.00 vehicle use fee in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Long Island State Park Region.

   Captree State Park is home of New York State’s largest fishing fleet. Other features at Captree include comfortable fishing piers, a large refreshment stand and restaurant featuring a wide variety of popular dining choices  and snacks, popular picnic areas, a bait and tackle shop and comfort stations.

   Captree State Park is located on Ocean Drive, exit 40 off Robert Moses Causeway. It can be reached by way of either Southern State Parkway, Ocean Parkway, Sunrise Highway or Montauk Highway.

Plan Auto Show

   The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, in cooperation with the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society, are hosting the Tenth Annual Show and Swap Meet at Field #4 of Robert Moses State Park. This event will take place Sunday, September 25 from 10:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. with a rain date of Sunday, October 2.

   Event features will include live music, vendors and a 50/50 raffle. Trophies will be awarded to the first, second and third place vehicles for each class. The first 400 cars to register will receive dash plaques and all pre-registered car owners will be given a delicious free lunch. The fee for the car show will be $10.00 for each registered automobile, if registered prior to Saturday, September 17. Day of show car registrations will cost $15.00 and will take place between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. There will be a $5.00 donation fee for spectators and children under the age of twelve will be admitted without charge.

   The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation operates 178 state parks and 35 historic sites which host 56 million visitors each year.

The East Rockaway Recreation Center will provide residents with a wide array of autumn programs beginning for children with ‘Separation’ September 12 through December 16. These are structured classes for children to experience without their caregiver. Monday or Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Fee.

‘Enrichment for Threes’ will help reinforce and strengthen skills introduced in a nursery program. Fee. This program operates from September 14 through December 14 Wednesdays from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m. . . ‘Enrichment for Fours’ will enhance and expand pre-writing and pre-reading being taught in a pre-school setting. Mondays from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m.

Flag Football for grades one through eight on Saturday or Sunday at John Street starting September 24 through November 20. Fee. . . Bowling will take place Friday afternoons at RVC Lanes from September 16 through December 16. Fee. The program includes ten weeks of bowling, tee shirt, cash card for bowling alley, pizza party and trophies.

Bricks 4 Kidz takes place Tuesday or Friday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a choice of two programs for grades K to 6 at the East Rockaway Senior Center. Fee. . . Game Nights for grades four through six and seven through nine; Friday nights at Centre or Rhame Avenue from September 16 through December 16. A donation for the season. . . Movie Night at the John Street Recreation Center Saturday nights for ages 13 to 17 from September 10 to November 5.

Adults will appreciate Zumba Thursdays from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. September 8 to November 10 for ten sessions. Fee. This exercise program takes place at the John Street Recreation Center.

Fitness for Life will take place Mondays from September 12 through November 14 for ten sessions. Fee. Adults will enjoy this physical fitness program at the John Street Recreation Center. . . Men’s Over-18 Basketball is on for Wednesday nights at East Rockaway High School from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. beginning September 14. Fee. . . Women’s Volleyball takes place Wednesday nights at Rhame Avenue from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m.’beginning September 14. Fee. . . Coed Volleyball is on for Monday nights at East Rockaway High School from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. starting September 12. Fee.

By Frank Naudus, Publisher

Congratulations to those responsible for putting on a spectacular Picnic/Barbecue/Fireworks Show Saturday in the heart of Island Park.

Drawing hundreds upon hundreds of local residents and others who traveled considerable distances to enjoy the true spirit of Island Park hospitality, the day and evening enjoyment derived from the many events certainly placed the perfect pink ribbon on this year’s summer season. Although punctuated recently with an eleven inch rainstorm, an earthquake and Hurricane Irene, families, and especially children, seemed to enjoy these rare adventures they were able to experience this summer.

Mayor James Ruzicka told the gathered masses that FEMA stands ready to help at the federal level for those heavily hit by the hurricane with water damages too painful to list. The Village of Island Park is also offering their support and aid wherever they can. The Village’s Department of Sanitation continues to clean each and every road and byway to ensure safe passage around and through Island Park. Village officials and residents alike expressed sincere appreciation to the local fire department for their super-human effort having served as a command center at the firehouse before, during and following the destructive path of the hurricane.

Long Beach Surf Event Brings Out Local Fans

The East Coast and Long Beach specifically will have the world’s attention for two weeks now through September 15 when the Quiksilver Pro New York Surf Competition invades the City by the Sea’s shores.

This will be the initial East Coast world championship surf event and the sixth stop on the ASP 2011 World Tour featuring an incredible $1 million purse to competitors. Never before has such a sizable cash prize been offered in competitive surfing.

Competition will be centered at National Boulevard and the beach along with a number of novel programs for those with interests other than watching surfers riding waves. Scheduled will be demonstrations, films, music and art exhibitions reflecting surfing, skating and snowboarding. These events will take place in both Long Beach and New York City.

Saturday, saw the Quiksilver Pro New York Trials. This event will involved both Long Island surfers as well as a number of international surfing professionals competing to win a $1 million dollar purse.

Labor Day will saw the Robert C. McAvoy Labor Day Five Mile Run. Runners met at the Recreation Center at 8:00 a.m. Runners received tee shirts and awards will were presented.

Thursday through Sunday, September 8 to 11, the Ninth Annual Jazz Festival will take place with performances staged at the library and at a number of local restaurants.

The Fifteenth Annual Michelle O’Neill Volleyball Tournament is set for Saturday, September 10, 9:00 a.m., at Grand Boulevard and the beach. This fundraiser is in memory of the City’s Michelle O’Neill with proceeds benefiting children suffering from cancer. . . The Spirit Rider Regatta will launch Saturday, September 10 with tall ships, yachts and sailboats parading on the ocean at National Boulevard from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

A Health Fair will be sponsored in the Malverne School District by Franklin Hospital, part of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Sunday, October 16. The health program is being held in conjunction with the school district’s Annual 5K Run which is sponsored by the Malverne Rotary Club and the Malverne Educational and Fitness Foundation.

The Health Fair will operate from 8:00 a.m. through noon and will take place at Malverne High School, 80 Ocean Avenue in Malverne. Registration for the 5K Run will begin at 8:00 a.m. across the street at the Howard T. Herber Middle School with the start of the competition set to begin at 9:00 a.m.

The Franklin Hospital Health Fair will offer the public an opportunity to obtain health-related information on a variety of topics, discussions with health care professionals and free medical screenings will be available. Additionally, there will be numerous informational exhibits on health education and prevention such as Stroke and Cancer Awareness, Medication Safety, Pastoral Care, Mental Health, Rehabilitation Medicine and Orthopedics and Nutrition which will include the distribution of food samples.

Screenings will be available for cholesterol and diabetes for those over the age of 18 (no eating 12 hours prior to the fair is recommended although all medications should be taken), blood pressure, glaucoma and hearing. Residents who wish to take advantage of the screenings must register at the screening booth no later than 11:30 a.m. For additional information regarding the Health Fair, call Franklin Hospital’s Community Relations Department at 256-6397.

Entrancing Sounds

The Bard College Conservatory of Music will present So Percussion Sunday, September 18, 3:00 p.m. in the Sosnoff Theater of the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Conservatory Sundays series at the school. Bard College is located in Annandale-on-Hudson and may be reached by calling (845) 758-7412.

Earlier performances were described as ‘Mesmerizing,’ ’‘brilliant’ and’‘consistently impressive.’ Another critique explained, “This extraordinary ensemble of four young percussionists is creating a sensation in the music world . . . A New York City experimental powerhouse.”

By Frank Naudus, Publisher

Old Glory means different things to different individuals but if there is a single defining theme Americans possess when viewing or displaying the American Flag it is love of country and patriotism.

As the symbol of the United States of America and unwavering support in war and peace, our flag is reflective of the pride and joy we’ve experienced during our lives where we are fortunate to live in the land of the free and home of the brave.

Residents who display the flag at their home or business should know that it must be removed no later than dusk (sunrise to sunset) but illuminated when it remains displayed overnight. When storing, it should be neatly folded not haphazardly tossed in a box or bag. If your flag is no longer serviceable, local veteran’s organizations will accept it and dispose of the flag in an honorable flag burning ceremony.

Now, more than ever, it is reassuring and a positive sign of love for country when Old Glory is properly displayed at a commercial business operation or in a private setting along neighborhood streets. When the American Flag is observed gently waving in a light breeze, we have all observed young children or elderly residents take a moment during playing or out for a mid-afternoon stroll to stop for a moment and gaze skyward experiencing the pride and love of being an American. Yes, there are those who wouldn’t invest that moment during a hectic day’s schedule but for those who do, it actually may be the highlight of their day. Think about it and you can almost feel the tingles running up and down your spine.

There are many holidays when average residents believe their flag should be displayed. For those who make it a daily exercise by unveiling their individual appreciation to the millions in uniform during the more than two hundred years since the nation’s birth, they wouldn’t have it any other way. Our red, white and blue waving high and strong. May she endure forever.

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