Advocate News, STAR Fraud Issue by TheAdvocate

Rockland’s Independent Jewish Community Newspaper Since 1985 •

Vol. 28 No. 9 •

26 Adar 5773

FEBRUARY 28 2013

free weekly

Supervisors team up with DA to fight crime Fall back

Chris St. Lawrence, Ramapo, Howard T. Phillips, Haverstraw, Geoffrey Finn Stony Point, Andy Stewart, Orangetown, aim to eliminate sweeping tax fraud and abuse

A. Moeller

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday.

!‫ווארט נישט ביז זןנטאג‬

?‫איר פילט נישט גוט‬

MONSEY FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER IS OPEN

SATURDAY NIGHT

‫מוצאי שבת‬

7:00pm - 9:30pm

For Primary Care & Dental Appointments & Walk-ins Welcome

845-352-6800

40 Robert Pitt Dr. Monsey, NY 10952

photo: Aaron Moeller

Remember to set your clocks back one hour before going to Monsey 845-444-2453 bed Saturday

Ramapo Town Supervisor Chris St. Lawrence (L) with Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe speaking in Ramapo Wednesday

The Senate has confirmed President Obama's pick to run the the U.S. Treasury. Jack Lew's nomination was approved Wednesday on a 71-26 vote. The chairman of the Senate Budget committee praised the nominee, and the vote, in a

FEMA deadline extended to March 29 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 The #1 Judaica source in Rockland 27 Orchard St. 845-352-7792

7:01

5:30

Suspected misuse and those who knowingly “double-dip” STAR exemptions cost New York taxpayers millions each year and will be targeted. Some of these suspicions became apparent after fire fighters responded to calls and became aware of illegal subdivisions. Not only was that a problem, explained the Rockland County Fire Coordinator John Kryger, but it seems that some landlords who obviously are not living in that home, were benefiting from the STAR procont. Page 11 gram.

Jacob Lew, a Shomer Shabbos, Confirmed Monsey Family Medical Center highlights as US Treasury Secretary Soren White, MD Joins the Staff at

cont. Page 19

‫כי תשא‬

Speaking from Ramapo Town Hall, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe and Rockland County town supervisors Wednesday announced a major initiative designed to eliminate sweeping fraud and abuse of the New York State STAR program. (School Tax Relief)Town Supervisors team up with DA to fight crime A recent audit of local homeowners has identified hundreds of cases of improperly or fraudulently claimed STAR exemptions in each of Rockland’s five towns.

Monsey Family Medical Center

The staff at the Monsey Family Medical Center is proud to welcome Dr. Soren White to the Department of Dermatology. “As a community healthcare facility, we feel it is our responsibility to continue to offer the highest quality care”, said Mr. Mendel Hoffman, President CEO. “With the addition of Dr. Soren White to our staff is only one example of the Monsey Family Medical Center’s commitment to have physicians with impeccable reputations on staff.” Dr. White has been in private practice in Manhattan since

1999. “I made the decision to practice in a community medical facility so I may help people who are not able to be seen in a private office setting”, said Dr. White. “I chose the Monsey Family Medical Center because of the high caliber of providers on staff in for more health news see page 6

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

as we go to press

Opponents Of NY Gun Law Gathering In Albany Thousands of opponents of New York’s new gun control law gathered Thursday at the statehouse to lobby lawmakers and rally against measures they say infringe on their constitutional right to bear arms. Two lines in the morning stretched through the underground concourse of Empire State Plaza in downtown Albany, with a mass of demonstrators waiting to pass through checkpoints and metal detectors to enter the Capitol. Several held signs with slogans like, “Don’t tread on me.”

‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

‫תשע״ג‬

Publisher's Desk A Weekly Editorial By:

Mendel Hoffman

ack Lew has become the U.S. Treasury secretary. In the past year he has become one of the closest people to President Barack Obama. He also played a crucial role in the negotiations with Republicans during the recent fiscal cliff crisis. These talks actually won him the post.

Lew is also a Shomer Shabbos. In and of itself that fact shows the country how Obama's White House is different. The President's cabinet is a diverse mix of race and religious affiliations. Mr. Obama understands the diverse needs of the country and that we all different, yet remain united. That is the strength of the United States. America has always thrived on its freedoms. We should all appreciate what President Obama is doing for all the various religions of this country. The freedom of religion that the Jewish people have enjoyed in this country is to be commended. We wish Mr. Lew much success at his new post in the White House.

“We believe Gov. Cuomo jumped on the bandwagon to become president of the United States,” said Tom Moriarty, a retired New York City police officer from Orange County. He said the criminal laws already on the books should be enforced to the fullest, rather than infringing on people’s Second Amendment rights and guns they have for Dear Editor, hunting and security. As tens of thousands of people have spoken Extra state troopers were on duty. up and written in to the White House, we've Organizers say the afternoon rally will in- heard one message loud and clear: The reficlude an address by National Rifle Asso- nancing process is anything but easy to naviciation President David Keene. Hundreds of gate. people gathered outside by midmorning.

letters to the editor

Rockland Community Development Center Inc. 22 Main Street • Monsey, NY 10952 Tel (845) 770-1950

Fax (845) 746-2203

E-mail: Editor@AdvocateNews.org ******* Mendel Hoffman | President & Publisher Aaron Moeller

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Michael Anderson

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Jason Klien

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********** •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 publisher. 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 advertiser assumes the responsibility for errors in telephone orders. • In-house design: All advertisements designed and prepared by The Advocate are the property of the newspaper and cannot be reproduced without consent of the publisher. • 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.

Even homeowners who have done everything right and made all their payments on time are getting caught up in unnecessary red tape. Sitting down and reading through some of these stories is a powerful reminder of why it’s so important that we get this done right away. One mother in Maryland, raising two teenage boys , wrote in to say that she's working 15 hour days to make her mortgage payments and keep current on her bills. Another family from Illinois is hoping to lower their mortgage payments so they can help pay for school for their kids. One woman in Arkansas called the President’s plan a "no brainer" and talked about how much good it would do for the broader economy. So if you are like these people and think that both you and our economy could stand to benefit from the President’s refinancing plan, give the tool a try, then take a moment to share it with your friends: www.whitehouse.gov/refi

Cuomo's Indecision Cost New York Jobs Dear Editor,

"But by allowing politics to dominate what should have been a business decision, Andrew Cuomo has killed the competitive development of New York's natural gas reserves. "His indecision cost New York jobs, and new onerous regulations will smother the New York hydro-fracking baby in the crib. "While Pennsylvania has 57,000 new jobs and a manufacturing industry revived in part by cheap natural gas, Western and Central New York continue to bleed jobs, and the Southern Tier is merely getting a frustrating taste of 'what might have been' from the spillover from Pennsylvania."

Hon. Alfred J. Weiner (Ret.) Attorney At Law/Mediator

Former Supreme Court Justice/Surrogate Court Judge

• Wills • Estate Planning • Estate Administration • Surrogate Practice 210 Route 303 Valley Cottage 10989 Phone: 845 639 7800 Fax: 845 639 7850

E-mail: aweiner@mkbllp.com

Highlights of a new report by the Federal Reserve on consumer finances, 2007-10, reflects the huge impact of the Great Recession. 2007

"From the start, Andrew Cuomo has tried to have it both ways on hydro-fracking: simultaneously appeasing his radical environmentalist base while ostensibly appearing businessfriendly.

David Laska

Thanks,

Survey: U.S. wealth shrank

Brian Deese Deputy Director National Economic Council

2010

Median income

Fell 7.7 percent

$49,600 44,800

Median net worth

Median net worth, the value of assets minus the value of debts, fell 39 percent

77,300

126,400

• 2010 median net worth was at about 1992 levels

Median income by region Northeast Midwest South West

53,900 53,700

46,300 46,500

45,000 40,700 54,400 48,800

‫פדיון שבויין‬ help

Pollard & Rubashkin. contact the White House between 9am-5pm phone @ 202-456-1414 or fax @ 202-456-2461

every call makes a difference

WRITE TO US The 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

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THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

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‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

the Advocate Action Desk The Advocate is EXPANDING the Action Desk

Washington

To voice your opinion! please write, to the Action Desk at: editor@ AdvocateNews.org or call Action Desk Hotline @ 845-770-1950

albany

rockland E-Mail

PHONE 50 845-770-19

E-Mail PHONE 50 845-770-19

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ok at nce you to averta s e th te H tula We congra press conference in ’s ry a Janu straw. on the argument truly e n fi a d is nte You prese sue of gun control. Itour comis e g rv e in s s s ou pre d to have y an honore munity. t the goveryone tha l right to v e to t n a rt It is impo as the constitutiona ens can ernment h types of arms citizsale and restrict theit can prohibit the ons and bear, and of assault weap agazines possession ity ammunition m by gun high-capacy proposed. The claimAmendas currentl that their Second ed on is enthusiaststs are being infring e Jewish ment righ d by facts. We at th ur posiunsupporte Council support yo, and beAdvocacy ulate gun ownership ave spotion to reg ese measures you hWe hope lieve that thout will save lives. ce in the ken out abgether with your offi safe and to work to strive to maintain a ntry. future, and and the overall cou civil county

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amae Town of R n at th in n o m om oo It is not unc et lights that do not g reets stre ss to say, st po to have uld. Needle f no lighting o sh y e th s a se o night dark becau r drivthat are very ntially dangerous (fo mber u te become po strians) for any of a n that is e ers and ped asons. The good news rned tu re of obvious to get the street lights range sy O it is very ea you have to do is call llow fo ll , 0 A . 0 1 in 4 a g – a on ) 434 7 7 (8 t a being d n n and Rockla ait till you get a huma UMw N , the prompts and tell him the POLE bers e, um on the phon ole number is the ten n re on a p h e BER. (Th llow metal strips whic bers). e m y u on the two rip has 5 n ch yellow st rs, then just tell O a E . le o p e th e as no numb d (near If the pole h e street light is locate th & R where ). se u which ho mes for number of ti d they a R & O d e n I myself call my neighborhood, a meso in d ts n h g (a li s t stree urteou o c ry e v t was h s were alway ankful). Usually the lig rking o th times even hin a few days. A w rence it w iffe n o d e turn y makes a d s – for ll a re t h ig n t street light a of our neighborhood cially e ty for the safe our children, and esp who r s) fo n pedestria ourselves, (drivers or ts. s st e u g r u o ree for r with our st ia il m fa n u are sk Editor Action De te a c o v d A

PHONE 50 845-770-19

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uomo drew M. C n A le b ra o The Hon of New York State Governor Capitol Building NYS StateY 12224 Albany, N

mo for ofvernor Cuo osal that o G d u la p get prop We all ap secure bud ork State gova s u g n ri fe the New Y er and will reform ke it fiscally strong us on a t ernment, m cient, helping to pu e are ffi e t. s e m W more co years to co or cares r fo k c a tr t the righ e Govern see that th ll New excited to able health care for a rm to about afford is long-overdue refo will h rk Yorkers. T re system in New Yo g in a in c d n h lt fu l the hea eded federa lso helping e n h c u m hile a bring rk State w es that to New Yo ts for small business s to lower co mployees. e ir e th ices insure same serv ts, e th e m u s ien as dicaid recip nanWhile we e M to d e fi vid will be pro nty letting go of the , we u rs o a c e y e with th oming t come n in the c cial burde ure that this does no ceivs re must make ny of the population verna o g to r t e s o th o at a c r those on o id a ic d e ing M ms. l save ment progra lan that wil ents p rm fo re m n The pensio ers and local govern is an y , a s p n x o li ta state ity bil w York C e state outside Ne ea that will save th edur excellent id they can allocate fo e the h ik ic L h . s w s rm refo fund health care hidden cation and id, no gimmicks or a pe this s Governor w Yorkers really ho to see e charges; N ing forward, we hope y be, ll v is true. Mo posed Budget can rea how this pro tax- free!

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THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

Gas is 8 dollars a gallon in Israel One wonders just how much more expensive it can get to fill one’s vehicle with gas, but in Israel, it appears that the sky’s the limit. In the planned hike to take place at the week’s end, a liter of 95 octane gasoline at a self service pump will jump from 7.83 NIS to 8.01 NIS. At the full service pump the same liter of gasoline will cost 8.19 NIS. Based on the closing rate of Tuesday 16 Adar 5773, the dollar/shekel rate was 3.73. That means a liter of self service gasoline will cost $8.58/US gallon and full service will cost $8.78/US gallon. Calls to lower taxes on gasoline seem to be falling on deaf ears as it becomes increasingly prohibitively expensive to fill one’s vehicle at the pumps. Kassam Rocket Hits Ashkelon Gaza terrorists fired on southern Israel on Tuesday morning for the first time since the Pillar of Defense counter-terror operation in late 2012. One rocket hit the city of Ashkelon, but did not cause injury. A second

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‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

national & international news updates

rocket apparently hit an open field near the city. Residents said they had no warning of the impending strike. Defense experts say Gaza terrorists are apparently trying to show support with Arab rioters in Judea and Samaria. Riots broke out after the Palestinian Authority accused Israel of murdering a 30-year-old terrorist who died of a heart attack in Israeli custody. Rocket fire is a blatant violation of Hamas' agreement with Israel, which brought an end to Pillar of Defense. Neighbors Prep Militaries After N Korean Nuke Test Seoul, South Korea - North Korea’s neighbors bolstered their military preparations and mobilized scientists Wednesday to determine whether Pyongyang’s third nuclear test, conducted in defiance of U.N. warnings, was as successful as the North claimed. The detonation was also the focus of global diplomatic maneuvers, with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reaching out to counterparts in Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo. President Barack Obama used his State of the Union address to assure U.S.

allies in the region and warn of “firm action.” “Provocations of the sort we saw last night will only isolate them further as we stand by our allies, strengthen our own missile defense and lead the world in taking firm action in response to these threats,” Obama said. The nuclear device detonated Tuesday at a remote underground site in the northeast is seen as a crucial step toward North Korea’s goal of building a bomb small enough to be fitted on a missile capable of striking the United States. Loss of Saturday Mail upsets Newspapers, Card Companies “We all lose if the Postal Service doesn’t continue with Saturday delivery,” said Rafe Morrissey, vice president for postal affairs at the Greeting Card Association. But Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said in an interview that the Postal Service has identified only one group of commercial mailers that could lose by the elimination of Saturday first-class mail delivery - small newspapers that do not have their own Saturday deliverers.

The Postal Service, an independent U.S. government agency that is not funded by taxpayers, lost $16 billion last year and is bleeding money due to dropping mail volumes as people increasingly use email as well as Eliminating Saturday delivery could dampen people’s willingness to send greeting cards while also driving away revenue for the Postal Service. About 60 percent of the cards made by the Greeting Card Association’s member businesses are sent through the Postal Service, the group said. The Postal Service plans to continue to deliver packages and pharmaceutical drugs on Saturday, but not direct mail, newspapers, periodicals or first-class mail.

cut about 4,000 positions this year, with most of those reductions coming through attrition, according to published reports. Through 2014, JPMorgan will cut between 13,000 and 15,000 positions in its mortgage business and between 3,000 and 4,000 positions in its community banking unit as the bank seeks to reduce operating expenses

JPMorgan to cut as many as 19,000 positions through 2014 As JPMorgan Chase & Co. kicks off its annual Investor Day conference, the country’s largest bank by assets said it would eliminate as many as 19,000 positions in its community banking and mortgage units through 2014. JPMorgan, which has reported record annual net earnings for each of the past three years, will

Albany & washington news briefs Minimum wage legislation gets amended Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver joined with Assemblymen Keith Wright and new Labor Committee Chairman Carl Heastie, to announce an amendment to Wright's minimum wage bill (A.9148) in order to match President Barack Obama's proposed $9 per hour. The president made his call for a wage hike during last week's State of the Union address. Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently called for an increase in the minimum wage to $8.75 per hour, but did not propose indexing it to inflation as the Assembly bill would do. While supporters say a higher minimum wage would put money back into the economy, some small business owners already uncomfortable with any minimum wage increase given the current economic climate, are none too happy with Silver's amendment to match the president's $9 proposal. National Federation of Independent Business State Director Mike Durant issued a statement in response to Silver's proposal. He said the original proposal for a minimum wage of $8.75 an hour would have been damaging enough, and he is calling

the new amendment a "disaster." The two caucuses held press conferences at the Capitol last Tuesday, pushing for Assemblyman Keith Wright's bill, which would have increased minimum the wage to $8.50 per hour, with indexing. STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR CUOMO ON 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1993 WORLD TRADE CENTER ATTACK "Today (Tuesday) we honor the six individuals whose lives were taken 20 years ago by a senseless and cowardly act of terror. I encourage all New Yorkers to join me today in offering my heartfelt condolences and affirming our commitment to never forget those who perished. Our efforts to rebuild at the World Trade Center site demonstrate the strength and resilience of all New Yorkers to the world." GOVERNOR CUOMO AND IBM ANNOUNCE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO PREPARE NYS STUDENTS FOR HIGHSKILLS JOBS OF THE FUTURE

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and IBM today announced a public-private partnership that will prepare thousands of New York students for high-skills jobs of the future in technology, manufac-

turing, healthcare and finance. In addition, IBM and other companies that participate in the partnership will put the program’s graduates first in line for jobs with these companies. This partnership was announced as a part of the Governor’s 2013-2014 Executive Budget. Adelson Sues WSJ Reporter for Libel Sheldon Adelson sued a Wall Street Journal reporter for libel for calling him “foul-mouthed.” The lawsuit filed on Feb. 22 seeks “damages, including aggravated, exemplary and special damages,” for a December article co-written by Kate O’Keeffe. Only O’Keefe is named in the suit, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. “We will vigorously defend Ms. O’Keeffe in this lawsuit,” said a Wall Street Journal spokeswoman, declining to comment further. Last August, Adelson sued the National Jewish Democratic Council for defamation after the organization quoted news reports alleging that he had approved of prostitution at his properties in Macau, China. The suit has not been settled.

Chuck Hagel Confirmed As Defense Secretary The Senate has voted to confirm Chuck Hagel to be the nation’s next defense secretary. The vote Tuesday was 58-41, with four Republicans joining Democrats in backing President Barack Obama’s nominee. The vote ended a contentious fight over the president’s choice for his secondterm national security team. Republicans opposed the former twoterm Republican senator from Nebraska, casting him as out of the mainstream and overly critical of Israel. But Democrats stood together for Hagel, a twicewounded Vietnam combat veteran. Hagel will succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who is stepping down after four years as CIA director and Pentagon chief. The vote came just hours after Republicans dropped their delay and allowed the nomination to move forward. The Senate vote to end the filibuster was 71-27. Eleven of the Senate’s twelve Jewish Dems joined with other Democrats to confirm Chuck Hagel to be Secretary of Defence. One of them, Frank Lautenberg from New Jersey skipped the vote altogether.

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

rockland & regional Councilman Friedman Organizes Medicine Drive For Haiti Mission with Monsey & Ben Gilman Spring Valley Family Medical Centers together With Konbit Neg Lakay Ramapo Councilman Daniel Friedman with high blood pressure. is coordinating a major effort to organize Anyone interested in contributing medicine and medical supplies for a medication or supplies can reach mid-March medical mission to Haiti. Councilman Friedman at (845) 357The mission will include a free medical 5100, or Renold Julian at (845) 425clinic for children that will be staffed 4623. by local doctors joining the mission. Lowey Announces $78,000 The mission will be led by Konbit Neg in New Federal Funding Lakay and the Rockland County Haiti for Rockland Community Relief Campaign. College After learning of this mission and its need for medicine, Friedman reached Funds will support continued operation out to local medical groups for donations of volunteer program for local seniors; of medicine and medical supplies. program’s volunteers provided 90,000 Immediately, the Monsey and Ben hours of service to Rockland County in Gilman Spring Valley Family Medical 2012 Centers responded by offering large quantities of children’s medicine that are White Plains, NY – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), the senior Democrat on greatly needed for the mission. the House Appropriations Committee, “This mission to Haiti is a critical today announced that effort to bring much needed medical Rockland Community assistance to the children of Haiti,” said College (RCC) will Councilman Friedman. “Some people receive $77, 834 in new may think that Haiti is no longer in federal funding that will need of assistance three years after the allow RCC to continue earthquake, but that is very much not the to sponsor the Retired case. I am proud to partner with leaders and Senior Volunteer in the Ramapo Haitian community and Program (RSVP) of the Ben Gilman Center to organize Rockland County. this important medical drive to bring medicine to children, many of whom “At a time of growing have family members living in the Town need for critical services and tight budgets at every of Ramapo.” level of government, “It is always a pleasure to work with others, today’s announcement especially in the Jewish community,” is welcome news for County,” said Renold Julian, Director of Konbit Rockland Neg Lakay and a leader of the Rockland said Lowey. “This new County Haiti Relief Campaign. “This funding means that is a great opportunity to do great work the hundreds of local for the children of Haiti, and I hope to seniors who have served create more partnerships with others their community will be who contribute so that we can be even able to continue to help more successful during our upcoming address some of the most pressing challenges medical mission.” in Rockland County.” “Konbit Neg Lakay and the Ben Gilman Spring Valley Medical Center have “In 2012, more than shared a mutual goal for many years. 600 RSVP volunteers When this mission began, there was provided approximately hours of no question that we would be helping 90,000 the people of Haiti as we have in the volunteer service to 100 past,” said Mr. Mendel Hoffman, non-profit organizations, President and CEO of CMADC, the government offices and healthcare organization which runs both proprietary health care the Spring Valley and Monsey health facilities,” said Dr. Cliff centers. “When we send medications Wood, President of and other needed supplies to Haiti, we Rockland Community “Their are helping doctors bring better health College. expertise care to the people they serve, and that is enthusiasm, our mission, because we are one unified and vitality enhances the capacity of these worldwide community.” organizations, which A great need still exists for donations allows them to better the neediest of medicine for children, including but serve not limited to: Amoxicillin, various citizens of the Rockland antibiotics, Permetrin, Tylenol, community.” Albendazole vitamins, medication for juvenile diabetics, medication for those The funds were awarded

as part of a competitive grant process overseen by the Corporation for National & Community Service, a federal agency. The new funding is one of 206 RSVP awards provided to volunteer organizations across the country to support senior volunteer activities in areas ranging from disaster services to education, and veterans and military families. MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUP FOR ADULTS WITH HEARING LOSS Next meeting: March 5, 2013 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM Rockland Independent Living Center is running a support group for adults who are deaf or have hearing loss. The purpose of this group is to share information, discuss challenges and the potential for social isolation among people with hearing disabilities, and help people develop coping strategies.

The group will meet on the first Tuesday of every month from 3:00PM to 5:00PM. The next meeting will be held on March 5, 2013 at the RILC offices at 873 Route 45 in New City, at the intersection of New Hempstead Road and Route 45. The topic of this meeting is: “How I Learned to Love My Audiologist”. The mission of Rockland Independent Living Center is to provide advocacy and leadership in the creation and development of an accessible and integrated community for people with disabilities, so that they may pursue lifestyles of their choice. If you are interested in attending or would like further information, please call Nancy Housner at 845-624-3053 (CaptionCall telephone) or e-mail Kathy Plachy at kplachy@rilc.org. If you require a sign language or other language interpreter, please let us know when you RSVP

page 6 health talk

Family Health Talk

‫רופא חולים‬

Ben Gilman

Spring Valley Family Medical Center 175 Route 59, Spring Valley NY 10977

PEDIATRIC MEDICINE

Dr. Esther Bekritsky Dr. Gerson Gluck

ADULT MEDICINE

Dr. James Israel Dr. Arthur Landau Dr. Debra Grohman Dr. Delatre Lolo Dr. Manoj Pulicottil Elana Klein, PA Erick Araujo, PA Brian Blitz, PA

FAMILY MEDICINE

Dr. Jamie Giraldo

OB/GYN

Dr. Joel W. Allen Dr. Debra Kirschner Melissa A. Carco, PA Ayelet Honig, NP

DENTAL

Dr. Genady Benyaminov Dr. Sarah Hanna Dr. David Horowitz Dr. Ramin Kashani Dr. Stacey Lubetsky Dr. Jacklyn Tadros

SPECIALTY Dr. Harry Baldinger - Podiatry Dr. Michael Ginsburg- Podiatry Dr. David Schwalb - Urology Dr. Renata Witkowska - Allergy Dr. Samuel Wong - Ophthalmology Dr. Alfred Hellreich - Dermatology Dr. Philip Fried - Dermatology Hanna Raice MS, RD, CDENutrition Counseling Aaron Muller, Speech Therapy Melech Karp, Speech Therapy

schedule your appointment today: Monsey Family Medical Center 40 Robert Pitt Dr. Monsey, NY 10952

(845) 352-6800

Dr. White

from page 1

both Primary and Specialty Care and the commitment these providers share. I look forward to working with the Primary Care providers in furthering the commitment of the medical center to offer comprehensive services”, concluded Dr. White.

The Monsey Family Medical Center will soon be announcing new services Dr. White will be offering the community. For an appointment, please call 845-352-6800, extension 6824.

MONSEY FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER

Monsey Family Medical Center 40 Robert Pitt Dr. Monsey, NY 10952

Your Women’s Health Questions Answered By: Ayelet Hoenig, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

What is a mammogram and why do I need to get one?

The goal of getting a mammogram is to discover any precancerous or cancerous breast nodules before any clinical signs are noticeable. Early detection is imperative for successful treatment. A mammogram screening is done to find breast changes in women who do not have any signs, symptoms or any noticeable changes. It is recommended for all women over the age of 40 to have a yearly mammogram. It has been established that breast cancer is more prevalent in women of Ashkenazi descent; women of this heritage are urged to have a yearly screening. No matter of your heritage, if you have a family member that has had breast cancer, you may be at a higher risk of developing this cancer. You should therefore discuss with your doctor the possibility of being screened before you turn 40.

If I have already had one or two children, why do I need to go for my initial prenatal visit in the first trimester – I already know what to do and how I should be feeling?

Prenatal care is extremely important no matter how many children you already have. During this first visit you will get an ultrasound to measure exactly how far along you are and you will get an estimated due date. The ultrasound also helps your doctor see that your pregnancy is progressing properly. You also need to go for special blood work to check your iron levels, blood type, and immunity to infections. This visit also gives you the opportunity to address any questions or concerns you have with your doctor.

If I see my Primary Care doctor every year, do I also need to go for a GYN check-up?

It is important to schedule annual exams every year for both your primary care provider and your gynecologist. Each year, certain tests should be performed on all women. One test is to screen for cervical cancer, which, if it is caught early enough, is very treatable. Your gynecologist will also perform a breast exam to check for any abnormalities. Your annual exam is also your chance as a patient to address any questions or concerns you might have regarding a private personal issues that you might feel more comfortable discussing with your gynecologist. I would also like to add that I see many patients who repeat to me “my sister told me”, or my friend’s doctor told her to do something differently then you are telling me.” While it is comforting to speak to your family and neighbors, it is important to know that each person is different, and you should never rely on information that was given to another person and assume it is good for you as well. Everyone is entitled to private time with their doctor. Please use that time to discuss any issues you may have. In addition to seeing patients at the Monsey Family Medical Center, Ayelet Hoenig, NP is available Wednesday evenings to speak to you about pregnancy issues or any issues of concern. Please call the Medical Center at 3526800 extension 6814 for more information.

page 7 health talk

Family Health Talk Ben Gilman

Spring Valley Family Medical Center 175 Route 59, Spring Valley NY 10977

‫רופא חולים‬

MONSEY FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER

Monsey Family Medical Center 40 Robert Pitt Dr. Monsey, NY 10952

Distressed? De – Stress! By Mrs. Gitty Kleinman In these busy weeks before Purim and Pesach, people are finding themselves busier than usual. The pressure to cook, bake, clean, organize, run errands, etc. all at once, is great, and this creates stress. Stress is so common, it almost doesn’t need to be stressed, yet people are unaware of just how much their emotional and physical being is affected by stress. Studies have shown that episodes of illness, doctor visits, and trips to the hospital, doubled (at least), during high-stress periods when compared to lower-stress periods. In addition, it was found that some of the prime causes of depression, anxiety, overeating, and disease, are linked to increased stress. If a person has a genetic predisposition to a mental illness, heightened stress is likely to bring it out and cause it to develop and evolve into something greater. (The Cortisol Connection: Why Stress Makes You Fat and Ruins Your Health) Therefore, understanding what stress is and what it does to your body, is of paramount importance. ‘Stress’ is mentioned and discussed often, but do we really know what stress means? Stress is created when the demands or expectations are greater than the resources available. For example if Ricky needs three hours to get ready for shabbos, and she only has one hour, this will create stress. If Shimon needs to prepare a shiur, but he is unable to find the proper sefer, he will be under stress. In the above situations, the resources needed to help the individuals do what was expected and demanded of them were not available or sufficient, creating a situation of stress. Throughout the year, there are some times that are more stressful than others. Stress can come from both good and bad situations and create both major and minor stressful situations. It is usual for an unfortunate circumstance such as death, divorce, job loss, accident, emergency or illness to put stress on the individual (s) going through it. However, a happy occasion such as a birth, wedding, family gathering, holiday, vacation, can also create stress. All of the above occurrences create situations of greater needs and demand, without necessarily increasing and sometimes even decreasing the resources available. Whether the cause is good or bad, major or minor, stress needs to be managed before it builds up and escalates out of control. Stress puts the body in a ‘fight or flight’ or ‘survival’ mode, increasing adrenaline to the body so that the person has a greater ability to do what he needs to do at the time. This reaction of the body makes sense, because it is the body’s way of trying to help increase its resources, thus lowering the stress! In some situations this surge of adrenaline is very helpful and can be a great thing. Take the example of Ricky. Because Ricky does not have sufficient time to get ready for Shabbos, she is under stress. As a result of this heightened stress, Ricky gets a surge of adrenaline, allowing her to finish the necessary preparations in record time. However, if Ricky will constantly be under stress on Shabbos and for the rest of the week, due to the many demands of her job and family, she will be unable to function properly. In the above scenario, the extra stress was to Ricky’s advantage, but only for the time being. However, if the person remains under stress, the body’s ability to remain in ‘survival’ mode is diminished; increasing the stress levels, thus creating the ‘fight or flight’ response again. Then, when the body is unable to keep up, it is back in stress mode, thus creating a vicious cycle. Therefore, stress has to be managed before it escalates. Stress affects the person, on all levels, physically, mentally

and emotionally. The mind and body are intrinsically connected. Therefore, when one thinks of something, it might trigger an emotional and even sometimes physical response in his body. Therefore, when one is thinking about, or is in a stressful situation, all areas of functioning will be affected. To illustrate this, try the following exercise:

Think of an area in your life that is stressful for you, an unfinished project, unmet deadline, difficult relationship, and

PROJECT OHR Department of Behavioral Health

PSYCHIATRY Seymour Kushnir, MD ADULT PSYCHIATRY Zvi Weisstuch, MD ADULT and Child PSYCHIATRY

SOCIAL WORK

Individual, Couple Child & Family Therapy

etcetera. Notice how you are feeling and what your body’s response is. How are your muscles, are they tense or relaxed? Did your heart rate stay the same increase or decrease? What about your breathing? Are you sweating or shivering? Chances are you noticed greater muscle tension, increased heart rate, shallow breathing and possibly sweating, shivering or both. This is because, as mentioned above, your body goes into ‘survival’ mode, in order to protect itself from the effects of stress, and to try to accommodate the increased demands. In survival mode, the body only focuses on survival, and all other functions are disrupted. Therefore, one cannot think clearly or properly control their thoughts and emotions. This poses a challenge, because in stressful situations, it is essential that one have the ability to remain calm and try to problem solve. But if the stress is not managed and takes over, the person is not even capable of seeing himself out of the stressful situation. Furthermore, stress increases the cortisol levels in the body. The study quoted in the beginning of the article found that the reason increased levels of stress was largely cause for illness, was because of the cortisol factor. The cortisol factor explains that when a person is under high levels of stress, the body produces increased cortisol. It is too much for the scope of this article to go into detail about the reaction the body has to increased cortisol levels. However, too much cortisol impacts the physical, mental and emotional functioning of the person and creates a wide range of illnesses and dysfunction. If reading all this information has not stressed you out, then you did not read very closely. Initially, reading all this information about how closely stress is related to chronic disease, it may seem very hopeless. However, worry no longer! Know that stress is manageable. By controlling stress, you will be able to live in ‘regular’ mode and not in constant ‘survival’ mode, and cortisol levels will be maintained. You need to have motivation, and knowledge about how to go about it. 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. Look out for upcoming installments on stress management and relaxation techniques.

Malka Harris Susswein LCSW, Clinical Director Project Ohr, Individual and Family Therapist Gelly Asovski LCSW, Play Therapist Sharon Kronenberg LCSW, Individual Therapist Adults Chana Simmonds LCSW, Family and Individual Therapist- 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 LMSW Family and Individual Therapist, Teens and Adults Aviva Cohen LMSW, Therapist Pre-Teens, and Teens Rabbi Moshe Abramczyk LMSW, Therapist, males, ages 12 and above Gitty Kleinman,

Intern

MSW

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

‫תשע״ג‬

Monsey Family Medical Center Department of Speech Therapy M r. Aaro n M u l l e r M S c c c - S L P • M r. M e l e c h K a r p M S c c c - S L P

• Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders • Fluency and Voice Disorders • Pragmatic Issues • Oral Motor, Articulation and Phonological Disorders

For info & appointments:

Of the most commonly collected fish types, samples sold as snapper and tuna had the highest mislabeling rates (87 and 59 percent, respectively), with the majority of the samples identified by DNA analysis as something other than what was found on the label. In fact, only seven of the 120 samples of red snapper purchased nationwide were actually red snapper. The other 113 samples were another fish.

Chronic Hoarseness Vocal Fatigue Nasality Resonance disorders Articulation Oromotor Stuttering Cognitive Reading Hearing Loss Apraxia Head Trauma Parkinsons Dysarthria

845-352-6800x 6824

From 2010 to 2012, Oceana conducted one of the largest seafood fraud investigations in the world to date, collecting more than 1,200 seafood samples from 674 retail outlets in 21 states to determine if they were honestly labeled.

Our findings demonstrate that a comprehensive and transparent traceability system – one that tracks fish from boat to plate – must be established at the national level. At the same time, increased inspection and testing of our seafood, specifically for mislabeling, and stronger federal and state enforcement of existing laws combatting fraud are needed to reverse these disturbing trends. Our government has a responsibility to provide more information about the fish sold in the U.S., as seafood fraud harms not only consumers’ wallets, but also every honest vendor and fisherman cheated in the process--to say nothing of the health of our oceans.

nov/12

WE SERVICE CLIENTS WITH:

Study Reveals Seafood Fraud Nationwide

DNA testing found that one-third (33 percent) of the 1,215 samples analyzed nationwide were mislabeled, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines.

ALL DISORDERS TREATED INCLUDING:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

40 Robert Pitt Dr. Monsey, NY 10952

English and Yiddish Speaking Berry Healthy Researchers think blueberries and strawberries may be good for the heart. They saw this in 18 years of data on 93,600 U.S. women ages 25 to 42. Women who had three or more servings a week had a one-third lower risk of heart attack. The berries have flavonoids, which can help to counter changes in the arteries that can lead to heart attacks. At the University of East Anglia in England, Aedin Cassidy says other fruits and vegetables also have flavonoids: “If you add more red and blue colored fruits and vegetables to your normal diet, you can reduce your risk of having a heart attack. Start incorporating these berries into your weekly shop.” The study in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

This Country is one of the least Healthiest in the Developed World An international scorecard on health finds America at or near the bottom. Ex-

perts with the National Academy of Sciences looked at nine key health topics in 16 high-income nations. The topics include children dying in their first year, teen pregnancies, killings and injuries, drugs, obesity and diabetes, and heart and lung diseases. The chair of the panel that wrote the report, Dr. Steven Woolf of Virginia Commonwealth University, says society and government can improve a lot – and individuals can, also: “The conditions that are responsible for this U.S. health disadvantage – every single one of them – are things that individuals can help prevent or reduce their risk.” Some examples: pregnancy health care, and being physically active. The report was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Children with Autism may benefit socially by having a pet Smaller animals like rabbits and turtles can help social interactions. Given this effect, Maggie O'Haire, a doctoral candidate in psychology at the University of Queensland, wondered if animals could also help children with autism spectrum

disorders connect with other people. As it turns out, they can. In a study described in the latest PLOS ONE, O'Haire and her colleagues introduced two guinea pigs into 15 different classrooms and looked at how the presence of these furry creatures affected the interactions of autistic children with adults and non-autistic kids. The researchers found that autistic children were significantly more talkative and cheerful in the presence of guinea pigs than in the presence of toys. The children were also more likely to look at faces, make physical contact, and interact with other children and adults. O'Haire has several theories as to why animals might have this effect. First of all, animals facilitate social interaction by giving people a common focus of attention. "There's something about having an animal present that gets people talking," says O'Haire. Additionally, animals have a calming effect. For children with autism, the classroom can be a stressful environment, and O'Haire says an animal may relax them enough to make them feel comfort-

able interacting with peers. Animals also make people look better. "If you have an animal with you, people actually perceive you as friendlier, happier, and less threatening," O'Haire says. "Having an animal there may have changed the children's perceptions of their peers in a more positive light." O'Haire thinks animals could aid autistic children with social interactions in a many places, including classrooms and therapists' offices. "I certainly think that in any situation where there's rapport that needs to be built, this data seems to show that having an animal would really help," she says. But is it practical? More research needs to be done to figure out how to implement so-called animal-assisted interventions, but O'Haire doesn't think that it's far-fetched to hope that animals could be useful. She points out that fish tanks are already commonplace in doctor's offices and that some other workplaces allow pets because of their demonstrated benefits for both social interaction and stress reduction.

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

‫תשע״ג‬

local politics

‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

Jaffee to Chair Assembly Task Force on Food, Farm, Nutrition Policy (Pearl River, NY) – Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (D-Rockland), recently appointed Chair of the New York State Assembly Task Force on Food, Farm and Nutrition Policy, held a kickoff event on Thursday at the Nyack Center, which hosts the weekly Nyack Winter Farmers’ Market. Joining Jaffee were community activists and representatives from a wide variety of organizations throughout Rockland County, who share her determination to reduce hunger and ensure that everyone, especially those who are underserved, has access to nutritious, local food grown on sustainable farms in New York State.

and children. “Feeding children nutritious food, like the fresh fruit and vegetables right here in this farmers’ market, makes them grow strong and keeps them healthier. It makes them better learners and in the long term better earners,” she said. Rob Maher, Executive Director of TOUCH, who oversees Get Fresh, a program that distributes food to more than 30

food pantries in Rockland and Orange Counties, cited a Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health study that drew similar conclusions: Nutritious meals keep people healthy and actually reduces costly visits to the emergency room. “The science is there. Now is the time to act on the hard evidence and invest wisely in what we know, so we can reverse the crisis of childhood obesity and diabetes in our state,” said Jaffee.

“We can improve health for our families by seeing that everyone has access to healthy food. That's why I am saying no to cuts to the Hunger Prevention Nutrition Assistance Program. I will be looking closely to see if our programs provide sufficient supplies of fresh, nutritious food to keep our seniors healthy at home instead of in hospitals and nursing homes.”

"Ellen has always been a powerful advocate for children and families,” said Nyack Mayor, Jen Laird White, who introduced Jaffee. “Now, Ellen can continue her efforts by extending her advocacy to the idea that there is no better place to start an empowered life, than at the table. It is a perfect next step for Ellen’s leadership.” “I’m excited by my appointment to the Food, Farm and Nutrition Policy Task Force, which provides me with the opportunity to influence policy and programs to sustain our food production capacity while at the same time improving our nutrition and health. In so many ways it will allow me to continue my advocacy for mothers, children, families, seniors and communities across the state,” said Jaffee, thanking all those who had turned out to support the mission of the task force and to speak. Jaffee told the large gathering that included vendors, shoppers – mothers pushing strollers and older adults- that she had just sent a letter to Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver, requesting that this year's state budget must not only maintain but also expand funding for the WIC program, which provides supplemental food for women, infants

Study: Nonpsychoactive Cannabinoid Mitigates Colitis Naples, Italy: The administration of the nonpsychotropic cannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG) mitigates colitis (inflammation of the large intestine) in a preclinical model and ought to be assessed in clinical trials, according to data published online in the journal Biochemical Pharmacology. Investigators at the University of Naples assessed the impact of CGB in a murine model of colitis. They reported that CBG attenuated colitis and "could be considered for clinical experimentation in IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) patients." Cannabigerol is an organic cannabinoid that possesses

therapeutic potential as an antibacterial agent and as a bone stimulant, according to a limited number of preclinical trials. Use of cannabis is relatively common among patients with IBD. In preclinical trials, cannabinoids have reduced inflammation and "enhanced epithelial wound closure" in human tissue. In 2011, an observational study reported subjects' cannabis use was

associated with a reduction in Crohn's disease activity and disease-related surgeries. For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@ norml.org. Full text of the study, "Beneficial effect of the nonpsychotropic plant cannabinoid cannabigerol on experimental inflammatory bowel disease," appears in Biochemical Pharmacology.

Healthy Living

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

What’s in a name

• 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 Service Graphic: Pat Carr

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

F.D.A. Likely to Add Limits on Painkillers Trying to stem the scourge of prescription drug abuse, an advisory panel of experts to the Food and Drug Administration voted on Friday to toughen the restrictions on painkillers like Vicodin that contain hydrocodone, the most widely prescribed drugs in the country. The recommendation, which the drug agency is likely to follow, would limit

access to the drugs by making them harder to prescribe, a major policy change that advocates said could help ease the growing problem of addiction to painkillers, which exploded in the late 1990s and continues to strike hard in communities from Appalachia and the Midwest to New England. But at 19 to 10, the vote was far from unanimous, with some opponents expressing skepticism that the change

would do much to combat abuse. Oxycodone, another highly abused painkiller and the main ingredient in OxyContin, has been in the more restrictive category since it first came on the market, they pointed out in testimony at a public hearing. They also said the change could create unfair obstacles for patients in chronic pain. Painkillers now take the lives of more Americans than heroin and cocaine combined, and since 2008, drug-induced deaths have outstripped those from traffic accidents. Prescription drugs account for about three-quarters of all drug overdose deaths in the United States, with the number of deaths from painkillers quadrupling since 1999, according to federal data. The change would have sweeping consequences for doctors, pharmacists and patients. Refills without a new prescription would be forbidden, as would faxed prescriptions and those called in by phone. Only written prescriptions from a doctor would be allowed. Distributors would be required to store the drugs in special vaults. The vote comes after similar legislation in Congress failed last year, after aggressive lobbying by pharmacists and drugstores.

‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬ What is a Health Care Proxy? ‫תשע״ג‬

by Hon. Alfred J. Weiner, Ret. A health care proxy is a legal document which appoints someone called a health care agent to make health care decisions for another person, called the principal, in the event the principal becomes incapacitated. The agent’s authority commences upon a determination that the principal lacks temporary or permanent capacity to make these decisions. Health care decisions include any consent or refusal for medical procedure or treatment of a principal’s medical condition. Subject to any express limitations in the health care proxy an agent shall have the authority to make any and all health care decisions on your behalf that you could make in accordance with your known wishes including any religious or moral beliefs. Appointing a health care agent allows you to control your own medical care. All doctors, hospitals and other health care providers are legally obligated to follow the decision of your agent.

You choose someone to be your health care agent because you think that the person would make the best decisions on your behalf. Only the person you appoint has the legal authority to make these medical decisions. Any competent adult eighteen years or over may appoint a health care agent and anyone eighteen years or over may serve as an agent. You may appoint an alternative agent to serve if your appointed agent is unable or unwilling to act at the appropriate time. The health care proxy, unless otherwise indicated, does not expire unless revoked. There is a halachic version which directs that the designated agent consult with an orthodox Rabbi prior to making health care decisions. The NYS public health law sets forth all the legal requirement of a health care proxy which should be prepared by an attorney.

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

‫תשע״ג‬

Supervisors team up with DA to fight crime ,

The program consists of a unique amnesty to allow STAR program violators to pay up and avoid criminal charges and possible arrest. During the past eleven months, detectives in the Special Investigations Unit have already uncovered more than $679,000 in improperly or fraudulently claimed STAR exemptions from 2012 representing a grand total from Rockland’s five towns. District Attorney Zugibe said, “STAR is only available on your primary residence, but our investigation has identified dozens of individuals who own two homes and get the exemption on both. Our figures represent the tip of the iceberg. Those who double-dip STAR exemptions are cheating the system, at a time when the state’s finite resources are of critical importance.” STAR is New York's version of a homestead exemption or a property tax discount for an owner-occupied primary residence. The state provides homeowners with two levels of partial exemptions from school property taxes: Basic STAR Basic STAR is available for owneroccupied primary residences where

the homeowners' and their spouses’ income is $500,000 or less. Under the basic exemption, $30,000 is taken off the assessed value of the primary residence for the purposes of school taxes, which in many locations is the largest component of the property tax burden. Enhanced STAR Enhanced STAR provides an increased benefit for the primary residences of senior citizens (age 65 and older) with qualifying incomes. The Enhanced option exempts the first $63,300 of the full value of a home from school taxes as of 2013-14 school tax bills. This exemption is increased annually according to a costof-living adjustment. To be eligible for Enhanced STAR, the combined income of all owners and their spouses must be $79,050 or less. STAR exemptions apply only to school district taxes. They do not apply to property taxes for other purposes, such as county, town or city, except in New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers, where city property taxes fund public schools. Because STAR homeowners are taxed at the lower value, their bill is

Some Frum Schools upset about lettuce in Lunches In hopes of reaching common ground, Orthodox activists continue to work with federal officials over kosherrelated issues that have arisen in Haredi-run schools since the implementation of new USDA laws aimed at addressing childhood obesity. The Jewish Daily Forward is reporting that ultra-Orthodox school administrators are finding it increasingly difficult to stay within the guidelines set in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, especially when it comes to leafy green vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, collard greens, spinach, and kale. The law, aimed at fighting childhood obesity by making school lunches healthier, and which went into effect this year, allocated $4.5 billion for school lunch programs for the next five years, but it requires public and private schools receiving federal lunch assistance to adhere to a new set of nutritional guidelines. Two issues initially arose. The first, a guideline limiting the amount of grain-based food served at schools, was resolved in a February meeting between USDA officials and representatives of Agudath Israel and the Jewish Education Project (formerly known as the Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York). “It was a good result,” said Rabbi Martin Schloss, director of day schools and yeshivas at the Jewish Education Project. “We maintained the calorie cap but resolved the religious problem.” But the still unresolved issue remains the ‘leafy greens’

‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

continued from page 1

reduced, often by thousands of dollars. New York State makes up the difference to local school districts. The program costs about $2.66 billion annually. A homeowner may have either a Basic or Enhanced STAR exemption, which is applied to a primary residence only. Not all of the owners must use the property as a primary residence, just the one applying for STAR. You DA Zugibe speaking with the press about the new STAR program can only have one primary residence. by other municipalities, the number As part of the STAR exemption crack- of possible STAR violators would indown, subpoenas were given to local crease exponentially across the county. assessors’ offices for STAR locations The savings statewide could reach into that were believed to be non-owner the hundreds of millions of dollars. occupied. Additionally, the District As part of the amnesty, those who have Attorney’s Office received address- wrongfully taken exemptions have until es that were the subject of building April 1st, 2013 to take corrective meacode and fire code complaints. As a sures and make good on their financial result, 516 locations were preliminar- obligations. Those violators who fail ily identified as being in violation of to take advantage of the amnesty face STAR qualifications with many more considerable consequences, including locations to be investigated. criminal charges of theft, potential arA software program utilized by the rest, sizable fees and court costs and a Town of Ramapo’s assessor offers the criminal record. ability to cross-reference exemption “Misuse and abuse of STAR exemplocations with other municipal data- tions is a statewide problem. We bebases. With the help of this technol- lieve this unique effort to discover and ogy, more than 75 homeowners eliminate fraud in the program will were identified during this process cut down on the number of violators, as living out of state or overseas, while recouping hundreds of millions while illegally receiving the STAR of dollars for the state,” said Zugibe. exemption. A confirmation process “Our program presents offenders with is currently underway to positively an opportunity to correct the tax rolls corroborate these suspicions. and make a new start.” In the Town of Ramapo alone, the For inquiries about how to correct a STAR program costs taxpayers STAR application and make restituabout $26 million annually. tion, contact your local tax assessor’s If the cross-reference techniques office immediately or visit www.tax. applied by Ramapo were utilized ny.gov for additional information.

and continued ‘confirmed’ reports that insect infestation might be putting ultra-Orthodox children at risk of eating food contradictory to their dietary laws. “The problem of insect infestation has been confirmed by numerous rabbinical authorities and kosher certification agencies, and many schools have raised this problem,” said Rabbi Abba Cohen, Agudath Israel’s Washington director. At an October meeting with USDA and Department of Education officials, Cohen and his colleagues explained that neither purchasing certified insect-free greens, nor hiring in-school inspectors, were cost-effective alternatives. Furthermore, Cohen told officials that if forced to serve non-certified greens, parents would simply instruct children not to eat them—-thus defeating the purpose of the new law.

Possible Hiring Freeze Before Sequester Furlough We've heard the doomsday scenarios of how automatic spending cuts from the sequester might impact airports: Travel Security Administration (TSA) workers could be furloughed, stretching security resources thin and leading to nightmarish lines and long waits at airport security checkpoints. But the head of the TSA offered a glimmer of hope today, testifying on Capitol Hill that the agency might look to a hiring freeze before furloughs if the sequester goes into effect.

"The bottom line is, for us: We have been watching the whole sequester discussion closely and assessing what impact it will have for us," TSA head John Pistole told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security today. "We're doing other things before furloughing, so for example, we would look at a hiring freeze." Federal employees being furloughed as part of the sequester must be notified at least a month in advance, according to guidelines from the Office of Personnel Management. That means if the sequester goes into effect this week, we could see a shortage of airport security officers starting in April, when TSA would furlough its 50,000 employee for up to seven days and cut back on overtime. "I don't agree with it as a policy tool, or any other way. It's the wrong thing to do," said Rep. John Carter, DTexas, chair of the Homeland Security subcommittee. "[In] my view, it's crude, pointless - reminds us all of the importance that we need to follow regular order in everything we do." Ranking House Appropriations Committee member Rep. Nita Lowey, D-New York, agreed. "It's disheartening that the majority has rejected Democrats' calls to prevent sequestration by closing tax loopholes and reigning in the growth of future spending," she said. "But I've always been an optimist, and I do hope reasonable people, such as those serving on this committee and others, can begin to work together to resolve this impasse that does such damage to its economy."

‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

‫תשע״ג‬

Sparaco Resolution To Repeal NY SAFE Act Passes With Overwhelming Bipartisan Support

graphics@SceneItDesigns.com 732-987-9249

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

Nationwide

Business Networking Event

The lawful ownership of firearms is, and has been, a valued u in Rockland County, and the rights protected by the Second Amendment to the Constitution are exercised by many of our residents. Many State Legislators had less than an hour to read the legislation before being forced to vote on it. We are concerned that there is no possible way any individual could have read the entire bill and understood its full implications prior to voting on it, and our State Legislators most certainly could not

have had the time to request, and receive, the input of their constituents regarding this matter or to hold public hearings. Seeking such public input is a standard to which we hold ourselves in the Rockland County Legislature. This legislation has 60 sections, of which only three take effect immediately, and we say there was no reason for the Governor to use a message of necessity to bring this bill to vote immediately and bypass the three day maturing process for all legislation. Requiring law-abiding gun owners to verify ownership of certain types of firearms every five years, in addition to registering them on their permits, which now also must be renewed every 5 years, does not increase the safety of the public and is unnecessarily burdensome to the residents of New York. There will be a significant financial impact due to the approximately 16,000 Rockland County permits that will have to be renewed requiring additional manpower and computer systems. The Sheriffs Association of New York has recommended that the SAFE Act be amended to include: 1) exemptions for purchases of ammunition by law enforcement for

training purposes; 2) a clearer definition of assault weapons based on its function rather that its features; and 3) provisions including local law enforcement in the review and implementation of school safety plans. The NY SAFE Act prohibits the sale of firearm magazines with a capacity larger than seven rounds. Limiting the number of rounds to seven versus ten is arbitrary and capricious, has no correlation to public safety, unfairly burdens law-abiding gun owners, and puts an undue burden on gun manufacturers to retool their manufacturing plants. The NY SAFE Act makes New York the first state to track ammunition purchases in real time. It forces dealers to register all ammunition with the state police, with each sale requiring a background check and transmission of record of the sale to state police. The dealers must maintain sale of ammunition records for one year. Further, requiring background checks and records to be maintained for sale of ammunition is burdensome on businesses and has no correlation to public safety and welfare. The NY SAFE Act places increased burdens squarely on the backs of law-abiding citizens, and may in fact turn countless New York State law-abiding gun owners into criminals. The manner in which this legislation was brought forward for vote in the State Legislature is deeply disturbing to Rockland County.

Event Co-Sponsor

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Rockland County Legislator Frank Sparaco proposed and passed a groundbreaking resolution calling for the repeal of aspects of Governor Cuomo's recently passed NY SAFE Act. The controversial SAFE Act included many onerous requirements and restrictions on gun ownership, and the resolution proposed by Legislator Sparaco called for their repeal.

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‫ֹלעיֹלוי נשמת‬ ‫אשה הצִדֱקנית‬ ‫שרה בת ר׳ משה ֹלייביֱקור‬

Comparing light bulbs

Wondering whether you should change your bulb? HereÕs a comparison of three light bulbs that emit the same amount of light.

The County Legislature opposes and requests the repeal of the sections within the SAFE Act, which infringe on the constitutional right of the people to keep and bear arms. "It is a great day for Rockland County. Levelheaded Republicans and Democrats came together to oppose Governor Cuomo's hastily passed and onerous gun law. We're sending a clear message to the state representatives from Rockland who ignorantly voted for this bill, and as representatives of people from across Rockland, we demand that they now work to repeal it," said Legislator Sparaco. Legislators Carey, Earl, Jobson, Meyers, Murphy, Paul, Soskin, Schoenberger, and Wieder joined Legislator Sparaco in support of this resolution. Five legislators voted against the resolution

Incandescent light

Compact fluorescent Light-emitting lamp (CFL) diode (LED)

Energy used

60 watts

13-14 watts

12-13 watts

Lifespan*

333 days

7 to 9 years

22 years

Price per bulb

25-50¢

$1.99-$4.99

$30-$40

Annual cost**

$7.23

$1.69

$1.45

Negatives

Gets hot, not energy efficient

Contains traces of mercury, generally canÕt be dimmed

High price per bulb

* Based on an average use of three hours a day **Based on three hours of operation a day at 11¢ per kilowatt hour

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

We teach children to...

Community Supported Agriculture program.

‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

Community Supported Agriculture Are you interesting in receiving

farm fresh produce delivered to you weekly?

¥ stretch their minds ¥ reach their potential ¥ maximize their efforts ¥ overcome hurdles ¥ achieve success

Do you know 10-20 people who would be interested in buying fresh produce on a weekly basis?

Do you have a site that a farmer could drop off produce weekly for pickup from members?

Following a whole-child approach, we’ve brought more than a thousand children, from the most challenging to the most gifted, to success.

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If you answered yes to these questions, you might be interested in organizing a

Community Supported Agriculture program. Call Melissa Jacobson at the Rockland County Department of Health at 845-364-3610 or email jacobsom@co.rockland.ny.us for more information.

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

HEALTH adapted from NPR Shots: What happens when you get a doctor right out of Medical School It's an old joke, repeated every year around nurses' stations, examination rooms, and operating theaters: Whatever you do, don't get sick in July. That's when hundreds of justgraduated medical students begin their residencies. The logic goes that, come summer, you're all but guaranteed to be treated by a novice physician, especially in teaching hospitals. Better to wait a few months, until the new docs have settled in a bit, to be seen about that suspicious lump. But a recent study of surgeries at more than 1,700 hospitals suggests the fear of newbie docs is overblown. While patients at teaching hospitals fared slightly worse overall than those at non-university centers, the calendar had little bearing on surgical outcomes, researchers found. Previous "July effect" studies often focused on a single medical center so a Mayo Clinic research team of radiologists and neurosurgeons decided to go big. Their study, published in the January issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, analyzed the outcomes of more than one million spinal surgery patients, over eight years, at hospitals across the country. The study looked at both teaching and non-teaching hospitals, and it looked at outcomes both in July and in other months. "We were able to look at a huge number of hospitals ... so we could really get a big picture of medical

‫כי תשא תשע״ג‬ now you know

NEWS practice," lead author and Mayo Clinic radiologist Jennifer McDonald tells Shots. The data came from the National Inpatient Sample, which culls medical records from a wide variety of centers — urban and rural, well-funded and cash-strapped — and includes both teaching hospitals and traditional ones. McDonald and her colleagues looked to see whether spinal surgery patients who were hospitalized in July were more likely to die, suffer complications, or be discharged to long-term care facilities than those who were operated on in, say, February. Residents and fellows are often directly involved in spinal procedures, including suturing the wound closed, she says. If the "July effect" were real — and the young doctors truly inept — one would expect to see higher rates of infection or reopening of the wounds in summer patients. Instead, the incidence of poor outcomes in teaching hospitals climbed by just a few tenths of a percent in July, a "negligible" increase, McDonald says. Though complication rates rose slightly, in-hospital mortality did not. In other words, it's unlikely that July patients are paying for residents' inexperience with their lives. McDonald acknowledged that, across the board, teaching hospitals saw worse outcomes than non-teaching institutions: mortality was higher, bills were larger, and complications were more common. But, she cautioned, this doesn't mean they provided worse care. "Maybe teaching hospitals get more transfer patients," she said, "or patients that are more complicated to start with, than non-teaching hospitals."

‫דער אדוואקאט‬

Why You Pay More at the Grocery Store (and How to Stop) By: Tara Struyk

Many of us don't think too much about what we throw into our grocery carts—or how much it all costs. After all, we have to eat! But for most Americans, food makes up one of the largest expenses in the budget, right after paying for housing and transportation. If you can trim just $20 off your weekly grocery bill, it can save you $1,000 per year; saving $60 per week could put more than $3,000 extra in your pocket. Believe it or not, those kinds of savings aren't unrealistic, and you don't have to starve to death to achieve them. All you have to do is look at where grocery stores make their money and where you may have some bad shopping habits. What You Pay More For It isn't hard to guess which items in the grocery store have the highest markups; after all, you won't see a fancy display around cabbages or low-fat milk. In fact, the highest margin—and therefore lowest value—items will fall into one or more of the following categories. Convenience The closer a food is to being ready to put on the table, the more it'll cost you. That's why things like pre-cut fruits and vegetables and breakfast cereals have significant mark-ups. The same goes for most packaged convenience foods and pre-made meals. For many of us, throwing a few convenience items in the cart is a matter of necessity—or sanity. Just be aware that the less preparation you do at home, the more you'll pay at the store. Brand Names It wasn't long ago that store-branded foods were pretty terrible imitations of brand name favorites. Nowadays, however, most stores offer a great range of high quality products under their own labels and, in many cases, they're much cheaper than the mega brands you'll see advertised. Brand name items are marked up dramatically. You might have to do a little experimenting, but for the most part, brand name foods don't cost more because they're better—they're just better known. Do you really want to pay for your canned soup's star power? Organics There's still a lot of debate about whether organic produce provides a health benefit over conventionally grown fruits and veggies, but one thing you can't argue with is that organic comes at a price. Organic foods tend to cost 30 to 50% more than regular produce, largely because organic producers are smaller, have smaller markets, and don't receive the same subsidies as other growers.

If you're concerned about pesticides, pay more where it counts by choosing organic items that tend to be highly contaminated when grown conventionally. According to the Environmental Working Group's 2012 "Shoppers' Guide to Pesticides," these items include apples, celery, bell peppers, peaches, strawberries, and grapes. Items such as onions, corn, pineapple, and avocados, on the other hand, are relatively uncontaminated, so buying organic here may provide limited benefit. To save even more, check out organic produce at a local farmers market, or grow your own in the back yard. Habits That Can Cost You Avoiding the most costly items in the grocery store is essential, but if you really want to nail frugal grocery shopping, you have to steer clear of costly habits as well. Lack of Flexibility One of the best ways to save money on groceries is to be a little flexible about what you buy each week. Having a meal plan is great, but you also have to be creative and willing to roll with the sales and promotions at your local grocery store. Rather than dutifully scooping the same old meats, fruits, and veggies into your cart every week, use the sales to determine what you buy. Choose items that are on special and work them into a flexible meal plan. Lack of Research Doing a little research in local flyers before hitting the shops can be a great way to shave a few dollars off your food bills. Chances are there are a few grocery stores in your area, so you can often decide which one to visit based on what you need. When I want to stock up on canned tomatoes, pasta, and dried beans, I often head to my local Italian market, where there's a broad selection of these items at a lower price than at other stores. When I want to stock up on rice and noodles, I visit the Asian market. If you know which stores have the best prices on certain items, you can visit them intermittently to stock up, and decide where to shop that week based on what you need the most. Lack of Math Skills Grocery stores couldn't possibly make comparing prices more confusing. Fortunately, most of us now carry a pocket calculator in the form of a smartphone with us wherever we go. This makes calculating unit prices much faster, and, unless you're a math whiz, probably more accurately, too.

‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬ FORECLOSURE COUNSELING Programmable Thermostats for Consumers-Did You Know? 15

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

‫תשע״ג‬

RCDC Housing, Inc.

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.

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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.

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

Governor Cuomo Announces FEMA Disaster Assistance Deadline Extended Residents of thirteen declared counties may apply for FEMA disaster assistance through March 29, 2013 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Tuesday announced 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 previous deadline was February 27, 2013. Federal disaster assistance for individuals 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, Sullivan and Ulster. “It is clear that many New Yorkers impacted 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 Cuomo said. “This extension from FEMA will provide impacted residents with more

Is your home drafty? Is it cold in your home during the winter? Are your heating bills high? If you answered YES to any of these questions then give us a call to find out if you are eligible for the New York State WEATHERIZATION Program

time to get help so they can rebuild as soon as possible.” The state’s request also included a 30day extension for individuals and businesses to apply to the Small Business Administration for lowered-interest loans. Individuals can register online at www. disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone 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-recoverycenters 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).

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

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

How to protect your home from wildfires 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: Store safety-approved gasoline containers and other combustibles away from occupied structures; storage unit should be made of noncombustible materials 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 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 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 Source: Texas Forest Service

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 combustible items, including firewood, wooden picnic tables, boats and stacked lumber, safely away from structures 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 Graphic: Dale Roe, Don Tate II, Austin American-Statesman

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

‫תשע״ג‬

markets Woman dies after drinking 2 gallons of Coca-Cola daily

lowing a cardiac arrhythmia in February 2010, and the coroner called out Coke in his report, which was released Tuesday.

Heavy drinking may have led to the death of a New Zealand woman — but it wasn't alcohol she was glugging. It was Coca-Cola, TVNZ reports. She reportedly drank some 2.2 gallons of the soda every day, AFP notes, a habit that went on for years. Her family called it an "addiction" that resulted in the removal of multiple rotten teeth and the birth of at least one child lacking tooth enamel; her partner said Natasha Harris suffered withdrawal symptoms if she didn't drink the stuff. The 31-year-old mother of eight died fol-

"I find that, when all the available evidence is considered, were it not for the consumption of very large quantities of Coke by Natasha Harris, it is unlikely that she would have died when she died and how she died," the report said.

M i lk may g et a su r prise ingredient The dairy industry for the past three years has been hoping to sell you some in an apparent attempt to move beyond the traditional chocolate, skim and strawberry varieties.

‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledged a 2009 petitionfrom the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation seeking permission to include artificial sweeteners in milk and other dairy products. The groups seek to use aspartame in milk but retain the ability to label their products as "milk."

Aspartame is used in a range of products including diet soda and yogurt and is sold to consumers under the brand-name Equal (which also includes some other ingredients). Some researchers have found that artificial sweeteners alter people's brain chemistry making them crave higher-calorie foods, which in turn makes them more prone to obesity and diabetes.

The FDA asked for data related to Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners last week.

The dairy lobby argues the opposite, claiming that allowing aspartame in milk would make it a healthier product and reduce childhood obesity by offering milk with fewer calories.

The agency currently lets the dairy industry use the "milk" label only for beverages with ingredients that have calories, like sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.

Secession fever? Nearly 1 million people have signed secession petitions on the White House web site. Eleven states have more than 25,000 signatures and are entitled to formal review.

Texas

117,373

Georgia

52,707

South Carolina

39,572 Louisiana Missouri Florida

36,974

35,633 34,772

Tennessee

31,059

North Carolina

30,392

Alabama

30,256

Oklahoma

NOTE: Figures as of Nov. 26

27,645

Ohio

25,033

Source: White House Graphic: Judy Treible

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THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

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‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

living tips preparing for pesach

For Cleaner Clothes, some advice

If you’re like most people, your knowledge of washers and dryers is part of a great oral history tradition, passed down through the generations. Unfortunately, some of those hints you learned while doing chores as a kid might be damaging the expensive clothes you wear now that you’ve grown up. While your Bubbe may have had no trouble with the wringer on her White-Westinghouse, chances are that your washer works differently. Here are seven ways to break bad laundry habits that are keeping your clothes dirty, or prematurely wearing them out. Don’t Wash That Stain In Hot Water!

ommends. You’ll save money on detergent, and your clothes won’t end up with excess soap in them. If you own one of the rare washers that dispenses soap automatically, make sure you’ve set the control panel for the right kind of detergent. Lend a Hand to Bulky Loads

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Ever notice that bulky growth potential • competitive salaries items like king size sheets, comforters, and towels tend to bunch up in the dryer, emergpositions needed to be filled AsAp Not all stains are created equal. ing with a knotted-up Protein-based stains, such as sweat, damp spot in the cen• pediatrician – Full-time and part-time • internist – part-time blood and most food stains, require ter of a giant laundry• Family physician – part-time a cold rinse in order to ensure they cruller? That’s because don’t set. If you’ve spilled sour bulky loads need space • Medical registrar – Full-time and part-time • Medical assistant – Full-time and part-time cream on your favorite sweater, set- to move around. But no • dental assistant – Full-time and part time ting your washer to its hottest tem- household dryer is big • grant writing - part time perature setting will just bake that enough to tumble an cheese into a sweater sandwich. entire comforter inside out. So give your dryer resumes and cvs should be e-mailed : mpines@cmadc.com a hand (or two), open or faxed : 845-425-1228, Bleach Or Not - Check The Cycle up the door about halffor all other job information or openings please contact cMadc way through the cycle human resources at 845-352-6800 ext 6834 We won’t wade into the argument and untangle your about when it’s appropriate to use heavy-duty loads. It’s bleach—that’s for another arti- a little extra work, but it’ll shorten constant tumbling can cause deli- work harder to get your clothes dry, cle. But you should know that the the time your largest items spend in cate items to shrink and wear pre- and it will also put you at increased maturely, so it’s best to minimize risk for a house fire. Old hoses on a Whites or Cottons cycles on most the dryer. the time that those items spend in a washer may burst, leaving you with washers are designed to work with dryer. Many dryers contain a “damp a flooded laundry room. Always bleach, adding an extra rinse at the Consider Damp-Drying Delicates dry” option that automatically stops empty your lint trap, check your end of a wash to get the chlorine a cycle when clothes are dry enough dryer vent hose for lint buildup, and smell out of your clothes. If you wash your whites without bleach, If you live somewhere where you to hang on a line. Or you could just replace your hoses every five years. you’re just wasting water on a use- can air-dry your laundry, consider remove your delicate articles midless extra rinse. If you add bleach to using your clothes dryer only to cycle. Those few minutes spent Read The Manual! a normal cycle, you might end up get the initial bulk of water out of tumbling will help to reduce musty smelling like you just got out of the a load. The stress of high heat and smells and wrinkles. pool. Tumble-dry your delicates for For washers and dryers alike, autoa few minutes, then line-dry matic cycles go by different names Don’t Over-Soap them. It reduces musty smells across different brands. “Regular” Does your washer have the “high and wrinkles, but won’t dam- on one brand may be “Normal” on efficiency” logo on it? Make sure to age clothing. another and “Permanent Press” on read the manual and buy the propa third. Most washers and dryers er kind of laundry detergent. High come with an owner’s manual that efficiency detergents are concenCheck Your Vents And contains a chart explaining which trated—usually either 2x or 4x—so Hoses cycles are best for different kinds of you don’t need to add as much soap loads. as you would with a conventional This one should be a nowasher. Follow the instructions on brainer, but a dryer with your bottle of laundry detergent and clogged vents will have to only put in the exact amount it rec-

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Ceramic vs. sand

Avoiding a lemon

High-pressure pumps inject a mix of water, chemicals, and proppant into the well

Natural gas flows

In most states, used bought from out cars of the well and Recovered frack into pipelines to get water isowners treated to markets private are not covered by lemon or reused to frack another well tips for buying wisely: laws; some

The numbersDuring Emotional Times Investing U.S

Pump truck

Check the vehicle’s history CarFax

Soil

Shale

Irregularly shaped sand More tightly packed

By Gary M. Goldberg Founder & Chief Executive Officer

was founded in 1972, investors have been Wellexamine it Test drive the car and plagued by the same uncertainNechallenge: Cross-section w for clues of accident involvement, such ty! Uncertainty about of fractures the economy, uncer$682 created by hydraulic pressure as doors, hood or trunk that close tainty about the markets, uncertainty about Shale taxes, etc… Of course, in retrospect, now clumsily and new paint Uniform ceramic that we are able to see the forest from the proppant © 2008out reasonably Bigger gaps Have the car inspected by a good trees, things have MCT Shale between Sourceworked : Smart M grains mechanic; ask to see the owner’s servicewell over the years, onuncertainties the U.S. Ceand nsus Bureey, au records; if the owner balks, walk away that plagued us inGra thephicpast : Patare Carrnow a distant memory. In the early 1970’s it was the oil embargo, then high interest rates, the market crash of 1987, followed by the S&L crisis, the dot-com bubble bursting, to the financial crisis, all the way up to toFebruary is Heart Health Month recent day, where markets are driven by economic concerns over Europe as well as our own fiscal challenges. In order to be a successful investor, you need to learn how to put these Act in Time to emotions aside. I thought I’d provide you with a perspective and some helpful guidelines on “How an investor can stay unemotional about their stock holdings during these turbulent times?” My first piece of advice: Don’t fall in love with any particular stock. Investors need to understand that stocks are pieces of paper (not even that anymore). The companies they represent don’t know or care that Heart disease is the top killer of gas

which creates fractures in the shale; proppant keeps the cracks open, allowing gas to flow freely into the well

NOTE: Graphic is not to scale

Source: Universal Well Services Graphic: The Philadelphia Inquirer

Heart Attack Signs

men and women. Learn the signs of a heart attack and the steps to take if one happens. You can save a life–maybe your own. Treatments can stop a heart attack in its tracks. Clot-busting drugs and other artery-opening treatments work best to stop a heart attack if given within 1 hour of the start of symptoms. Know the warning signs: ▲ Discomfort or pain in the center of the chest. ▲ Discomfort in the arm(s), back, neck, jaw, or stomach. ▲ Shortness of breath. ▲ Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness.

Don’t delay. Call 9-1-1. Minutes matter! Don’t wait more than a few minutes–5 minutes at most–to call 9-1-1.

Plan ahead. ▲ Learn the warning signs. ▲ Talk with family and friends about the warning signs and the need to call 9-1-1 quickly. ▲ Talk with your health care provider about factors that increase your chance of having a heart attack–and how to reduce your risk. N

N A T I O N A L

H E A R T ,

L U N G ,

A N D

B L O O D

I N S T I T U T E

you exist and you objectively should feel the same way. I’ve always said, fall in love with your family and friends, not a stocks or company – you will be less emotionally attached when it comes time to sell. The second piece of advice: As Warren Buffett has always said, understand the business of the company you are investing in. Know the companies’ balance sheet, income statement and growth prospects. Then make a sound decision as to whether this is the best place to put your money. Lastly, I always ask myself, if I sold the stock today and had the cash in my hands from the sale, would I buy the stock back at today’s price? If the answer is no or maybe, I sell. Of course, there are many other factors and criteria that are used to determine the suitability of an investment, not the least of which is knowing, and understanding how comfortable you are with daily market moves and potential losses. The more sensitive you are to headline news events, the more likely you are to make an emotional decision. Just think back to the last time you made an investment mistake – I’m willing to bet that emotions played a deep role in the decision.

Shomer Shabbos Lew Picked as US Treasury Secretary from page 1 statement issued afterward. "Jack understands what it takes to tackle our economic and fiscal challenges in a balanced and bipartisan way," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., "and I am very glad that the Senate voted today to confirm him with strong bipartisan support so he can get to work." Widely respected by centrists and liberals alike, Lew won positive reviews of his work as deputy secretary of state under Hillary Rodham Clinton after his role as director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the Clinton administration. In July 2010, President Obama tapped him to return to his old White House stomping grounds as the replacement for OMB Director Peter Orszag. He was confirmed that November. As Clinton OMB director, Lew was responsible for coordinating administration efforts on the budget and appropriations and operated at a surplus for

9-1-1

Uncertainty is normal. Heart attacks are not always sudden and intense. Many start slowly, with only mild pain or discomfort. You may not be sure what’s wrong–even if you’ve had a heart attack. Each heart attack can have different signs. When in doubt, check it out.

EALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

646

. car sales 2007, in bill , ions Used

and AutoCheck will run reports based on the vehicle identification number (VIN), which will tell you how many owners and miles the $90 Extracting Sand The mixture is vehicle has, whether it’s been in accidents, Fracture pumped through small holes at the has title problems, other pertinent facts Since Gary Goldberg Financial Services Natural bottom of the well,

Water table

Proppants

‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

Gary Goldberg Financial Services

Hydraulic fracturing, or Òfracking,Ó involves the high-pressure injection of fluids into a well to shatter the rock to release oil or natural gas. The frack fluid contains a proppant, which gets lodged in the rock. While sand is the most common proppant, ceramic proppant, which Penn State University researchers say they can make from mine waste, can improve well production by up to 20 percent.

part of the Rapid Early gram, funded by the stitutes of Health,

th Blood Institute

‫תשע״ג‬

three years. At the time he drew praise from many Hill Republicans like Rep. C. W. "Bill" Young (R-Fla.), the former Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. ''I enjoy working with Jack Lew,'' said Young in 1999. ''He's a tough negotiator, but he's very nice to work with.''

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, DNev., said he looks forward to "working with him to bring middle-class families the economic security they deserve." Lew was recently the president's chief of staff. Obama said of Lew after the vote: "His reputation as a master of fiscal issues who can work with leaders on both sides of the aisle has already helped him succeed in some of the toughest jobs in Washington."

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

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Shomer Shabbos—Heimishe Service

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Standard & Special Sizes , Custom Shapes, Conventional Beds, One sided & Two sided Mattresses, Pillow Tops, Memory/Latex, Foam, Adjustable Electric Beds, Custom Matts, Highrisers

Free Estimates • Fully licensed & Insured

We start with design • Continue with quality • End with satisfaction!

Mattresses for: Home, Hotels & Motels, Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Schools, Dorms, Camps, Bungalows

RG Bedding & Accessories

N.Y. 845-425-6400, N.J. 201-645-1054 EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Henry Kellner President

Business Plan & Grant Proposal writer Computer Repairs &WiFi Services

Educational Consultants

• in-school support • • comprehensive educational evaluations • • individualized instruction •

Computer Lessons, Custom PC Network Surveillance camera services

" helping children to help themselves " Eliezer Vilinsky, M.A. Miryam Vilinsky, M.Ed.

(845) 426-3673 www.TReaching.com

Heimeshe Handyman Carpentry, Electrical repairs & troubleshooting, Plumbing repairs & troubleshooting, Sheetrock, Ceramic, Painting, Closets, Doors, Windows, Appliance Installations, Much More! 35 Years Experience—Shomer Shabbos

Complete Home Maintenance

No Job Too Small

Rons General

845-425-0639

Household Service

Macro Provider 25 South Main St. Spring Valley, NY

382 Route 59 Suite 292 Monsey, NY 10952

Phone: 845-371-6286 Fax: 845-782-1737 henry@reliablebrokerage.com www.reliablebrokerage.com

Business cards, Campaign posters, letter of all kinds

Call Now 845 202 2001 Satisfaction Guaranteed

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

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‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

Ramapo Lighting and Electric Your Electric Supplier Since 1998

Monday-Thursday: 7:30am-5:00 845-425-7750 Friday: 7:30am-3:00 32 South Central Avenue Sunday:8:30-12:30 Spring Valley, NY 10977 Professional Staff, Free Delivery, All Commercial Fixtures,Landscape Lighting, Wiring, Dimmers, Switch Plates, all Types of Switches and Plugs, Breakers, Panels and all Other Electrical and Commercial Needs.

Lighting By Fran Monday &Wednesday- 10:30-7:00 845-425-9070 Tuesday & Thursday-10:30-5:30 26 S. Central Ave. Friday: 10:30-3:00 Spring Valley, NY 10977 Sunday: 11:00-5:00

We are distributors of all major companies including: American Brass & Crystal, Schonbek, Murray Feiss, Corbett, Kichler, Troy and many more. Please call for more info.

We also carry a large line of mirrors and accent furniture In home shopping available.

Bulb Depot USA 845-425-7750

32 S. Central Avenue, Spring Valley, NY 10977

We carry all kinds of regular and specialty bulbs including Halogen, Led, Induction Bulbs, HPS Bulbs plus many more. Shomer Shabbos

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

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‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

CLASSIFIED ads

To place a classified ad for $10 please call 845.770.1950 • or E-mail Sales@advocateNews.org

help wanted

It's Your Health Make a Better Choice (Kosher) Organic green tea Organic Ganoderma Lucidum Capsules Ganoderma Lucidum Mycellum Capsules Organic Ganoderma Lucidum Spore Capsules

Executive Assistant to CEO CEO of intellectual property firm in Suffern, NY seeks exceptionally bright, well-educated, experienced and motivated executive assistant. Duties may be clerical, administrative and project-based, including screening calls, scheduling phone conferences, appointments and corporate meetings, managing calendar, arranging travel, writing correspondence, creating/editing presentations, internet research, liaison with staff, clients, outside counsel and tech support on network issues.

Ganoderma is a mushroom which has been used for its benefits for thousands of years in China. In the past, it was so rare that it was exclusive to it's emperors. Organo gold has partnered with Fujian Xianzhilou Biological Science and Technogy Co. Ltd, the only company that produces 100% Certified Organic Ganoderma. This "King of all Herbs" is infused in our tea with no sense of smell or taste. Ganoderma is harvested at different stages, the root form - Ganoderma Mycellum, yielding important trace minerals

Skills: MS Office 2010 including Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Superb written and oral communication. Computer savvy. Strong organizational skills. Discretion and diplomacy required. College degree is preferred, minimum 5 years experience in office administration required. Editing and proofreading skills are desired. Legal background is a plus. Full or part-time. Friendly work environment, attractive compensation, and company benefits plan available. Shomer Shabbos. Please email your resume and salary requirements to forhire10901@gmail.com

and fibers, Ganoderma Lucidum , the plant form - which supports a healthy immune system & Ganoderma Spores- the seed form, providing the pinnacle of health benefits. What our product does: balances ph in the body, provides energy,oxygenates the body,supports immune system,increases stamina & detoxifies the body

Distributor Opportunities Available Fundraising Opportunities

For a free sample email pamelascharles@yahoo.com Pamela S. Charles Organo Gold Distributor Brandequity.organogold.com 845-521-8826

Available for Elder care, Childcare, Housekeeping.

HELP WANTED

Live in or out. Excellent references available. Please call Maria at 914-648-5197

PROFESSIONAL GRANT WRITING POSITION

new vegetable, herb farm in ramapo looking for serious people with experience in farming or an interest in growing.

SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY 845-352-6800

please e-mail editor@advocateNews.org or call 770-1950

can you write?

taxes- need help?

writing intern positions

April 15th is just around the corner,

un-paid - COLLEGE CREDIT -

save money on your tax returns

e-mail -

call Shlomo • 845-222-7297 email: shlomoettlinger@gmail.com

editor@advocatenews. org

HELP WANTED

CONDOS FOR RENT-SALE

MONSEY BLUEBERRY HILL 1 BR FROM 129K 2 BR FROM 229K

PREFERRED PROPERTIES

845.352.4440

EXT 6850

Hemishe office in Monsey is looking for an exceptionally bright, experienced, and ambitious Full-Time female Executive Assistant. Diversified duties. Job suitable for a highly capable individual with strong organizational skills. Attractive compensation. Please fax resume at 845 425 0018 or email employment5234@gmail.com.

can you sell? sales ad agents positions available e-mail editor@advocatenews.org call 845 770 1950

wimples, sewn and painted bring back the beautiful Ashkanazi tradition. 845.213.0273

TAXI AVAILABLE Cheapest In Town Mini Vans Available Pay after Shabbos or Yom Tov 24 hour service Local or Long Distance 425-4411

la familia taxi

CONDOS FOR RENT

help wanted

MONSEY BLUEBERRY HILL Apartments for rent

s elling ad s f o r ne w s paper • flexible hours • good pay • should have experience e-mail: ads@advocatenews.org

1 Bedroom from $1,140 2 Bedrooms from $1,620 3 Bedrooms from $2,015

NOT TO BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER

CALL BLUEBERRY HILL 845.352.4440

To place a classified ad please call 845.770.1950 or E-mail Sales@advocateNews.org or FAX 845-746-2203

THE ADVOCATE February 28, 2013

‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט כי תשא‬

furniture buying tips

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 everything 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 dining room set from a salesperson or make an appointment just to visit, we'd suggest avoiding them altogether. 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 products that aren't worth that money. Think "used car lot," just with dining room sets and custom-order couches. Unless there's something very specific 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 treatments" for the couch that you're already 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 showroom stores. See if you can order direct from manufacturers. Your money will go farther, and your wallet will thank you. Shop for Used Bargains, but Exercise Caution

BREAK FREE FRO

M FOOT PAIN!

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 showrooms 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 frequently find beautiful, well cared-for items at decent prices. When it comes to buying used furniture 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 surroundings and the seller before you take anything used home with you. For some people, even a great bargain 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 durability for cash, then it's a good idea. Finding a used diamond in the rough is a great way to score quality 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

Dr. Harry Baldinger • Dr. Michael Ginsburg For information & appointments:

845-352-6800 x 6824 40 Robert Pitt Dr. Monsey, NY 10952

rcdc

WOMEN’S SENIOR GROUP MONDAY & WEDNESDAY 12:30PM- 3:00PM

Nutritious lunch served, stimulating program, & musical entertainment, frEE TrANSPorTATIoN FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CALL A PROJECT OF OFA OF ROCKLAND COUNTY

845.352.1400 x 3245

nov/12

If you know you'll be somewhere for a few years—maybe between three and five—you'll want some resilient, quality furniture, but obviously not everything. If you're moving 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. Similarly, 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.

DATED MATERIAL

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#1 Diabetes Control

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in

onsey Family Medical Center scored the highest ratings for several benchmarks in quality health care. We scored # 1 in the region in Diabetes Control.

health Center: Community Medical and Dental Care, Inc. Hudson River HealthCare Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center Open Door Family Medical Center Inc. Refuah Health Center New York State health centers (AVG.)

City Monsey Peekskill Mount Vernon Ossining New Square (all)

Diabetes control 94.29% 72.26% 71.43% 80.05% 64.29% 73.60%

hypertension low birth Childhood Cervical cancer control weight immunization screening 90.00% 2.96% 88.57% 97.14% 60.49% 6.71% 81.43% 41.87% 70.00% 4.68% 85.71% 60.00% 67.65% 2.68% 86.18% 69.50% 75.71% 4.83% 10.71% 47.14% 64.40% 7.18% 70.10% 61.60% Source: U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration