THE ADVOCATE Vol. 27 No. 11 •
Rockland’s Independent Jewish Community Newspaper Since 1985 •
22 Adar - 5772 March 15, 2012
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THE VIZHNITZER REBBE OF BNEI BRAK ZY''A For a free subscription to
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Bnei Brak, Israel - Tens of thousands of people came to pay their respects to R’ Moshe Yehoshua Hager who was laid to rest in Kiryat Vishnitz today as countless Vishnitzer chasidim worldwide were plunged into a sea of mourning. Within moments of R’ Hagers petira last night, hundreds of chasidim had gathered around the Rebbe’s house and all over the world Vishnitzer chasidim boarded flights which would bring them to Bnei Brak in time for the levaya. Thousands spent last night in the big Vishnitzer Beis Medrash saying Tehillim near the body of the Vishnitzer Rebbe.
THE VIZHNITZER REBBE OF BNEI BRAK ZY''A
ADVOCATE INTERVIEWS 845-421-1910 SEE PAGE 15 FOR COUPON
WESLEY HILLS MAYORAL CANDIDATE The Advocate Countywide Election News
R’ Hager’s body was returned to the Beis Medrash early this afternoon after completion of the tahara where he was flanked by his two sons, R’ Yisroel Hager and R’ Menachem Mendel Hager, who made the bracha Dayan Haemes and tore kriya, an action that was followed by all those over Bar Mitzvah who were present at the time. The Vishnitzer Beis Din issued a ruling to its chasidim instructing them to mourn the Rebbe as they would any close relative, with details on the laws of aveilus and how to tear
kriya. All work was banned today during the levaya and announcements were made by loudspeaker this morning telling women not to take part in the actual levaya but to remain on designated streets which included Imrei Chaim, Kibutz Galuyot and Har Sinai. R’ Hager’s death has been felt far and wide and not only by the tens of thousands of Vishnitz chasidim. Countless yeshivos throughout Bnei Brak closed today to allow their talmidim to participate in the levaya. The Belzer Rebbe and the Seret-Vishnitz Rebbe both instructed their followers to pay their respects to R’ Hager and a cornerstone laying, which was to take place today cont. Page 4
THOUSANDS ATTEND ROCKLAND YOUTHFEST/ GOVERNMENT DAY
VILLAGES HOLD ELECTIONS MARCH 20
A. Tendler
פרשת ויקהל
The only contested election this March in Rockland is being faced in the Village of Wesley Hills. Elections are also being contested throughout the region in Buchanan, Cold Spring, Irvington, Pleasantville, Scarsdale, Sleepy Hollow, and Tarrytown. The Advocate interviewed Mayoral candidate Brett Bekritsky, in the hopes of finding out the reason he’s
running, his accomplishments so far, and his goals for the Village of Wesley Hills. Advocate: You are presently an incumbent Trustee correct? Bekritsky: Yes, I was elected in 2008. Advocate: You are running for the Mayor’s office? Bekritsky: Yes, with the endorsement of the Democrats, Republicans and Working Families. Advocate: Who is the opposing candidate? Bekritsky: David Goldsmith. Advocate: What made you decide to do that? Is it the next natural step, or did you see a real need? cont. Page 4
The #1 Judaica source in Rockland 27 Orchard St. 845-352-7792
8:18
6:47
Participating at Youthfest/Governmenet Day, Peter Toussaint, Medical Assistant at Ben Gilman Spring Valley Family Medical Center, checks Ramapo Town Councilman Daniel Friedman’s blood pressure as Clarkstown Town Clerk Justin Sweet looks on.
Thousands came out from all over Rockland Sunday at the RCC fieldhouse to Youthfest/Government Day. The free event featured several hundred vendor booths where representatives of various organizations shared information pertaining to a multitude of
youth-oriented local programs, business services, community resources, and educational opportunities. Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef was on hand at the event to officially welcome YouthFEST visitors. He referenced an important new addition cont. Page 4
THE ADVOCATE March 15,
AS WE GO TO PRESS APPLE STOCK TOPS $600
2
2012
Apple Inc.‘s stock touched $600 for the first time, the day before the company’s latest iPad goes on sale. The stock reached $600.01 just after the market opened and was up $3.76 at $593.34 after the half-hour of trading. Apple is the world’s most valuable company, with a market capitalization of nearly $555 billion. It topped $500 billion for the first time in late February, a market value peak where few companies have ventured. Anticipation is high for Apple’s latest creation. Some industry experts believe the Cupertino, Calif., company could sell 1 million of the new iPad on Friday, when it becomes available to the public. Apple has already stopped taking advance orders for Friday and said customers should expect a twoto three-week wait for purchases made through its online store. There were 15.4 million iPads shipped in Apple’s most recent quarter, which included the critical holiday season. That amount was more than double its iPad sales the year before. The updated iPad will not have a new name. Upgrades include a sharper screen, driven by a faster processing chip that acts as the “brains” of the device. The new features will make the tablet computer slightly thicker and heavier than the iPad 2, because it needs a larger battery to power the high-resolution screen.
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• 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.
דער אדוואקאט
Publisher's Desk A Weekly Editorial By:
The March 20th election for our local villages are this coming week. While most of the villages in RockMendel Hoffman land are not looking to change any seats, Wesley Hills, our Monsey neighbor is a contested election. It is important to consider some of the ideas Brett Bekritsky, Mayoral candidate has spoken out about. Making Wesley Hills financially responsible is one of his plans if he wins the election. Many young people are moving to the village and they should be informed about the village’s actions. For those who live there or planning on moving, Brett Bekritsky vows on making Wesley Hills friendlier and more sympathetic to residents with responsive leadership. His plans include enforcing village codes with courtesy and respect. Support for local businesses is another item on his agenda, in a time when gas and tolls are as high as ever, we need to preserve jobs here. He also has a comprehensive master plan to protect the village from outside developers. Bekritsky is down to earth and someone who you can talk to. In the front page article of this week’s Advocate he published his phone number. Go ahead, call him, make an informed decision this voting season. You only have yourselves to blame if you don’t vote. This is an opportunity to become part of your neighborhood- so take advantage this Tuesday in the only Rockland Village election worth fighting for.
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
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, “Purim” Drivers- just the tip of the iceberg
Rockland Community Development Center Inc.
ויקהל תשע״ב
Purim has come and gone but the thing many of us fear most on this joyous day- aggressive and unsafe drivers- is an ongoing cancer in our area. Several weeks ago I witnessed the a small blue car three days in a row, rushing southbound on Route 306 at 6:30 am . Understand that at that time of the morning Route 306 is virtually devoid of any traffic, and yet this driver was speeding and or unsafely passing other cars with little regard for safety or traffic rules. On one day the car actually pulled up at a red light into the left turn lane next to a car heading south and, when the light changed, shot ahead in the southbound lane. Guess what? I went to the Ramapo police department and reported the three incidents and was assured by the duty officer that this repeated
offender’s license plate would be run and the driver spoken to. Problem solved? Ha! The next day erev Shabbos, I was heading north on Route 306 at a time when traffic usually gets a little backed up. I was stopped in front of Ohr Someyach waiting for the Viola Road traffic light to change when in my sideview mirror I saw a car come shooting ahead in the southbound lane, pass me, cut across the yellow zebra lines, and move into the left turn lane. My car was so far back that I couldn’t see the front of the line; but when the light changed I could see that no car made a left turn. What I did see a bit later was the same car at the head of the northbound traffic! It had broken several driving laws to get there only to turn into Mariner Way just seconds later. What could have been the rush? Oh, by the way, it wasn’t the same car I had reported the day before. Yes, there
is actually at least one more meshuggena on the road. This one was driving a gray car with the license plate left out for your readers but not for the police to whom I will give a full description. This has got to stop and I, for one, will do my part to be as aggressive to report further violators as they are to commit violations. While I am not a Rav, I believe that compulsive aggressive drivers fall into the category of rodef and must be reported for everyone’s safety. The police will gladly take your report without even asking your name. Like the old saying goes: “The life you save may be your own.” Signed, I’m Watching
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דער אדוואקאט
ויקהל תשע״ב
3
THE ADVOCATE March 15, 2012
THE ADVOCATE March 15,
4
2012
BEKRITSKY FOR MAYOR
VIZHNITZER REBBE BNEI BRAK ZY''A cont. from page1 for the new Sanz development in Tverya, has been rescheduled. Prime Minister Binyamim Netanyahu, Knesset speaker Rubi Rivlin and Jerusalem’s mayor Nir Barkat all called Vishnitz representative R’ Eliezer Menachem Mozes to officially express their condolences,
not only to the Hager family but to the thousands of bereft Vishnitzer chasidim worldwide. Former Chief Rabbi of Israel and current Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau Shlita pointed to the Rebbe’s love for his fellow Jew and his dedication to Torah study.
“The Rebbe will be remembered as the one who lifted up the Vizhnitz dynasty from the ashes of the Holocaust and rebuilt it here in the Land of Israel,” said Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin. “The Admor engraved on his flag shows the overriding importance of education, education, education. Education above everything else. “The Vizhnitz hassidim have also waved the banner of love for their fellow Jew and love of the Torah,” Rivlin added. “The words of the sages that ‘the appropriate behavior is more important than Torah,’ was a guiding light for the rebbe in his character, the leadership of his flock and the way in which he founded hassidic life in Israel. The Knesset bows its head with honor and respect, for the passing of this great leader and conveys its condolences to his sons the leaders of Vizhnitz, to his daughters and to the entire hassidic world.”
ויקהל תשע״ב
Bekritsky: I love Wesley Hills, and after four years on the inside, I know where we are falling short. Inconsistent, unfocused development jeopardizes our community. Taxes continue to rise. Complaints continue about dangerous intersections, and roads that put pedestrians at risk. And not enough is being done to preserve the character of Wesley Hills. Advocate: Why are you the prime candidate? Bekritsky: Four years of local government experience as Village Trustee, and almost twelve years of serious service to my Wesley Hills community, recommend my candidacy. My Master's degree in Public Administration, and fourteen years of experience working for non-profits, provide me with the background and training to serve as the Mayor of Wesley Hills. Advocate: What are some of the prominent issues in the Village today? Bekritsky: Instead of sidewalks and walking paths, the Village has more traffic than ever. Instead of single family homes and landscaped parks, "down-zoning" has struck Ramapo and is now encroaching on Wesley Hills. Instead of "customer-friendly" officials, the village has become increasingly difficult to do business with. Instead of helping the taxpayers, village taxes have gone up more than 50% under the last decade of "oneparty rule”. Instead of limiting litigation, legal fees have become the noose around the village's (and the taxpayer's) neck. Advocate: What do you plan to do to resolve these issues? Bekritsky: My running mates and I have seen our own Village taxes go up 50% over the last ten years. We will hold the line on taxes by getting our fair share of state and federal grants, and by opening up Village events and programs, like Wesley Hills Day, to advertising and sponsorship. We are going to be tireless in our pursuit of this extra revenue, because every dollar we raise is a dollar our residents won't pay in taxes.
to the YouthFEST program, “County Government Day.” “Some of our residents are not quite sure what county government is all about, or what it is we actually do,” said Vanderhoef. “At this year’s County Government Day event, the public was afforded the opportunity to find out about the many services we provide. The District Attorney, County Clerk, Sheriff, and the Rockland County Legislature all participated at the event.” Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef and Harriet Cornell, Chairwoman of the Rockland County Legislature, welcome residents to the event. • The Department of Planning showcased their award-winning GIS and
cont. from page1
Pertaining to restoring the Village’s beauty, my supporters on the west side of the Village note that Spook Rock Road is cleaner after it enters Montebello. There's a reason for this. Montebello frequently sends a ‘litter patrol’ to clean known problem spots. Wesley Hills should do this, too. I will also hold Ramapo accountable for the upkeep of Town property, and impose stricter treereplacement requirements on builders who clear-cut land parcels. We're a full-service Village, but it's often difficult for residents to access those services. If I am elected, the Board and I will answer the question of how to make our Village friendlier and more accessible, by establishing clear, coherent policies for those types of applications. And though the Village will never be able to approve every individual request, going forward denials will be based on objective, pre-existing criteria. We can’t say yes to everything, but the default position shouldn’t be no. I also will ensure that our code enforcement officers treat residents with courtesy and respect. I’ll eliminate our exposure to Down Zoning. If we document our local land use standards in advance, we can make it much harder for a developer to claim that our zoning is arbitrary or discriminatory. Without such a Plan, our Village remains at risk to the whims and lawsuits of outsiders. I plan to provide responsive, sympathetic leadership. My phone number is 481-0235. Any resident of Wesley Hills is strongly encouraged to call me at anytime with complaints, suggestions, or ideas for making Wesley Hills better. Over the course of this campaign, I’ve spoken to hundreds of residents and their perspectives have shaped my opinion. I will continue to do this after the election, always seeking to learn about and address the concerns that matter to the people of Wesley Hills. Advocate: Thank you for your time, and good luck!
THOUSANDS ATTEND ROCKLAND YOUTHFEST/ GOVERNMENT DAY Demographic Research Divisions, with interactive and internet-based applications from County statistics to emergency services operations. • Rockland STOP-DWI ‘s was staff provided answers to questions pertaining to the dangers of drinking and driving, underage drinking, penalties, etc. Demonstrations on field sobriety testing were available using drunk driving simulator goggles. • The Division of Environmental Resources highlighted the County Executive's highly successful Open Space Acquisition Program, 28 County Parks, Environmental initiatives and signed up volunteers for the Rockland County Soil District's Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program. • The Department of Personnel provided information concerning upcoming Civil Service Examinations for job opportunities in local governments, including towns. Applications for examinations were be available. In addition, information was provided to people
דער אדוואקאט
interested in taking the Examination for Police Officers that will be given in November for all the Rockland municipalities. • The Rockland County Board of Elections presented a multi media presentation entitled "What we do the rest of the year". They also offered demonstrations and training on using the new style scanner voting machines. In addition information was available about registering to vote and becoming a poll worker.
cont. from page1 • The Admissions Team from Summit Park Nursing Care Center and Summit Park Adult Day Health Care Center were on hand to explain the services provided at Summit Park Hospital. They displayed information about Summit Park's family of services. Summit Park Hospital is the only Long Term Acute Care Hospital in the Hudson Valley Region. • The District Attorney’s Office provided visitors with information on ‘Community Prosecution,’ which is the underlying philosophy of the District Attorney’s office. Representatives provided information on the Special Victims Center, as well as alternatives to incarceration programs. A quarterly newsletter was also available. • The Rockland County Sheriff was present, along with key staff. Specialized units including the Bomb Detection Squad and the K-9 Unit demonstrated their important skills. There was also a visual tour display of the Rockland County Jail.
THE ADVOCATE March 15, 2012
5
ויקהל תשע״ב
Legally Speaking
To place a legal ad or public notice in the Advocate, please e-mail: sales@AdvocateNews.org
Ryan Scott Karben, Esq. This week, we'll take a break from a discussion from the intricacies of the Zoning Law to discuss the assessment of real property taxes.
דער אדוואקאט
If you disagree with the tentative town assessment, or believe you were entitled to either a full or partial exemption, your period to challenge that assessment runs roughly through the end of May. The relevant municipality will publish a notice of times that the assessment role can be inspected and the time period to file a challenge to your assessment. Attorneys and property tax challenge services can assist you with this process, though some individuals choose to gather the data and file the paperwork on their own.
The taxable status date for real property in the Town of Ramapo is March 1st. That means that a property is assessed based on its condition as of March 1st. For example, a house that is 50% completed as of March 1st of a given year will be assessed at 50% of its construction value even though the house will completed during the coming tax year. For tax exempt properties, they must comply with all of the requirements for real property tax exemption as of March1st of a given year.
After you file a tax challenge, also known as a grievance, the Assessor and the Board of Assessment review will review your evidence and ether uphold, reverse or modify the determination of the Assessor. If you are still unsatisfied with the outcome, you retain the option to take the municipality to court through either a SCAR petition (Small Claims Assessment Review, for homeowners) or a full property tax challenge for commercial and non-profit exemption cases.
While this might sound arbitrary at first, the law understands that there needs to be a fixed date for assessable status. This date needs to apply to all properties so that an equitable assessment role can be established. The deadline for applying for a real property tax exemption for a property owned by a non-profit is March 1st. This is paperwork intensive process, so churches, synagogues, schools and other non-profits should make sure they have plenty of time to prepare the application.
Assessments vary widely based on improvements to real property and the year in which the property was assessed. Despite a court order going back more than a decade, Rockland County has failed to implement a countywide reassessment of properties, leading to multiple complications in comparing the appropriate value for taxation of properties in multiple municipalities and even in the same jurisdiction. This lack of reassessment generally benefits older, unimproved homes, some of which have not had their assessment updated for decades.
Properties that change in status (for example change from a single-family home to a multi-family condominium) are also assessed as of their status on March 1st of a given year. Based on any changes (or the absence of changes), the Assessor will assign each property in the town a tentative assessment. (Some village, such as Spring Valley, have their own assessor and their own deadlines. A property can legaly be assessed at difference values by the different municipal jurisdictions in which it is located. The trend has been toward consolidation of assessment functions. The Village of Pomona, for example, turned the assessment of property in is border over the the Towns of Ramapo and Haverstraw, respectively, a few years ago).
Dr. Albetter says;
You can contact Ryan Karben at Ryan@ryankarben.com or 914-536-4402
“better to b e
Getting government information
In January 2009, President Barack Obama issued an executive order instructing all agencies and departments to Òadopt a presumption in favorÓ of Freedom of Information Act requests. Data from the past four years shows a drop in backlogged requests yet a smaller share of full requests being granted.
How the government did
FOIA requests, in thousands 600
Received
500 400 300 200
547,486 560,251
FOIA requests granted, rejected Full grant Partial grant
Processed Rejected**
Total
Processed Pending at year end
How FOIA requesters fared
101,808
2008
Denied
2009
476,543 169,703
2010
493,888 155,020
306,840
338,868
5%
5%
2011
517,626 173,795
547,486 174,531
343,831
FOR AN APPOINTMENT OR TO FIND OUT IF YOUR CHILD IS UP TO DATE WITH ALL THEIR IMMUNIZATONS...
372,955
6%
6%
THE DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRIC MEDICINE AT MONSEY FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER
100 Õ08
34%
Õ09
19%
Õ10
17%
BACKLOG*
Õ11
19%
*Pending requests as a percentage of processed requests
34
61
45
50
39
55
41
53
**Technical rejections include no request, duplicate request, request withdrawn, records not reasonably described NOTE: Figures donÕt total 100 percent due to rounding.
NOTE: Data is for fiscal years (Oct. 1-Sept. 30) from 25 government departments and agencies that account for about 94 percent of all FOIA requests; more than 90 agencies are subject to the FOIA and must file annual reports on their performance Source: Sunshine in Government Initiative Graphic: Judy Treible
© 2012 MCT
Dr. Esther Bekritsky, Dr. Paul Bloom, and Dr. Gerson Gluck
Call 352-6800 today. Monsey Family Medical Center 40 Robert Pitt Dr., Monsey, NY 10952 845.352.6800
Ben Gilman Spring Valley
Family Medical Center 175 Rt. 59 Spring Valley, NY 10977 845.426.5800
THE ADVOCATE March 15,
6
2012
ויקהל תשע״ב
דער אדוואקאט
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS UPDATES GOP REP. BOB TURNER HE’S CHALLENGING INCUMBENT DEMOCRATIC SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND. In a statement below released today by Turner he confirms that he is a candidate for U.S. Senate: “I will travel to the Republican State Convention in Rochester later this week and humbly ask for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate. I will respectfully ask for the Conservative nomination a few days later at that Party’s convention. I have made my intentions known to the other Republican candidates in this race. “I ran for the House six months ago as a private citizen fed up with what is happening in Washington. I could not sit and watch career politicians sink my nation deeper into economic crisis. Brooklyn and Queens voters, of all political parties, graciously responded by sending me to Congress. It now appears that their district has been eliminated. “There is serious work to be done to get this economy back on track, and I will not walk away from that work now. I will run for the Senate, and I will run to win.”
Good year for U.S. automakers
If Israel strikes Iran ...
The U.S. auto industry had a strong year with solid sales and job growth. A look at the trends:
Bigger market share
Ford, GM and Chrysler now have more than half of the U.S. market 60% 50
How Americans feel about the possibility of an Israeli strike on IranÕs nuclear program:
25% 69 58 79 67
Favor strike Favor negotiations • Republicans • Democrats
• Independents
What Americans think the U.S. should do if Israel strikes and Iran retaliates, but not against American targets: Provide military force 25%
41 49
• Republicans Take neutral stance
Source: Program on International Policy Attitudes and Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland poll of 727 Americans, March 3-7, 2012; margin or error: +/-4.5 percentage points Graphic: Pat Carr © 2012 MCT
Detroit Three
53.3%
40 30 20
46.7%
International automakers
10 0
Õ04
Õ05
Õ06
Õ07
Õ08
Õ09
Õ10
Õ11
More jobs
Auto industry jobs are projected to continue grow from 2009 low 948,000
756,800 560,000
Õ09
Õ04
Sales forecast
Õ15
Projected
Projected sales for U.S. light vehicles, in millions of units 20
15.6
15 10 5
12.8
0 Õ11 Õ12 Õ13 Õ14 Õ15 Õ16 Õ17 Õ18 Õ19 Õ20 Source: Center for Automotive Research Graphic: Judy Treible © 2011 MCT
מענער און פרויען דענטיסטס Dr. Albetter asks;
“Does your child love sweets?”
Bring your child for a check-up, cleaning, and sealant, and you will be assured your child’s teeth are clean white and cavity free.
Children’s hospital revenues
Top earning U.S. childrenÕs hospitals of the 39 independent institutions studied, in millions for most recent year tax returns were available: Hospital
ChildrenÕs Hospital, Cincinnati
Revenue
Profit
$1,461.0
$52.5
1,348.7
94.5
197.2
ChildrenÕs Hospital, Philadelphia
1,439.5
Texas ChildrenÕs Hospital, Houston
1,001.2
43.2
912.0
81.5
ChildrenÕs Hospital, Boston
95.6
Nationwide ChildrenÕs Hospital, Columbus (Ohio)
918.7
Packard ChildrenÕs Hospital, Stanford (Calif.)
772.1
76.6
707.9
39.9
ChildrenÕs Medical Center, Dallas
ChildrenÕs National Medical Center (D.C.) Seattle ChildrenÕs Hospital
ChildrenÕs Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. Source: Kaiser Health News
730.3 684.1
40.8 28.7 © 2011 MCT
Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Ramin Kashani, Dr. Stacy Lubetsky
Pediatric Dentists Call 352-6800 today.
Monsey Family Medical Center 40 Robert Pitt Dr., Monsey, NY 10952 845.352.6800
Ben Gilman Spring Valley
Family Medical Center 175 Rt. 59 Spring Valley, NY 10977 845.426.5800
THE ADVOCATE March 15, 2012
7
HEALTH
Kids Health Matters
Getting enough sleep
Here’s a look at how much sleep your child needs when aging from infant to teen:
1-4 weeks
15.5-16.5 hours
1-4 months
14.5-15.5 hours
Sleep comes in short periods, 2-4 hours at a time
More regular sleep patterns emerge
4-12 months Establishing healthy sleep habits should be a primary goal
14-15 hours
12-14 hours
1-3 years Transition child to just one nap per day
3-6 years Naps become shorter, usually end around age 5
10.75-12 hours
6-12 years
10-11 hours
More daily activities can shift bedtimes later gradually
12-18 years Sleep needs remain vital, but schedules often become difficult
Source: WebMD Graphic: Angela Smith, Garrick Gibson
8.25-9.5 hours
© 2008 MCT
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
ALL DISORDERS TREATED INCLUDING:
WE SERVICE CLIENTS WITH: • Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders • Fluency and Voice Disorders • Pragmatic Issues • Oral Motor, Articulation and Phonological Disorders
For info & appointments:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Chronic Hoarseness Vocal Fatigue Nasality Resonance disorders Articulation Oromotor Stuttering Cognitive Reading Hearing Loss Apraxia Head Trauma Parkinsons Dysarthria
845-352-6800x 6824 40 Robert Pitt Dr. Monsey, NY 10952
ויקהל תשע״ב
NEWS
FEEDING SOLID FOODS TO BABIES UNDER 4 MONTHS LINKED TO OBESITY. According to research findings just published by the journal, Pediatrics, trying solid food with formula-fed kids before they hit four months of age raises the odds they'll be overweight as preschoolers. In a study involving more than 800 young children, researchers from Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard noted whether babies were nursed or got formula. Then they looked at when they were weaned and how much they weighed as 3-yearolds. At three years, 75 kids, or 9 percent of the group, were obese. After crunching the numbers, the researchers found that the formulafed kids who started on solid food by four months were six times more likely to be obese. For kids who got mother's milk, there was no difference in obesity tied to when solid foods were introduced. To put a point on it, 7 percent of nursed kids were obese 3-yearolds compared with 13 percent of the formula drinkers. About twothirds of the kids were nursed. One-third got formula. One of the research projects the editorial
דער אדוואקאט
The move follows a study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that found that 2 of 5 adolescalled for was a study cents have tooth streaks like the one just pub- or spots because of exlished in Pediatrics. The cess fluoride. The condiobesity difference in the tion, called dental fluostudy wasn't explained rosis, usually develops by babies growing su- when children's teeth perfast in the first few are forming — age 8 months. The research- and younger. ers recommend parents pay attention to long- Dental fluorosis can standing advice that ba- happen after drinking bies shouldn't be eating artificially fluoridated solid food until they're water or water naturally at least four months, high in fluoride. HHS and probably better says that in the United still, around six months. States fluorosis is usually very mild or mild, with "barely visible lacy FEDS TO LOWER white markings or spots on the enamel." In other FLUORIDE LIMITS countries with higher levels of naturally ocThe federal govern- curring fluoride in wament has announced ter, severe fluorisis can that the fluoride see- pit teeth and turn them saw in this country has brown. tipped too far toward excess. These days kids HHS and EPA's decision are getting fluoride to scale the chemical from many sources, in- back was also based on cluding drinking water, findings of a 2006 retoothpaste and mouth port from the National Academy of Sciences, rinses. which found that the The U.S. Department EPA standard was leadof Health and Human ing to the loss enamel in Services together with some children. the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are Despite new concern proposing to drop the over fluoride, public recommended level of health officials says fluoride in drinking wa- fluoridated water and ter to the lowest end of fluoride-fortified tooththe current range. That paste are largely rewould put it at 0.7 milli- sponsible for the siggrams per liter of water nificant decline in tooth (mg/L) quite a bit below decay in the U.S. over the previous recom- the past several demended maximum of cades. 1.2 mg/L. And some dentists are
Healthy Living
How tofu stacks up
Called “the cheese of Asia” – tofu is made from the curds of soybean milk – this healthy food adapts to many styles of cooking.
Versatile ...
• Bland on its own, tofu absorbs the flavors of foods it is mixed with, from sweet to savory • Traditional Chinese-style tofu is similar to farmer’s cheese • Silken Japanese-style is custard-like • Both styles can be found in soft, firm and extra-firm textures; soft tofu is well suited for salad dressings, sauces and desserts; firm is good for grilling and stir-frying
... and nutritious
• In any form, tofu is a good source of protein, iron and omega-3-fatty acids • A tofu-rich diet can lower cholesterol, help reduce menopausal symptoms Source: Foundation for Integrated Medicine, World’s Healthiest Foods, MCT Photo Service Graphic: Pat Carr
© 2010 MCT
THE ADVOCATE March 15,
2012
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Study: Why Ashkenazi Jews are Susceptible To Crohn's Disease New York - American and other researchers have discovered five new genetic mutations that make Ashkenazi Jews four times more likely than other populations to develop Crohn’s disease.
“This is the largest study to date, and the first to discover the unique risk factors of Crohn’s disease in the Ashkenazi Jewish population,” said Peter. “The prevalence of this disease is so The online journal PLoS (Public Li- much higher in Ashkenazi Jews, brary of Science) reported the dis- and the involvement of genetic variants predominant in this covery in its March 8th issue. population might help underThe findings, from a multicenter stand why that is.” study, are the first step in an attempt to explain why Ashkenazi The research team, funded by Jews are at significantly higher risk the New York Crohn’s Disease for the disorder, which is a form of foundation, also evaluated preinflammatory bowel disease (IBD). vious findings in non- Jewish Crohn’s is an autoimmune condi- Europeans with Crohn’s disease tion in which the immune system and found that the genetic strucattacks healthy tissue in the gas- ture of the novel regions associtrointestinal track, causing chronic ated with Crohn’s disease risk in the Ashkenazi Jewish group was inflammation. much less diverse than that of Crohn’s usually affects the intestines, non-Jewish Europeans. which are continually inflamed and thick, but it can occur anywhere “Not only did we discover diffrom the mouth to the end of the ferent risk factors for Ashkenazi rectum. In this condition, the body Jews, but we found that some overreacts to normal bacteria in the previously known risk factors are intestines While it can occur at any more potent to this population,” age, the typical ages of onset are said Peter. “Armed with this new between 15 and 35. People at high information, we can begin to anrisk include smokers, those with a alyze the specific signals to pinfamily history of Crohn’s and Jews point causal genetic mutations, of Ashkenazi origin, but until now, discover why they are malfuncthe defective genes had not been tioning, and eventually develop novel treatment approaches.” identified.
Since Dr. Crohn and his colleagues first described this disease, Mount Sinai has remained at the forefront of research and treatment for digestive diseases. Its specialists today care for more patients with inflammatory bowel disease than any other medical center in the US. If medicines do not help, surgical bowel resection may be needed to remove a damaged or diseased part of the intestine or to drain an abscess. The condition is marked by periods of improvement followed by flare-ups of symptoms. Patients are at higher risk for small bowel and colon cancer than those who do not have Crohn’s. Sufferers are usually advised to eat a well-balanced, healthy diet, but certain types of foods can make diarrhea and gas worse. Stress often makes the condition worse. Medications are given to reduce symptoms, but there is no cure. However, the gene discovery could eventually lead to early diagnosis, a better means of treatment or maybe even a way to cure or prevent it.
Its main symptoms are fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, pain when passing stool, fever, weight loss, diarrhea, possibly eye inflammation, joint pain and swelling, swollen gums and skin ulcers. In addition to a physical exam, tests and scans, a stool culture is often conducted to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms. Dr. Burrill Crohn first characterized the disease exactly 80 years ago at New York’s Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Prof. Inga Peter, a geneticist at Mount Sinai, led the international research team to search for unique genetic risk factors in Ashkenazi Jews. Previous studies had identified 71 genetic variants of Crohn’s disease risk in people, especially Jews of central and eastern European ancestry. Peter and her team conducted a two-step genome-wide association study comparing 1,878 Ashkenazi Jews with Crohn’s disease to 4,469 Ashkenazi Jews without the disease, using DNA samples to evaluate their genetic make-up. The research team found 12 of the known risk variants, but also discovered five new genetic risk regions on chromosomes (5q21.1, 2p15, 8q21.11, 10q26.3 and 11q12.1).
Tips for saving gas Some suggestions from Uncle Sam for reducing your gasoline costs:
Pump prices
Maintain your vehicle Follow
U.S. averag e weekly for re gular unleaded
Use regular gas unless the engine is
$4
the owner’s manual schedule for tune-ups, oil changes, air filter replacements; keep tires properly inflated and aligned knocking or the manufacturer recommends a higher octane; avoid “gas-saving” gadgets, since most offer little to no benefit
Lighten the load An extra 100 lbs. (45 kg.) in the trunk can reduce fuel efficiency by up to two percent Drive smart Obey speed limits, avoid jackrabbit starts and stops; combine errands; consider carpools, public transport
$4.11
3 2 1 0 7/2/07
7/7/08
© 2008 M Source: U CT Commissi.S. Federal Trade Informatio on, U.S. Energy n Admin Graphic: istration Pat Carr
רופא חולים Sponsored By Monsey Medical & Dental Center 40 Robert Pitt Drive, Monsey, NY 845-352-6800
PEDIATRIC MEDICINE
Dr. Esther Bekritsky Dr. Paul Bloom Dr. Gerson Gluck
ADULT MEDICINE
Dr. James Israel Dr. Arthur Landau Dr. Debra Grohman Dr. Delatre Lolo Brian Blitz, PA Elana Klein, PA Erick Araujo, PA
FAMILY MEDICINE
Dr. Michael Safran Dr. Jamie Giraldo
OB/GYN
Dr. Joel W. Allen Dr. Debra Kirschner Melissa A. Carco, PA Nancy Solomon, CNM
DENTAL
Dr. Genady Benyaminov Dr. Stacey Lubetsky Dr. Ramin Kashani Dr. Jacklyn Tadros Dr. Mark Raider Dr. Sarah Hanna Dr. David Horowitz
SPECIALTY Dr. Harry Baldinger - Podiatry Dr. Stuart Birnbaum - Podiatry Dr. David Schwalb - Urology Dr. Renata Witkowska - Allergy Dr. Samuel Wong - Ophthalmology Dr. Carlos Delrosa-Ophthalmology Dr. Alfred Hellreich - Dermatology Dr. Philip Fried - Dermatology Dr. Yoel Kantor - Endocrinology Hanna Raice - Nutrition Counseling Aaron Muller, Speech Therapy Melech Karp, Speech Therapy
FAMILY HEALTH TALK SELECTIVE MUTISM Department of Speech Therapy Selective mutism is a disorder that affects a child’s ability to speak in certain settings. For example, a child may be able to speak with family at home but not with peers at school. Selective mutism is linked to anxiety and may be related to social phobia. It is important to remember that selective mutism does not occur because an individual is shy or chooses not to speak. “However common symptoms associated with selective mutism include excessive shyness, over-dependency on parents and oppositional behavior,” notes Aaron Muller, a speech therapist at Monsey Family Medical Center. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders states that the following criteria lead to a diagnosis of selective mutism: • The child is unable to speak in at least one social situation. • The problem disrupts school/occupational achievement. • The symptoms last for at least one month, beyond the first month of school. • The child’s inability to speak isn’t caused by an insufficient grasp of his/her primary language. • Another communication disorder (such as stuttering) or a pervasive developmental disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorder cannot account for the difficulty. A child may show the following behaviors when struggling to say thoughts, feelings, or opinions out loud: Sometimes a child will become motionless and expressionless when trying to communicate. This behavior is particularly common at the beginning stages of selective mutism. The goal of treatment is to increase communication both verbally (speaking) and nonverbally (signs, gestures, motions, etc.). Treatment Options include: • Introducing the child to new individuals and situations gradually. • Shapes communication by encouraging the child to progress from whispering (or mouthing) to voicing. • Shows the child videotapes of desired behaviors. • Uses nonverbal methods (picture cards, gestures, etc.) to build up to speaking tasks.
SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY: Monsey Family Medical Center 40 Robert Pitt Dr. Monsey, NY 10952
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Mr. Muller advises, “Any attempt a child makes to interact needs to be recognized and reinforced. This includes eye contact, following instructons, or any sort of non-verbal communication.” The team may include a psychologist/psychiatrist, a speech languagepathologist, and/or a pediatrician. To discuss this and other healthcare issues with our
speech therapists, Aaron Muller M.S. CCC-SLP, or Melech Karp, M.A. CCC-SLP, Please call the Medical Center 845.352.6800
CHILDHOOD DENTAL HYGIENE Department of Pediatric Dentistry Good dental hygiene habits should begin before your child's first tooth comes in. Wiping your baby's gums with a soft damp cloth after feedings helps to prevent the buildup of bacteria. “When teeth appear, start using a soft children's toothbrush twice a day,” advises Dr. Stacey Lubetsky, a board certified pediatric dentist at the Monsey Family Medical Center. “You should continue to brush their teeth till they are about 6 years of age.” Once your child is preschool-age, start using fluoride toothpaste. Don't cover the brush with toothpaste; a pea-sized amount is just right (see picture above). Young children tend to swallow most of the toothpaste, and swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste can cause permanent stains on their teeth. Fluoride helps make teeth strong by hardening the tooth enamel. Many cities are required to add fluoride to tap water. “Rockland County water doesn't contain fluoride so a treatment at the dentsist may be recommended,” say Dr. Lubetsky. Fluoride is an important part of your child's dental health but as with swallowed toothpaste, too much oral fluoride can cause stains on your child's teeth. Cavities Cavities are holes that are formed when bacteria (germs) in your mouth use the sugar in food to make acid. This acid eats away at the teeth. Cavities are common in children. Good tooth care can keep cavities from happening in your child. Your child might be at risk for cavities if he or she eats a lot of sugary foods (such as raisins, cookies and candy) and drinks a lot of sweet liquids (such as fruit juice and punch, soda and sweetened drinks). Your child also might be at risk if he or she has spotting or discoloration on his or her teeth. Everyone in your family should take good care of their teeth. “Family members with lots of cavities can pass the cavitycausing bacteria to babies and children, notes Dr. Lubetsky, “Be careful not to share germs with your children, as this could transfer one of the many bacterium that leads to cavities.” Diet Yes. Avoiding sweets, sticky foods and between-meal snacks is good advice. To avoid cavities, limit sweet snacks and drinks between meals. Have meals and snacks at regular times. Teeth-friendly snacks include fresh fruits and vegetables, and cheese and crackers. “Baby bottles can create additional problems with your child's dental health. When liquid from a bottle--like milk and juice--stays in contact with the teeth for a long time, the sugars cause tooth decay,” cautions Dr. Lubetsky. “This can create a condition called bottle mouth.” Your baby's teeth can develop cavities and become pitted or discolored. Never put a baby to bed with a bottle. Don't let your child walk around during the day with a bottle, and teach your child to use a drinking cup around his or her first birthday.
Monsey Family Medical Center is renovating their Dental department this spring. The new state of the art facility will begin to offer digital X-rays, Electronic Medical Records and spacious rooms. During the last week in March and the first week in April the Dental Department will be open longer hours in anticipation for Pesach. Call 352-6800 for an appointment.
W E E K LY FA M I LY H E A LT H TA L K P U L L O U T S E C T I O N
THE ADVOCATE March 15,
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2012
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AT MONSEY FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER DR. JOEL W. ALLEN DR. DEBRA KIRSCHNER MELISSA A. CARCO, PA NANCY SOLOMON, CNM,
We care for you through the many stages of your life. דער געברױך ֿפַאר װאסער אין רָאקלַאנד קאונטי שטײגט. מיר דארפן מער װאסער פאר הײמען, געשעֿפטן און צו לעשן פײער.
גוט פאר רָאקלַאנד סערװיס ֿפַארלעסליכקײט – דער ּפרױעקט װעט ערמעגליכן יונײטעד װַאסער ֿפָארצוזעצן איבער 100יָאר ֿפון צושטעלן ֿפַארלעסליכע װַאסער סערװיס ֿפון ַא הױכן קװַאליטעט 24שעה ַא טָאג 7 ,טעג ַא װָאך.
דער האװערסטרָא װאסער סוּפלײ פרױעקט
בַאשעֿפטיגונג – קָאנסטרַאקשַאן װעט ברענגען הונדערטער דזשָאבס צו רָאקלַאנד קַאונטי און נָאך הונדערטער צו ניו יָארק סטעיט. ביזנעס – א ֿפַארלעסליכע װאסער סוּפלײ איז קריטיש װיכטיג צו סטימולירן עקָאנָאמישע װאוקס און אױפצוהאלטן לעבנס-װיכטיגע ביזנעסעס אין די קאונטיַ .אלס א “רײנע” טעקס רעיטאבל ,װעט דער ּפרױעקט שַאֿפן ֿפילצָאליגע שטײערן אױף די דירעקטע, אומדירעקטע און גע’ּפועל’טע ַאקטיװיטעט און אין די זעלבע צײט הָאבן װײניג ָאדער נישט קײן שום װירקונג אױף שולעס און מוניציּפַאלע סערװיסעס. קָאסט עפעקטיװ -עס איז הַאלב די קָאנסטרַאקשַאן קָאסט פון אנדערע ָאּפציעס און ,בַאזירט אױף די הײנטיגע רַאטעס ,װעט עס נָאכאלץ ערמעגליכן יונײטעד װאסער צו דעליװערן גערײניגטע װאסער פאר א פעני ּפער גאלָאן װען דער פרױעקט איז ערװַארטעט צו גײן ָאנלײן. שטײערן – מיליָאנען דָאלַארס אין ריעל עסטעיט טעקס רעװעניוס װעלן העלֿפן ּפלָאגנדיגע מוניציפאלע און שולע בודזשעטן װײטער צו קענען צושטעלן לעבנס-װיכטיגע סערװיסעס. נָאר פאר רָאקלאנד – װאסער װעט בענעֿפיטירן נָאר רָאקלאנד קאונטי קַאסטומערס און מען װעט עס נישט ָאפװענדן אין קײן שום אנדער ָארט. א שטארקע װאסער אינֿפראסטרוקטור װעט העלֿפן צו האלטן די אײנװאױנערס און ּפרָאּפערטי װערטן געזונט ,צוציען נײטיגע ביזנעס און פארזיכערן אז רָאקלאנד’ס קװאליטעט פון לעבן זָאל בלײבן הױך.
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רופא חולים Sponsored By Monsey Medical & Dental Center 40 Robert Pitt Drive, Monsey, NY 845-352-6800
FAMILY HEALTH TALK
P R O J E C T O H R , D E PA RT M E N T O F B E H AV I O R A L H E A LT H
RECOGNIZING SCHIZOPHRENIA Seeking Clues to a Difficult Disorder, Reviewed by: Rabbi Aryeh Frankel, LMSW Some children seem to worry more than others. What would be considered normal fears and what would fall under the category of ‘anxiety’? Toddlers, for example, will often be terrified of vacuum cleaners and other loud machines. Many children also may fear the dark as their imaginations begin to develop after toddlerhood. What, however, is ‘anxiety’ and how does that differ from real fear? What would it be like to hear voices or see people or things that aren’t really there? How would you feel if people seemed out to harm you, and you weren’t sure who to trust? Would you recognize that something was wrong? Unfortunately, most people with schizophrenia are unaware that their symptoms are warning signs of a mental disorder. Their lives may be unraveling, yet they may believe that their experiences are normal. Or they may feel that they’re blessed or cursed with special insights that others can’t see. Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects about 1 in 100 people. It affects men and women equally in all ethnic groups. Symptoms often start between ages 16 and 30 but most often between 18 and 22. It’s unusual to develop schizophrenia after age 45. A few decades ago, researchers thought that schizophrenia was caused by inappropriate parenting. Now scientists recognize that a combination of genes and the environment are to blame.
SE
Patients often try different medications to see which work best. Some types of antipsychotics can cause weight gain, which can lead to diabetes or high cholesterol. Other types can cause a disorder where a person cannot control muscle movements. Despite these drawbacks, antipsychotics greatly improve the lives of most patients. Problems arise when patients stop taking their medications, which is common. One NIH-funded study found that most patients stop taking antipsychotics within the first 18 months of treatment. Because of problems with judgment and inStudies of identical twins show sight, they may not feel that they that when one twin has schizoneed treatment. phrenia, the other twin has a 50% chance of having the disease, indicating that genes may People with schizophrenia often account for half of the mecha- must rely on family or friends to nisms involved in schizophrenia. get them into treatment. CarBut since these twins are ge- ing for and supporting a family netically the same, other factors member with schizophrenia can must also contribute to schizo- be challenging. It may help to phrenia. Some scientists have find a support group. identified environmental factors that may play a role. But re- Talking to others who care for searchers don’t yet fully agree people with schizophrenia may on whether or how these factors help your whole family. If you would like to speak to one of our trigger the disease. professionals for a confidential Several genes have been linked consultation on this or other beto schizophrenia. But each havioral issues please call Projseems to have only a small ef- ect Ohr Department of Behavfect on the chances of getting ioral health at 845-352-6800 x the disorder. Although schizo- 6849. phrenia has no cure, 2 main types of treatment can help.
PROJECT OHR Department of Behavioral Health Seymour Kushnir, MD ADULT PSYCHIATRY Zvi Weisstuch, MD ADULT and CHILD PSYCHIATRY
SOCIAL WORK Individual, Couple Child & Family Therapy Malka Susswein LCSW Chana Simmonds LCSW Gila Zelinger LCSW Gelly Asovski LCSW Play Therapy Rabbi Aryeh Frankel LMSW Naomi Franklin LMSW Yael Kahan LMSW Sharon Kronenberg LMSW Avi Riber LMSW Esther Rothbaum LMSW Play Therapy Toby Spitzer LMSW Tziporah Spira LMSW Aviva Cohen LMSW Mendel Twersky Intern
WE EKLY FA MI LY HE ALT H TAL K P UL L OU T SEC TION
THE ADVOCATE March 15, 2012
13
ויקהל תשע״ב
דער אדוואקאט
CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL
REP. ENGEL – ECONOMY HAS BEST 12 MONTHS OF JOB GROWTH IN FIVE YEARS Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY17) said the February jobs report showing a substantial increase of 227,000 jobs created in February, the third consecutive month of 200,000-plus job growth, was an outstanding sign of the continuing recovery. The private sector added 233,000 jobs, but government jobs fell, accounting for the difference. Further good news was the revisions to the December and January reports adding another 61,000 jobs. In the last 24 months, there have been 4 million private sector jobs added. Rep. Engel said, “We cannot forget the near-depression numbers the Obama Administration inherited from the Bush Administration when we were losing jobs by the hundreds of thousands each month. Normally, these recent job numbers would not be cause for elation, but coming out of the depths of the Great Recession these numbers are welcome news. The American people needs Congress to come together in a bipartisan manner and pass jobs legislation to aid this budding recovery. We did so in a small way yesterday with the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act – designed to cut red tape to help small businesses to get off the ground. This legislation must be considered only a first step. I call on the Republican Majority to work with Democrats to pass a comprehensive job bill and a robust transportation
bill to substantially boost our nation’s employment. “Too many Americans remain out of work, and there are problems which could deflect our recovery - Europe’s financial crisis, Middle East tensions, etc. The fact that we are talking about real gains in job growth is satisfying. What cannot be ignored is that the economy is continuing to heal after suffering devastating wounds from the biggest financial crisis we have faced as a nation since the Great Depression.” Rep. Engel noted that three years ago, on March 6, 2009, the Dow Jones Industrial Average bottomed out at 6443.27. It closed on Thursday at more than double that, 12,907.94, and a further sign that the Obama Administration’s economic recovery policies are working. The unemployment rate held steady at 8.3 percent, while the number of long-term unemployed (27 weeks and over) dropped by 92,000 people. An alternative measure of unemployment which does count those who have stopped looking for work dropped to 14.9 percent, its lowest reading since January 2009. Rep. Engel called for passage of jobs legislation to further boost the economy and get even more Americans back to work. In the last three months, payrolls are growing at an average rate of over 245,000, which Rep. Engel called “an outstanding sign of continuing recovery.”
BREAK FREE FRO
M F O O T PA IN !
Dr. Harr y Baldinger • Dr. Stuar t Birnbaum For infor mation & appointments:
845-352-6800 x 6824 40 Robert Pitt Dr. Monsey, NY 10952
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES Educational Consultants
• in-school support • • comprehensive educational evaluations • • individualized instruction • " helping children to help themselves " Eliezer Vilinsky, M.A. Miryam Vilinsky, M.Ed.
(845) 426-3673 www.TReaching.com
RCDC WOMEN’S SENIOR GROUP PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
M O N DAY & W E D N E S DAY
12 : 3 0 p m - 3 : 0 0 p m Nutritious lunch served, stimulating program, & musical entertainment. FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 845.352.1400 x 3245 A PROJECT OF OFA OF ROCKLAND COUNTY
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THE ADVOCATE March 15,
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2012
NEWS FROM THE NY SENATE
Last December, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the Middle Class Tax Cut and Job Creation Plan that repealed the MTA payroll tax for about 78% of the business entities, self-employed taxpayers, and all public and non-public schools. However, many public libraries were not included in this group and subsequently left on the hook to continue to pay the costly tax. “Repealing in its entirety the costly MTA payroll tax is one of my
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Dr. B. Albetter asks;
TROUBLE WITH BULLYING?
SENATOR CARLUCCI CALLS FOR EXEMPTING LIBRARIES FROM MTA PAYROLL TAX Standing alongside nearly a dozen public library officials at the Nanuet Public Library, Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Orange) today joined with Rockland County Legislator Harriet Cornell and Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski to call for exempting all public libraries and library systems from paying the MTA payroll tax in New York State. Last week, Senator Carlucci co-sponsored legislation (S.6079A) in the State Senate that would close the current loophole that exists for libraries that have payrolls greater than $1.25 million.
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top priorities in the State Senate,” said Senator Carlucci. “The fact of the matter is that libraries cannot afford to bear the brunt of this any longer, particularly given the limited amount of funding they receive. This is an issue that hits home and will generate real savings.” Despite library usage increasing by 11% since 2007, state funding for libraries has declined by 23%. These continued reductions in state funding has resulted in some libraries paying 50% to 105% of their library aid towards the MTA payroll tax. Gretchen Bell, Director of the Nanuet Public Library, said, “Since libraries are educational institutions, it’s unfair for libraries to be put in the position we are in considering schools have already been exempted from the tax.” The following libraries in Rockland County still are required to pay the MTA payroll tax: Finkelstein Memorial Library (Spring Valley) Haverstraw Kings Daughter's Public Library (Haverstraw) Nanuet Public Library (Nanuet) New City Free Library (New City) Nyack Public Library (Nyack)
Schedule a confidential consultation with
Dr. Zvi Weisstuch, Child Psychiatrist Call the Department of Behavioral Health at 352-6800 ext. 6849 today. Ben Gilman Spring Valley Family Medical Center 175 Rt. 59 Spring Valley, NY 10977 845.426.5800
Monsey Family Medical Center 40 Robert Pitt Dr., Monsey, NY 10952 845.352.6800
Have nuts instead
Having an additional serving of red meat daily ...
Substituting for a serving of red meat* daily ...
... lowers mortality risk by Nuts
-19%
... increases mortality risk by
Whole Poultry Legumes Low-fat dairy grains
-14
-14
-10
-10
*Combines unprocessed and processed red meat consumption categories Source: American Medical Association
Fish
-7
Unprocessed red meat
+13
Processed red meat
+20
NOTE: A serving of unprocessed red meat includes beef, lamb or pork as main dish; processed meat includes bacon, salami, sausage, bologna and others
Graphic: Los Angeles Times
© 2012 MCT
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THE ADVOCATE March 15, 2012
THE ADVOCATE March 15,
16
2012
RAMAPO ASSESSOR TO HOLD PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS Suffern, N.Y. - To provide Town property owners with a better understanding of their property assessment and the grievance process, the Assessors Office will be holding two Public Information Meetings. The first meeting will be Tuesday, March 27, and the second meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 3. Both meetings will be at 7:00 p.m. “Our Public Information Effort was very successful last year, so we are holding these meetings to further educate the public about their assessment needs and answer any questions that they might have”, said Scott Shedler, Town of Ramapo Assessor. “We look forward to working with the public during the 2012 Grievance Period”. Information can be found on
the town website: www.ramapo.org See the “Property Owners Toolkit”
Assessor’s Information Meetings: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 Suffern Library – 7:00 pm Tuesday, April 3, 2012 Ramapo Town Hall – 7:00 pm 2012 Grievance Filing Period: May 1 – May 22 (fourth Tuesday in May) Staff will be available in Town Hall to assist residents filing grievances.
Science Matters
Shoot once, focus later
A novel kind of camera that can generate a variety of images from a single shot is now reaching consumers.
How a light field camera works 1 Lenses 2 Light passes through 3 Light-sensing focus light rays
grid of tiny lenses like those in an insect eye
1 2
Lytro Camera • 11 million pixels • 8X optical zoom • f/2 aperture lens
Hand-held point-andshoot unit
A single exposure ...
Viewfinder screen in end
or on objects close to camera
can be focused later on distant objects ...
Source: Lytro Inc.
3
chip captures data about light rayÕs color, brightness and distance it traveled to camera
Graphic: Helen Lee McComas
© 2012 MCT
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EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS MODELING IS A VERY POWERFUL TOOL
Eliezer Vilinsky, M.A. Miryam Vilinsky, M.Ed. EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES © 2012 All rights reserved. Permission to print granted to The Advocate Children constantly learn from those around them. They observe, imitate, and adopt many of the behaviors that we demonstrate for them. Sometimes we consciously demonstrate behaviors for children to learn, and sometimes we don't even realize that we are teaching certain behaviors. In either case they are being transferred to young minds and hearts. We need to be aware that our conscious and sub-conscious lessons can be positive or negative, and that children can learn good or bad things from us. We need to bear in mind that we are responsible for their resultant actions. Sometimes we wonder about how some kids get to be the way they are. Why are they so troubled? Well, some recent research sheds a bit of light on the subject. Apparently over-reaction by parents of toddlers leads to poor behavior years later. This body of research covering 361 families in ten states comes from Oregon State University. The researchers there tested children who grew up under birth parents and children who were raised since birth by adoptive parents. This eliminates genetic determinants in at least half of the children, which brings balance to the study. The Oregon State study found that children whose parents were quick to anger when their children “tested their limits” later acted negatively in school and at home by acting out and having more temper tantrums than normal. Is this a big surprise to you? Probably not. It stands to reason that children will be influenced by environmental behaviors. What is important to note is what we mentioned earlier. Our influences may help or hurt even when we do not realize we are projecting them. And just because we are not aware of our actions, we are not excused from repercussions from those influences. We need to do something about them. Shannon Lipscomb, the lead author of the study, advises parents to heed the result of this study and to regulate their reactions by remaining firm and confident, but to not over-react emotionally. It might be nice if a printed note of reminder with this good advice would be included with the free receiving blankets and baby bottles that accompany newborns home from the hospital, as this would serve as a good proactive move. What also matters is how to teach this lesson to the already over-reacting parents and to children who are already “under the influence” and are acting out or are expected to act out in the future. Although we can address parents and children separately, the approach to guiding each follows the same theme, and the theme is the theme of this article: modeling. Adults can model appropriate reactions to testy kids for each other as well as model proper behavior for misbehaving kids to follow. Nicely said, now let's get practical. If we are talking about modeling, we obviously need to be in personal contact with the individual whom we are modeling for. The modeling adult must demonstrate positive parenting and proper behavior for kids in the presence of the fellow adult or the child. That means that we need to create opportunities in which we can come together to learn from each other. That is no small task, yet it is necessary. When fellow family members or educators detect that parents are over-reacting or showing insufficient patience toward their children, the family members or educators should get together and spend time with the over-reacting parents. Family members should invite them to their house, where the parents will experience examples of more tolerant and positive parenting. Educators should invite parents to visit their classroom, again to witness how professionals properly interact with children. The bottom line is that seeing is believing, and experiencing is learning. Talking with parents about the problem whenever necessary is helpful, but that will not accomplish as much as first-hand experience or observation.
Seeing is believing, and experiencing is learning. If you are going to model proper parenting, you should do so with your own children. Your friend or relative needs to see how sweetness wins over brashness in your home. You have to show how you keep your cool and remain even-tempered even in the face of annoying behaviors. What is as important to observe as the adult who demonstrates the proper reaction, is the reaction of the child. Enable your observer to see how peacefully and appropriately your child reacts to your even-tempered response to his annoying behaviors. We have seen plenty of parents who are quite good at this. We wish they could bottle and sell their calm parenting skills. As we just mentioned above, observing how the child benefits from a soft and patient approach is equally important for the learning parent. This is something other children can also learn from, especially the children who have thus far grown up under the influence of troubled parenting. They need child-raising remediation. Emotionally healthy children modeling for less healthy children is the key to this remediation. Again, balanced integration is the key. The child who acts out toward others needs to learn how to act toward others appropriately. This is best accomplished by surrounding the troubled child within an environment that is wellstaffed with children who demonstrate proper behavior, patience, and care. Schools worry about hosting children who throw tantrums or have difficulty relating to others nicely. Some schools are quick to reject these children. We strongly believe that schools have a responsibility to educate children socially, not just academically. We need to include children who are the most needy socially/emotionally, many of whom come from families with limited parenting skills. At the same time we recognize the reservations that hosting schools may have as they are responsible to protect the welfare of the “regular” student body. That's why we advocate maintaining a healthy proportion of children with no negative parenting influence to those who require special attention: a few “problem kids” within a pool of well-adjusted children. There is also an optional teaching component. Parents and teachers can talk aloud about how and why they are reacting to and guiding children as they are. It helps to say and to be heard saying, “Jonathan, I would like you to take a short break and to think about what you just said to David, so that you can find a nicer way to say that.” You might ask about special activities or lessons that can be purchased and introduced for building good interpersonal skills. Many out-ofthe-box social skills instruction kits are stilted and have little residual value. The most potent teaching tool is modeling by children and adults who do it right. Their interaction with those who are less fortunate and who grew up in families where relationships are less civil should not be underestimated. This whole article focuses on one single approach: modeling. Modeling is convincingly effective when it is applied properly. It works in a variety of settings and for a variety of issues. That's the beauty of it. If we properly model for our children, they will learn to do the same for their children. Extending a chain of modeling best behaviors and attitudes generation to generation constitutes “helping children to help themselves.” Eliezer and Miryam Vilinsky are educational consultants in private practice. They provide direct instruction to students, conduct teacher-training seminars and consult with schools and families worldwide. They can be reached at Educational Support Services at 426-3673 and at www. TReaching.com. The weekly edition of Educational Insights is available via subscription. Call for details.
THE ADVOCATE March 15, 2012
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FORECLOSURE COUNSELING
Commercial Industrial • Residential
RCDC Housing, Inc. would like to help you...
We have a certified foreclosure counselor on staff who can assist you Call us for more information
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Professional service & quality. That’s all you get. Free Estimates • Fully licensed & Insured
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(845) 352-1400 ext. 3243 RCDC HOUSING DEPARTMENT The following information is provided to the community by the RCDC Housing Department as a public service
Attention Homeowners and Renters:
Taking control of your energy use will save you money and make your home more comfortable year-round. •
Currently, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), offers programs to help
homeowners and renters save energy and money. Each program begins with a top-to-bottom look at your home to figure out which improvements will save you the most money. • The Green Jobs – Green NY and Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Programs provide funding for comprehensive home energy assessments and low-cost financing for energy upgrades. • If you live in a single-family home or two- to four-unit building and have a total household income less than $206,200 (Rockland County), then you can take advantage of a free comprehensive home energy assessment. • For those interested in completing the work, you may be eligible for a 10 percent cash-back incentive and lowinterest financing for up to $25,000 in energy efficiency improvements. Income eligible participates (60 – 80 percent of the area median income) qualify for a grant up to $5,000 to cover as much as 50 percent of the cost of improvements. • If your home was weatherized some years ago by the Weatherization department and therefore we are no longer able to come to your home this is a program that you can apply for to possibly help you improve your home's efficiency. In addition this program is an option to consider if you are not income eligible for the weatherization program.
To learn more about this program and access an application, pleasecontact RCDC Housing, Inc, 845-352-1400, ext. 3240 or email us at rcdchousing@aol.com.
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THE ADVOCATE March 15,
2012
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CLASSIFIEDS
To place a classified ad please call 845.770.1950 • or E-mail
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Sales@advocateNews.org FARMING SKILLS NEEDED
HELP WANTED Medical Center seeks several positions ASAP
in the Monsey area for a community garden project please e-mail Editor @Advocatenews.org or call 845 770 1950 for more info.....
1. Part time medical assistant with good computer skills 2. Part time registrar with dental background preferable 3. Full time registrar with managerial skills Immediate Openings Yiddish or Spanish speaking VERY helpful Please call: 845-352-6800 x 6834, or send resume: Email: RCHealthCenter@Gmail.com Fax: 845-425-1228
MOVING SALE • COUCHES • BEDROOM SETS • COFFEE TABLES • DINING ROOM SETS MUST SELL-MOVING. AROUND PESACH
845- 634-8865 845-304-8961
POSITION WANTED I AM AVAILABLE DAY OR NIGHT OR 24/7 TO PROVIDE CAREGIVING TO THE ELDERLY. HOUSEKEEPING, DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, MEDS, MEAL PREPERATION, ETC. REFRENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. CALL ANGELA AT 845-425-6051
CONDOS FOR RENT-SALE
MONSEY BLUEBERRY HILL 1 BR FROM 139K - 2 BR FROM 219K PREFERRED PROPERTIES
845.352.4440
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PICK UP AND DELIVERY
•
EXPERT TAILORING
YBH of Passaic – Girls division is seeking to hire an experienced Morah for upper middle school for September 2012. Salary is paid on time. Fax resume to (973) 777-9477 or email to bleiner@ybhillel.org.
3.99 DRY CLEANERS
M &M DISCOUNT CLEANERS •
HELP WANTED
• •
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845-262-1313
PICK UP AND DELIVERY EXPERT TAILORING
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COLONIAL SQUARE MALL 329 Route 59, Airmont, NY (Next to Planet Fitness) open Mon-Thur 7-7 friday & Sunday 7-4
845-533-4393
SHOMER SHABBOS
TAXI AVAILABLE
SENIOR GROUP RCDC WOMEN’S SENIOR GROUP PROGRAM 12:30 - 3:00PM
for a great afternoon, MONDAY & WED. FREE TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CALL
845.352.1400 x 3245
Cheapest In Town Mini Vans Available Pay after Shabbos or Yom Tov 24 hour service Local or Long Distance 425-4411 LA FAMILIA TAXI
A PROJECT OF OFA OF ROCKLAND COUNTY
CONDOS FOR RENT-SALE MONSEY BLUEBERRY HILL APARTMENTS FOR RENT
1 Bedroom from $1,140 2 Bedrooms from $1,600 3 Bedrooms from $2,025
NOT TO BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER
CALL BLUEBERRY HILL 845.352.4440
HELP WANTED S E L L I N G A D S F O R N E W S PA P E R • flexible hours • good pay • should have experience
call 845-770-1950
To place a classified ad please call 845.770.1950 or E-mail Sales@advocateNews.org
THE ADVOCATE March 15, 2012
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STOCKS RECORD BIGGEST GAINS OF YEAR; DOW UP 218 New York - Bank stocks turbocharged a rally across the financial markets Tuesday, and all three major stock indexes posted their biggest gains of the year. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 218 points and closed at its highest level since the end of 2007. The Nasdaq composite closed above 3,000 for the first time since December 2000, during the collapse in dot-com stocks. The market rallied from the opening bell Tuesday after the government said February retail sales gains were the strongest since September. Americans spent more on cars, clothes and appliances. The rally gained strength in the afternoon when the Federal Reserve said it saw signs of an improving economy and expected the unemployment rate to keep falling. The Fed also said strains in the global financial markets have eased. Then JPMorgan Chase, the country’s largest bank by assets, announced that it plans to buy back as much as $15 billion of its stock and raise its quarterly dividend to 30 cents per share from 25 cents a share. “That’s what really made the day,” said Jeffrey Kleintop, chief market strategist a LPL Financial. The announcement came just before the Fed made a surprise announcement of the results of its annual stress test for banks. JPMorgan Chase and 14 other financial institutions passed. Four, including Citigroup, failed. The Fed had planned to release the results on Thursday afternoon. But
it moved up the announcement after JPMorgan declared its dividend increase. The bank said it had the Fed’s blessing to raise the dividend. JPMorgan Chase stock gained 7 percent, and other banks followed. Citigroup and Goldman Sachs gained 6 percent. Banks were easily the bestperforming stocks in the market, gaining almost 4 percent as a group. Citigroup stock was down 4 percent in after-hours trading following the Fed announcement. The Dow finished at 13,177.68, its highest close since Dec. 31, 2007. The close put the Dow within 1,000 points of its all-time record, 14,164.53, set less than three months earlier, Oct. 9, 2007. The Nasdaq composite index rose 56.22 points, or 1.9 percent, to 3,039.88. Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Harris Private Bank, said the key difference between the Nasdaq then and now is that the technology companies that dominate the index only promised profits 12 years ago. Today those profits are real, and massive. The Nasdaq’s largest companies are Apple, Microsoft and Google. “The Nasdaq hasn’t done much of anything for 12 years, but it’s had a huge rally in earnings,” Ablin said. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index closed up 24.87 points, or 1.8 percent, at 1,395.96, its highest level since June 5, 2008. The S&P has gained 11 percent since Jan. 1, more than what it posts in an average year. Brian Gendreau, market strategist at
Cetera Financial, said stocks could still go higher. Investors are paying roughly 13 times the past year’s earnings for the S&P 500 index. The long-term average is closer to 15. “Valuations are still very cheap,” he said. The dollar rose against the euro and hit an 11-month high against the Japanese yen after the Federal Reserve assessment. The euro fell to $1.3073 late Tuesday from $1.3150 late Monday. The dollar soared to 83.08 yen from 82.26 late Monday. The retail sales report showed a gain of 1.1 percent last month. Some of it reflected higher gas prices, but department stores had their biggest gains in more than a year. The government also revised its estimates higher for December and January. A reading of confidence among small business owners also rose in February for the sixth month in a row. The National Federation of Independent Business optimism index reached its highest level in a year, helped by an increase in expected sales. Among companies making big moves: — Great Wolf Resorts jumped 27 percent to $5.13. Apollo Global Management said it has agreed to buy the indoor water park operator for $5 a share. — Urban Outfitters dropped 5.3 percent, the worst drop in the S&P 500 index. The retailer reported earnings that fell below what analysts were expecting after it had to mark down prices on women’s clothing at its Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters stores.
Looking down the road
Though Rick Santorum has won two recent Republican primaries, Mitt Romney beats him in national polls. President Barack Obama tops both in head-to-head matchups. • GOP nomination preference Now
Feb. 8-12
Mitt Romney
33% 28
Rick Santorum
24
30
Newt Gingrich
20 17
Ron Paul
14 12
• If the election is between Barack Obama
54%
Strongly support 41%
Mitt Romney Strongly 28
42
Barack Obama
57
Strongly 45
Mitt Romney Strongly 28
39
Source: Pew Research Center poll of 1,503 adults (includes 538 Republican/Republican-leaners), March 7-11, 2012; margin of error: +/-3 percentage points © 2012 MCT Graphic: Judy Treible
COMING SPRING 2012:
STATE OF THE ART DENTAL FACILITIES AT
MONSEY FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER.
MONSEY FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER
THE ADVOCATE March 15,
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2012
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DATED MATERIAL POST MASTER PLEASE DELIVER SAME DAY
G
T S W E N D OO
T S A F S L E V RA
t a s r u o h d e d n e t x e h c r e a t s n e e P C l e a c i Pr d e M icine amily F y e s n o M
y r t s i t n e nts of D
d e M t l u and Ad
h t 9 2 h t 5 2 h c r a M , y a d s r u h h t T 5 l y i r a p d A n t s 1 •Su l i r p A , y a d s r call u h T y a d •Sun e m t r a p e D
to schedule an immediate appointment
845-352-6800
Open Evenings until 11pm!